EV charging consulting
For a variety of reasons, electric vehicles have become well-established in the automotive market. Indeed, EVs are set for rapid adoption in the coming years. From around 1.9 million cars in use in 2016, the market had already grown to approximately 17 million by 2021[1].
Tesla, the most popular e-vehicle, is experiencing year-on-year sales growth of over 35%[2]. By 2028, the industry is expected to be worth over $1.3 billion[3]. In short, electric vehicles are here to stay, which means questions of charging (particularly charging station management and efficiency) are fundamental to sustained success.
What is EV charging?
Let’s first backtrack, to understand both what’s happening and the market opportunity. EV charging is the process that keeps electric vehicles on the road, and it supplies direct current (DC) to the car’s battery pack. In technical terms, while electricity distribution systems supply the AC power, a converter is required to deliver DC power to the battery. It’s important to understand these basics before we look at how the processes they involve can be managed and optimized.
Both full and hybrid electric vehicles have an integral EV charger to make sure the battery remains full. The working principle is like what you’re used to with any other chargeable device or electronic component. In basic terms, the EV charger pulls an electrical current from an outlet and transfers that electricity to the vehicle in the same way you’d charge any other device by plugging it into the wall.
A side note: not all charging cords are identical (again, a familiar issue - some domestic devices use USB-C, others mini-USB, and so on) but broadly, a J1772 plug is the standard for EVs except for Tesla’s, which have their own charging stations. Without an adaptor (and the adaptor market isn’t yet mature), the two can’t be inter-mixed.
How EV charging works
Like traditional gas or diesel outlets, EV charging is distributed by charging stations, so it uses an essentially familiar operational model. The challenge for operators of these stations isn’t unfamiliar: how to optimize and run the station efficiently.
Across the board, EV charging industry players will want to minimize total cost of ownership, increase revenues and boost EV drivers’ charging experience. The question is, how can their goals best be achieved?
EV Charging Optimization
Again, in general terms, the answer is by using performance information: to monitor the charging stations’ energy consumption, uptime, status, etc., and then use the resulting data to optimize operations. Fortunately, while EV charging itself may be relatively new, the tools and mechanisms necessary to do this are well established, albeit in other energy-consuming industries - facilities management for example.
Thus, energy management systems proven in the buildings industry can perform the same function for EV charging stations, monitoring many of the abovementioned performance characteristics to allow the charging station operator to maximize profitability. As an added benefit, the data collected in monitoring can be utilized by future-proofed applications that apply process-driven intelligence to charging station management, utilizing real-time Artificial Intelligence to realize further cost savings.
Freedom to succeed, but consulting comes first
One example of the latter is Freedom, from NexRev, a cloud-based solution that can be applied to EV charging station management. Freedom uses real-time analytics to enable charging station operators to make informed decisions based on a single view of their entire business. It also creates custom reports to monitor charging devices and activities, optimize usage, manage run times, etc.
The first step lies in EV charging consultancy, using meters and submeters to monitor usage and fluctuations throughout the charging system, then analyzing the resulting data from both costs and performance perspectives. The consultant will help answer fundamental questions like are controls and cables operating properly, and have they kept pace with changes in usage as the system has evolved over time?
Even when an organization installs an advanced optimization solution like Freedom, an expert “audit and analysis” phase should come first. Achieving optimal performance requires a broad approach rather than a single, isolated software deployment. Optimization is a step-by-step process, and it starts with information, progresses to system design and construction, integrates automation and optimization, and provides maintenance and monitoring throughout the facility’s lifecycle. Overlooking any of the steps reduces the effectiveness (and lowers the Return on Investment) of the whole.
A huge opportunity exists for EV charging station operators with ESG and environmental concerns driving interest in the market. The time to grab it to optimize the performance of the underlying business is now.
The best way to understand your situation and identify areas for performance improvement in EV charging stations is generally working with an expert consultant – like the team at NexRev. This is an investment that allows you to evaluate your facility and identify areas where remedial action would be beneficial. So why not talk to our experts? We can help you optimize your EV charging facilities and deliver the services your customers demand.
The NexRev advantage
At NexRev, we’ve been unlocking the power of facility and energy management data with over half a million connected devices across North America. Our team of experts is focused on helping you deliver more with your budgets, infrastructure, and assets to create sustainable savings in operations and energy while reducing your risk and increasing operational confidence. Email us at
[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101415/number-of-electric-vehicles-by-type/
[2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/960121/sales-of-all-electric-vehicles-worldwide-by-model/
[3] https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/electric-vehicle-market-101678