Shared EV chargers can be used by multiple drivers at once. They can help reduce electricity costs and make it easier to go electric. However, these systems must not obstruct access to other areas of the building.
Local load management balances how much electricity each charging station can use. This can prevent overcharging or overusing the electrical infrastructure.
Dynamic power sharing
EV charging stations are a vital part of the EV ecosystem, and their use is growing rapidly. The dynamic power sharing feature allows multiple vehicles to charge simultaneously and efficiently. It also helps reduce building energy demand and contributes to load balancing on the electrical grid.
Dynamic power sharing uses a master and slave wallbox configuration to optimize power distribution based on real-time availability and demand. This system enables more efficient EV charging and avoids conflicts caused by disproportionate usage, such as one-off instances or specific users that tend to loiter.
This technology can reduce installation costs and increase the number of charging points in a space. It also enables the installation of higher-power 350kW chargers that can speed up charging times significantly. Additionally, it can help avoid costly electrical upgrades by allowing you to concentrate the charging stations closer to existing electrical infrastructure. The resulting savings can make or break a project’s ROI. Find out more with betl.
Dual connectors
The dual connectors feature allows multiple EV drivers to charge at the same time while providing a faster, more consistent charging experience for all. This is especially important for businesses that receive many visitors, such as retail, restaurants and hotels.
Power Management enables a site operator to control how much electricity each charging station can use at any given time. This helps prevent electrical overloads and avoid costly upgrades to infrastructure. This system uses a pre-set protocol to balance how much electricity each charger can draw based on the needs of customers.
It’s also helpful to look for a charging station with metering capabilities, which allow residents to easily track energy consumption and help establish fair and transparent billing processes. This helps condo communities manage their EV charging needs and reduce recurring costs. This capability is especially important for locations that use a hybrid pricing model that accounts for both energy disbursed and time plugged-in.
CE certification
A shared charging station is a great way to reduce the number of EV drivers in your community. It can also help you meet the requirements for reducing carbon emissions for workplaces, as per LEED and other green building certification programs.
During charging, EVs send data about their power consumption to a cloud-based management platform. This data is analyzed and visualized in real-time to provide the information necessary for smart charging. This information is then used to automatically balance EV charging.
It’s important to look for a CE-certified EVSE because this certification ensures that your equipment meets all of the European Union’s regulatory safety requirements. Additionally, a CE-certified EVSE will be compliant with the European Ecodesign Directive (EED), which requires manufacturers to design their products using minimal energy and environmental impact throughout the product’s lifecycle. It will also be compatible with existing electrical systems.
Accessibility
EV charging stations need to be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. To do so, they need to meet accessibility requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act. These requirements include technical specifications for floor and ground surfaces, clear floor or ground space, reach ranges, operable parts, accessible routes, and more.
Using innovative technology to improve access, charging station sharing networks are working to address these barriers and create a more inclusive transportation landscape. These companies are incorporating features like dual connectors, APP control, and CE certification into their EV charging stations to make them more accessible.
However, public EV charging infrastructure is often placed in affluent neighborhoods with little consideration for mobility equity and justice goals. This can result in the concentration of EV charging opportunities around these communities, while historically disadvantaged communities are left behind. This can also lead to a “utilitarian welfare economic” approach that favors wealthy communities with access to EVSE infrastructure, despite the potential environmental benefits of mass transportation electrification (Canepa et al., 2021).