Electric vehicles are becoming more and more common, and have boomed in recent years due to their sustainability, energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, technological advances, among many other things. As they become part of more and more people's daily lives, the need for efficient and economical charging systems is becoming more and more evident.
This is why systems such as Smart Charging have appeared. Also known as smart charging, it is a system that optimises electric car charging by optimising energy consumption and charging time. It does this by means of functionalities that allow you to get the most out of the charging session, which is why this system can save you money when charging your electric vehicle.
Unlike traditional charging that starts automatically when the vehicle is switched on, charging allows the charging process to be managed efficiently. This is achieved by adapting the charging to avoid consumption peaks and optimising the use of electricity during off-peak hours.
How does smart charging work?
Smart charging focuses on connecting charging points with users and operators by transmitting information in real time. Every time an electric vehicle is connected, charging stations send data such as charging time and speed to a centralised management platform. This type of dynamic load management is often referred to as DLM (Dynamic Load Management).
This data feed is automatically analysed and visualised in real time by the platform's software, allowing automated decisions to be made on how and when to charge electric vehicles. In this way, charging operators can control and regulate energy use easily and remotely, typically via a mobile app.
This charging system, in addition to optimising energy use, also helps charging operators to properly distribute energy among multiple vehicles, avoiding overloading the grid and exceeding the maximum capacity of the building. In fact, in regions where electric vehicles are highly integrated, such as in the Nordic countries, the use of Smart Charging and DLM (Dynamic Load Management) can re
What is the difference between smart charging and fast charging?
On the one hand, fast charging focuses on increasing the rate at which energy flows to the EV battery, allowing it to charge faster. On the other hand, smart charging allows vehicle owners, businesses and grid operators to manage the amount of energy that EVs receive and decide when to start charging to optimise consumption and costs.
In general, standard charging stations (also called slow charging stations) have a maximum power of 3 kW and require 6 to 12 hours to charge a vehicle. Fast charging stations, which are usually found in public places, have an output of 7 to 22 kW and can charge a vehicle in 1 to 6 hours. Fast chargers, with power ratings of 50 to 150 kW, can charge an electric vehicle to 80 % in about 20 to 40 minutes.
Electric vehicle charging manager
If you are looking for an advanced and efficient electric vehicle charging management solution, the Dynamic Load Manager (DLM) is the ideal solution. SACI-EVA 2.0 is a very good option. This dynamic power management system is designed to optimise energy distribution in stations with up to 100 charging points, allowing the integration of chargers of different brands in the same installation. It is also capable of charging with surplus photovoltaic energy from the installation.
Now you know what smart charging is. If you are interested in improving the efficiency of electric vehicle charging or have questions about this or any other product, do not hesitate to contact us so that we can answer your questions and offer you personalised advice.