What is an EV Charge Point?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are changing the way we travel. The charging hardware ecosystem comprises several elements: a Charging Pool, Charging Stations, Charging Points, and Connectors. Often, these terms are interchangeably used. But what are the differences? Let’s break it down.

Breaking Down EV Charging Hardware

Charging Pool: A Charging Pool is a group of charging stations together in a single place, just like a gas station with multiple gas pumps.

Charging Station (EVCS): This is like a gas pump but for EVs. It's a machine you'll see on the wall or standing on its own, ready to charge your EV. Each charging station can have one or more spots to plug in your vehicle.

Charge Point (EVSE): The Charge Point (also called Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) is the equipment that facilitates the electric supply to the EVs via a plug or connector. It's the bridge that delivers electricity from the station to your vehicle. The charge point ensures safe and efficient charging. Hence, a charging pool can have multiple charging stations. A charging station can have numerous charge points, and a charge point can have various sockets/connectors.

How Does It Work?

Charge Point comprises of hardware and software components. The hardware component provides the electricity, and the software ensures seamless, transparent, and secure charging (charger availability, malfunctioning, location, etc.).

When users plug their EV into the charge point, the station checks if everything is connected correctly. If it's good to go, charging begins. There are three types of charging:

There are three major types of charging – Level 1, Level 2, and Fast Charging.

• Level 1 is the most basic and accessible; however, it offers the slowest charging speed.
• Level 2 is most used around households and public areas, offering 12 to 18 miles of driving range to the EV for every hour charged.
• Level 3 is also called DC Fast Charging, which is more expensive but offers up to 20 miles of driving range per minute charged.

The Charge Point must comply with the technical communication standards to ensure safety and quality output.

Communication standards are protocols that allow charging networks to communicate with each other. Mainly, there are three: OCPP, OSCP, and OCPI.

• OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) helps charging stations communicate with back-end systems their operators use. It also enables the sharing of information between EVs and the power grid.
• OSCP (Open Smart Charging Protocol) enables communication between charge points and energy management systems. The protocol communicates a 24-hour forecast of the local electrical capacity, allowing charge point operators to plan the charging accordingly.
• OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) is a communication protocol that allows various parts of the EV network to communicate and enable EV drivers to switch between different EV charging networks.

Future Development

As the world embraces cleaner and greener transportation, expanding the network of EVSE Charge Points and enhancing charging speeds has become imperative. Soon, there will be a growing demand for quicker charging times and increased availability on a global scale. This growth in electric vehicles (EVs) underscores the vital importance of innovative charging infrastructure and software, which play a pivotal role in supporting the overall expansion of EVs.

How does Smart eMobility Help?

Smart eMobility offers a holistic solution for managing EV charging. Our unified and cohesive platform integrates hardware, software, and services, elevating your charging experience with data-driven insights for real-time energy tracking and management. Whether on-site or remote, powered by AI-ML Analytics, our solution enhances the charging management experience for businesses and end users.