In the 21st century we are increasingly demanding smart solutions in significant areas of our lives. Innovative solutions which save us time and cost, are multi-functional and have environmental benefits are being delivered using smart technology that can be adapted to everyday domestic use. At the same time electric vehicles (EVs) are being developed to bring generational change in how we drive, how we operate daily and most importantly, how we are committed to reducing our individual carbon impact.
Smart charging is a way to combine our everyday needs with this demand for intuitive technological solutions which deliver a range of different benefits. EV charging is a necessity which needs to be managed correctly in order to optimise the benefits of EV driving, and smart charging not only addresses that but delivers additional benefits too.
The basics of smart charging
When a user wants to charge an EV, they generally want to connect the vehicle to the charger, set it off charging and leave it. With the time available they will hope to maximise how much charge the vehicle receives before they have to use it again. The amount of charge they can achieve will depend on the type of charger, the size of the battery and the time available. A smart charger does all these things, but using a smartphone app provides an interface whereby you can pre-set parameters for:
- How much charge you want in the battery
- What time you want the vehicle to achieve that level of charge
- A minimum level of charge you don’t want the vehicle to fall below (often a recommendation set by the EV manufacturer)
This enables you to get home in an evening, plug your EV into the charger and effectively programme the charger to reflect what you plan to do the following day. You can then leave it to charge accordingly. However, the smart charger also has the capability to:
- Charge your EV at a time when the unit cost of electricity is much cheaper
- Charge your EV when there is less demand on the national grid
- Charge your EV when the grid is taking more electricity from renewable sources
Once you set your original parameters and requirements, the smart charger can be left to charge your vehicle to these requirements, but in the most cost-effective and energy-efficient way. It is possible to override these parameters if things change, such as your working or lifestyle plans for tomorrow or if you need to use the vehicle immediately, and this can also be done remotely.
How does smart charging work?
In order to implement smart charging, you need WiFi or 3G/4G/5G connectivity, a smart chargepoint unit, and access to off-street parking. The smart charger then uses algorithms and intelligent data to optimise and personalise your charging sessions. This means that charging may not start straight away, or be continuous throughout a specified period, but will end in line with the parameters you have set and having used the most sustainable and cost-effective means of getting there.
What are the benefits of smart charging?
Cost savings – It is not possible to easily quantify the savings achieved through smart charging, because it depends on the energy tariffs used, the size of your battery and how much charging you can do at off-peak times, but certainly, the more miles and charging you do, the bigger your savings should be.
Carbon reductions - A smart charger can be set to draw charge when the grid is taking more electricity from renewable sources, such as solar or wind power.
Grid stability – Peak demand for the grid is normally when most people arrive home from work, around teatime, so a smart charger can delay charge until later in the evening when demand is lower. This improves grid stability and the overall efficiency of the electricity system, and also means charging is quicker.
Convenience – A user can simply return home from work, plug their charger in and forget about it, in the knowledge that the smart charger is using its functionality to charge the EV by the time you have set and using the most economic and carbon-friendly methods.
Monitor – The smart charger can provide real-time information to your smartphone app so you can monitor charging, and if necessary, override the set parameters to charge more during low-cost periods or more during high renewable energy source periods.
The smart charger can form part of a larger smart home ecosystem and can be set to operate in tandem with other smart systems in the home, such as heating, lighting and solar panels. A smart charger is classed as EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) and as such should form part of an EVSE testing and maintenance programme. EVSE should be tested upon installation and periodically during usage, and you can use products from the Test Instrument Solutions range of EVSE test equipment, such as the TIS MFTECO-EV EVSE testing kit.
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.