ev charging Archives

Electrify America, one of the largest charge point operators in the US, recently announced a new electric vehicle (EV) charging policy to curb charge hogging. The company stated that they will start penalizing customers who charge their vehicles beyond 85% at Electrify America fast chargers. According to the CEO’s statement, charging will stop at 85 percent, and if drivers don’t unplug their EVs within a 10-minute grace period, they’ll be billed extra for idle time.

The response to the new policy has been divergent, with some arguing that the policy will help resolve crowding at charging stations, and others questioning whether it is okay for a company to ration battery power. Regardless of the public perception of the news, we would like to discuss some charging best practices outlined for EV owners.

The 20/80 rule

The general rule of thumb for EV charging is to keep the vehicle’s energy levels in the 20-80% range. While this is not a strict requirement, there are several reasons why this range has become standard practice:

EV Battery Health

Keeping the vehicle energy levels in the 20-80 percent range is considered the most optimal for battery health. This is a safe range that ensures that the battery operates in balanced conditions. Going beyond this range may put extra strain on the EV battery, which is fine occasionally, but has negative effects on battery performance if done consistently.

Charging Time Efficiency

Realistically speaking, charging up from 80% to 100% will take around the same time, if not more, than getting to that first 80% mark. This is because the rate at which an EV battery charges is not uniform, charging speed slows down significantly as you pass the 80% threshold. So, charging until 80% is simply more time-efficient.

Range

While there aren’t any immediate performance issues associated with charging over 80%, dipping below 20% may not be wise in a practical sense. Imagine you are driving to a destination with 45% of your battery capacity. Navigation says you will need about 35% of your battery to get to your destination. But navigation calculations may not always be correct, sometimes underestimating the amount of energy needed to make it from point A to point B, especially because energy consumption also depends on driving and weather conditions. So, to avoid range anxiety it is often recommended to keep vehicle battery levels above 20%. Once again, occasional deviations are totally fine.

While widespread, the 20/80 rule is a rule of thumb. Therefore, it is always advised to follow the guidelines of your respective vehicle manufacturer regarding charging best practices. After all, different vehicles function differently and the manufacturers that created the vehicle will indeed know best.

Going beyond the recommended battery level range on occasion should not alter battery performance. So, if you have a long road trip planned do not fret about fully charging your battery. EV batteries are sophisticated pieces of hardware designed to withstand various conditions. However, be aware that subjecting the battery to constant strain by frequently keeping energy levels above 80 or below 20 may speed up the battery wear and tear process, which means that you may need a repair or a replacement earlier than anticipated.

All in all, electric vehicles and their batteries need to be treated with appropriate care to ensure longevity and optimal performance.

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ISO 15118 – a seemingly obscure collection of letters and numbers – signifies one of the most progressive standards in electric vehicle (EV) charging. The ISO 15118 standard, formally known as “Road Vehicles – Vehicle to Grid Communication Interface,” establishes the communication protocol between a vehicle and the charging grid. This standard laid down the foundation for Plug & Charge (PnC), a feature that establishes encrypted communication between an EV and a charging station.

While the technology has not been mandated by any government yet, many prominent charge point operators (CPO) and vehicle manufacturers are implementing it. This article will dive into how implementing Plug & Charge would elevate public charging stations to the next level, offering numerous benefits and opportunities for the industry.

Plug & Charge and Cybersecurity

With Plug & Charge the often multi-step charging process becomes as simple as plugging in your EV to the charger. The ISO 15118 protocol enables a seamless charging process where a charger can automatically identify and verify a plugged-in vehicle, authenticating the charging process and processing the payment without human intervention.

This technology requires a high level of communication between vehicles and infrastructure which may raise concerns about security. It is important to note that Plug & Charge was designed with cybersecurity at its core. The technology uses public key infrastructure (PKI) based cryptographic mechanisms to enable two-way authentication and end-to-end encryption during the charging process. By using asymmetric cryptography – a pairing of a public and private security key, neither of which can be decrypted without the other – the charging station is able to verify an EV’s identity and vice versa. This level of encryption guarantees confidentiality in every exchange, creating a secure environment for EV drivers to charge their vehicles without worrying about cyber attacks or data breaches.

Improved User Experience

Plug & Charge significantly improves user experience by making the entire charging process seamless. EV owners set up their payment and authentication information during vehicle purchase and this information is automatically communicated to the charger when the car is plugged in.

In the modern world, where hassle-free is king, public charging stations can generate a lot of value by implementing the technology. Considering how charging is one of the biggest obstacles to EV adoption rates, improving charging experience is one of the sure ways to aid adoption.

According to a survey conducted by BCG, EV drivers ranked charger reliability, charging time, and ease of use among their top priorities when charging in public. Charging stations that implement Plug & Charge to enhance performance on these metrics will improve their competitiveness, simultaneously raising the overall standard for public charging user experience.

Path Toward V2G Implementation

Apart from instant benefits, implementing Plug & Charge creates a foundation for further technological improvements. Most importantly, it paves the way for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) implementation. ISO 15118 is designed for vehicle-to-grid communications and grid optimization. Integrating Plug & Charge in public charging stations will equip the infrastructure with the necessary technology for smart charging applications.

Why is this important? The smart charging mechanism in ISO 15118 allows for sustainable management of energy supplied through the grid. It does that by matching the grid’s capacity with the energy demand of electric vehicles plugged in to the grid. This optimization allows vehicles to charge during periods of high energy availability or when overall electricity usage is low, reducing strain on the electricity grid and promoting sustainable energy usage. The benefits of this technology will only grow as EV adoption rates rise with time.

Another feature outlined in ISO 15118 is bi-directional charging, which allows vehicles to receive and supply energy from and back to the grid. This benefits both the grid and EV owners. On the grid side, electric vehicles can serve as mobile energy storage units that supply electricity back to the grid during periods of high demand. On the customer-side, it offers EV owners a chance to earn extra cash or energy credits by selling electricity back to the grid. Bi-directional charging creates a symbiotic relationship between the electricity grid and electric vehicles, helping maintain balance and energy efficiency.

Implementing Plug & Charge in public charging stations presents a significant opportunity to enhance the EV charging experience. High level of cybersecurity, seamless charging process, and readiness for V2G integration make Plug & Charge a valuable investment.

As a trusted PnC implementation partner, Autocrypt worked closely with various CPOs and OEMs to deploy secure PnC. Recently, Autocrypt joined forces with Emobi, a US-based e-mobility hub, to launch the first US-based PnC ecosystem.

As the demand for EVs continues to grow, the adoption of standards like ISO 15118 and features like Plug & Charge will be crucial in supporting the sustainable and efficient expansion of EV infrastructure.

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Tag: ev charging

EV Charging: Balancing Battery Health, Charging Time, and Range