Electric vehicles are the future, and as their adoption increases, so does the need for a solid logistical backbone of charging station infrastructure. And while the hardware that delivers thousands of kilowatts of electricity to cars worldwide is impressive in its own right, it must be paired with an appropriate software solution to provide a frustration-free experience for EV drivers, fleet owners, and enterprise managers.
There''s a bit of a gold rush going on in the electric vehicle charging software world right now, but some software solutions are more akin to snake oil than precious metal. With that in mind, here are the best EV charging software solutions keeping cars moving, what makes them unique, and where they stand to improve.
ChargePoint''s offerings of both software and hardware make it a good choice for organizations seeking a holistic solution to their EV charging needs. The company boasts the largest network of EV charging stations in the US and beyond by a wide margin, though it doesn''t have as many fast charging stations as Tesla, its nearest competitor.
EV Connect is another white-label solution, servicing charging stations in schools, hospitals, hotels, and more. The company offers white-glove installation and setup, with consultation services designed to make the process as easy as possible. EV Connect''s app has maintained positive customer reviews on both the App Store and Google Play.
Driivz focuses its services on optimization, working to ensure that energy consumption is balanced throughout the day. The software helps overcome local grid capacity through intelligent charging technology, reducing the fees incurred during peak times. It can also redirect energy to local storage when prices are at their lowest, resulting in lower operating costs.
There are plenty of EV charging station software solutions available. While the above list comprises the strongest contenders, here are a few options that barely fell short.
With the objective of "building a world where electric mobility is the new normal," EVBox furnishes customers with an integrated set of charging solutions. That includes flexible and modular charging solutions complete with branded charging hardware. EVBox counts more than 20,000 business customers, including consumer goods giant Unilever.
Blink is a fast-growing company that offers both hardware and software solutions, boasting more than 23,000 charging stations worldwide as of 2020. The company''s software and hardware offer all the staples but not much else.
Similar to EVBox, LeapCharger outfits clients with a complete infrastructure for bringing EV charging to their facilities. Its offering currently comes in three forms: 150 eW DC fast charging stations, 40-80 kW charging stations with a 55" screen for advertising, and mobile charging units with speeds up to 40 kW.
Tridens EV Charge bundles all of your EV infrastructure into a central hub. Tridens allows you to manage an unlimited number of stations with remote commands and smart energy load balancing quickly and efficiently.
Consider each option carefully when deciding which is the best EV charging software for your company. You''ll want to find a partner capable of scaling its services alongside you while providing a top-notch experience to you and your customers. ChargeLab is that solution, offering a robust white-label software suite that puts customizability and flexibility at the forefront. No matter where you''re at in your EV charging business journey, ChargeLab is ready to help you grow ever onwards. Check out our software page to learn more.
We''re looking for the best engineers and operators to help build the future of EV charging.
All this growth means we need more places to charge EVs—now. Everywhere from homes and workplaces to retail sites, fleet depots, and on-the-go charging sites, the race is on to build enough public fast-charging stations to meet demand, remove perceived inconvenience for those still hesitating to transition to EVs, and ultimately help meet CO2 emission reduction targets. Some actions governments and companies can take include offering incentives to build private chargers, subsidizing public charging, and investing in production capacity and a skilled workforce.
As EVs have become increasingly affordable, one of the primary barriers for consumers is no longer cost but charging convenience. In McKinsey''s 2020 ACES Consumer Survey, potential EV drivers put the lack of charging infrastructure at the top of the list of barriers to expanded EV adoption. Today, most EV charging is done at home, but the availability and convenience of publicly accessible chargers will be crucial for complete electrification of the vehicle fleet.
Although momentum in charging infrastructure has increased—Europe''s public charger count increased fourfold between 2015 and 20203"Normal and high-power public recharging points (2020)," European Alternative Fuels Observatory, eafo .—four risks could turn charging into a bottleneck:
Solution providers and owners and operators of charging networks play a key role in scaling EV-charging infrastructure, yet the broader ecosystem can help address a number of challenges. This includes, among others, OEMs, real estate providers, utilities and grid operators, and infrastructure funds.
With this in mind, governments and companies can take several actions to address the leading risks facing EV charging infrastructure.
Subsidize public charging in necessary locations. Subsidies—for capital expenditure on chargers, installation, and power distribution, as well as ongoing costs for operation—can help draw EV charging to areas where it is most needed. Such subsidies can make it economically viable to build chargers in areas where long-term profitability can outweigh short-term costs. Some governments, such as New York City''s, are funding installation costs to build chargers in high-demand areas; others, such as Germany''s, are sponsoring an entire network to be operated by private companies. A successful effort will require modeling of demand, grid capacity, and other factors to determine priorities for investment.
Work with utilities to build out the electric grid. Electric grids will need to expand capacity to ensure they can cover the demand that will be created by a future of EV-covered roads. Governments might direct funding to grid operators earmarked to build capacity starting in areas with high local charging demand. They can also consider developing a new grid fee system that accounts for peak demand charging need, protects the grid from overutilization, and keeps charging economically viable at ultrafast charging locations.
Link incentives and subsidies to use of green energy. Achieving net-zero road emissions requires ensuring EV chargers are distributing 100 percent green energy. Where possible, governments can advance multiple sustainability agendas by requiring recipients of incentives and subsidies to commit to using green energy.
Simplify and standardize permitting. In extreme scenarios, securing a permit for a charger site, including installation and grid updates, can take two years. Streamlining permitting to accelerate throughput will take concerted action at a number of levels of government and in most geographies.
Invest in production capacity and a skilled workforce. Now is the time for EV charging companies to scale, build out factories and supply chains in relevant regions to match demand, and develop a growth-minded talent strategy. These resources will form the foundation for successful rollouts of chargers in the coming years.
Partner to finance public chargers. Infrastructure funds and other potential investment partners offer alternative funding sources to help build, install, and operate public chargers. Beyond raising money, such partners may also be interested in other methods of funding capital, such as purchasing charging infrastructure assets in exchange for stable returns.
Use data and analytics for network planning. Sophisticated, data-driven planning will be required to identify the best sites for a successful, in-demand charging network. For example, geospatial analytics allow planners to optimize locations based on traffic flows, local grid status, and other relevant factors.
Reduce "range anxiety" of potential EV drivers. Perception of potential issues with switching from ICE to EV needs to be proactively addressed. Ongoing consumer education efforts around helpful tools (such as integrated trip planning or charger reservations) and additional advantages of EVs (such as integration with a home solar system) is required.
In 2020, the EV rubber hit the road. Over the next decade, EVs will help redefine the intersection of mobility and infrastructure—and, in doing so, will, contribute significantly to achieving net-zero emissions targets.
Stefan Heldmann is an associate partner in McKinsey’s Frankfurt office; Florian Nägele is a partner in the Zurich office; and Felix Richter is an associate partner in the Berlin office.
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Grid reinforcements could serve as a solution, but their feasibility is hindered by the exorbitant costs9,10 and a shortage of qualified personnel to execute these reinforcements11,12. Another approach to alleviate grid congestion is to move away from uncontrolled charging, where EVs charge at maximum power upon arrival until their demand is met. For most EV charging sessions, the connection time to a charging station considerably exceeds the required time to meet their charging demand. This provides ample opportunities for EV smart charging. With smart charging, EV charging sessions are optimized for different objectives by aligning the charging moments and charging speed over time with user preferences and current market or grid conditions3,13.
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