What type of load management will I need for any EV equipment?

The introduction of any EV equipment into any property will add additional strain on the supply network. It is important to understand what the maximum demand on the property will be prior to installation. It is also important to remember that EVSE will operate at the rated level continuously, unless limited through configuration or instructed otherwise by the vehicle.

There are 2 variations of load balancing solutions available, dynamic or static.

Dynamic load balancing includes the installation of additional meters and current transformers to the incoming supply to measure the overall power consumption of the property. The measured values would then be assessed by the load balancing controller, allowing the EVSE to use the remaining supply to charge the vehicle.

Static load balancing can be used in installations where the power consumption of the property is known and is stable. The power consumption of the property does not need to be measured continuously so there is no need for additional meters. There should be a dedicated amount of power capacity for vehicle charging only. The load balancing is then carried out against this dedicated power capacity.

What RCD protection is there for EV charging?

All EV supply equipment must have RCD Protection. Where the EV charge point has one connection, but can be active at any point, a single RCD can be used. The RCD can be integrated into the EVSE or externally.

If multiple connection points are available, then each connection point must have it’s own RCD protection to the EVSE. The RCD must have AC rating not exceeding 30mA and smooth DC current must be protected against.

Placement and charging

The charging points should be placed at a height and position where they are least likely to become damaged through day to day use, such as crossing paths, bollards and remembering that not all pedestrians can walk around a charging point easily so any roads or paths should not be obstructed when in use.

What is the difference in an AC or DC charger

DC chargers are suitable for short charging, such as car parks, service stations and other roadside facilities. This is because the driver will only want to charge for a short time, pausing for a journey.

The AC chargers are better suited to shopping centres, car parks, places of work and longer stay situations as the host will expect it’s visitors to stay more than 1 hour.

Can all electric vehicles access the same charger

This is known as The OCPP (open source communication protocol). This protocol used to make EV networks available and open. It was started to make it easier for different hardware manufacturers and software developers to produce cross compatible chargers without having to work together. There are 3 versions of OCPP available, (1.5, 1.6 & 2.0.1)  The most commonly used protocol in the UK is 1.6, which means that both the charging point and the back end solution should be able to use the same version of OCPP for successful connection