Intelligent Charging Stations for EVs: What You Need to Know

More than any other time in the history of humankind, electric car owners have a large and rapidly growing pool of compelling charging stations to choose from. And besides choosing the specific charging station, there’s a growing demand for smart controls. Everything from photovoltaic system connection to load management when charging multiple cars and electricity billing services for convenience, there’s more to EV charging stations than the socket type and charging power.

What are intelligent charging stations? Should you even be considering smart controls and what’s in for the future? We have compiled this article with some of the most asked questions to make it easy for you to navigate through the new and wild market. We hope that it helps you make the right decision.

Table of Contents hide

1. Intelligent Charging Stations. What Can They Do?

2. Is an Intelligent Charging Station Worth it?

2.1. Why is Buying an Intelligent Station Now a Great Idea?

2.2. The Future of Intelligent Charging Stations – ‘Energiewende’ (Energy Transition)?

Intelligent Charging Stations. What Can They Do?

Smart Charging Phone App

Unlike a regular station, an intelligent charging station can be connected to other devices like mobile phones. Some dedicated mobile apps offer monitoring services so you can safeguard against unauthorized users. A smart charging station can also be connected to a smart meter and other electronic devices for better monitoring and centralized control. It’s helpful to monitor public chargers, which will be charging several EVs at the same time.

A smart charging station can be connected to the internet – GSM, WLAN, LAN, allowing simplified charging control and station safety. And the best thing about it, smart control mean digital record-keeping, thereby enhancing accountability with easy to retrieve data for reference.

Is an Intelligent Charging Station Worth it?

In terms of cost, a smart charging station won’t break the bank. It’ll only cost you €100-200 more depending on different design variables. And while most people will advise you against paying for one, we certainly think an intelligent station is a worthwhile investment.

And especially in a world where technology is always evolving, we strongly recommend getting a smart EV charging station. Notably, future V2G applications aim to integrate electric cars into the power grid, further highlighting the importance of an intelligent smarting station. However, if you’re only interested in charging your EV for now, a basic version will do. Just ensure the charging power and socket type you go for matches your electric car.

Check out our article on choosing the right charging station and what you need to know before making the purchase decision.

Why is Buying an Intelligent Station Now a Great Idea?

As stressed before, smart charging stations will be more important in the future. However, EV drivers already have a handful of applications that are only relevant to intelligent charging stations. Some of these smart living options include:

Dynamic Load Management. Important where there are multiple charging stations in one location. The option allows for efficient stations operation without the need to revamp the connection capacity.
Smart Billing. Usually important for when you own a company car at home.
Photovoltaic System. The system implements an energy manager that prioritizes using surplus solar power to charge the electric car, thus improving overall energy consumption at home.
Network Integration. Allows for integrating your EV charging station into an existing charging network or charging community and settlement for electricity charged.
Live Tracking. It allows EV drivers to record charging data and history for easy and up-to-date analysis. With a smartphone or tablet, you can also keep tabs on the status of the station.
Smart Home Integration. The establishment of a connection uniting your smart home system to the charging station.

The Future of Intelligent Charging Stations – ‘Energiewende’ (Energy Transition)?

As you can imagine, the world’s appetite for electricity will keep on growing, with the increase in need. Major industries like manufacturing, construction, and agriculture continue to grow, and so does their need for electric energy. And while coal-fired and nuclear power plants have been effective in meeting the demand, the future of electricity is green.

Green electricity is and will be increasingly dependent on the weather. So, some days (sunny and windy), there can be a significant surplus of electricity, while on others (overcast and calm), there can be a shortage. So, how do we ensure that surplus electricity is stored in readiness for the imminent shortage?

Going by EVmart.com, electric cars will be instrumental in storing surplus electricity acting as mobile storage facilities in the future. This way, the energy can always be restored to the power grid when needed to keep it stable. Most importantly, EV owners will be able to earn revenue from the generated power. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication aims to integrate electric cars into the power grid, and existing joint projects with Renault and Nissan are charging and energy solution milestones.

So, if you’d like your charging station design to be compatible with future technology and capabilities, we’ll guide you through designing and installing your first intelligent station. Feel free to ask any questions that you might have.