Electricity bills will not skyrocket.
It is becoming a general expectation that EV chargers, preferably fast-charging equipment, should be available along busier roads. These chargers, with outputs of up to 300–400 kW, have significant electricity demands, and operators must also be prepared to ensure that sufficient power is available even when all charging points are being used simultaneously.
They can ensure this by contracting grid capacity corresponding to peak demand from the electricity provider, but they have to pay for this regardless of utilization. This is not a very cost-effective solution, and the construction of new electrical infrastructure that enables capacity expansion is also costly and a time-consuming process that can take years. However, if they set a lower power limit and exceed it, they have to pay a penalty, while the possible activation of protective devices can lead to a temporary power outage and therefore operational downtime.
Siemens’ new development provides a solution to this. The device providing dynamic load management, with a plug-and-play design and an easy-to-install hardware unit, regulates not only the charging equipment but the power of the entire site within a single common system. In other words, electricity management can be optimized so that, when necessary, sufficient charging power is available at every charging point, while the operator does not exceed even a lower power limit.
This preconfigured and freely parameterizable hardware device simplifies the monitoring and control of the electrical grid and the devices connected to it. The so-called Multipurpose Automation Box acts as a bridge between electrical consumers, producers, and software control systems, enabling the visualization of devices on a single platform, as well as the collection, management, and analysis of their data.
The solution can be connected to any device with Modbus communication, making it suitable not only for EV chargers but also for controlling solar panels, small power plants, or microgrids. One automation unit can manage at least 10 chargers, regardless of manufacturer, but thanks to its scalability, up to 250 devices can be managed with this solution. It can be integrated into cloud-based software applications providing remote monitoring, including the Siemens Electrification X portfolio, which, for example, makes it possible to troubleshoot or restart charging equipment without an on-site visit.
When designing the unit, in addition to a space-saving design and resistance to harsh environmental conditions, particular attention was also paid to cybersecurity, thereby providing a reliable, resource- and cost-efficient, as well as sustainable energy optimization solution.