Laserfiche WebLink
THE FOUR LEVELS OF EV CHARGING ENERGY MANAGEMENT: A GUIDE TO SMARTER EV CHARGING 9 <br />How it works <br />Current Transformer (CT) clamps—donut-shaped <br />sensors that wrap around electrical wires—monitor <br />real-time power consumption at specific electrical <br />panels. These sensors measure electrical current <br />consumed by the panel, feeding data to the central <br />management system every few seconds. <br />The sensors actively read non-EV loads and allocate <br />available power to EV charging. <br />Picture this scenario: a 100-amp electrical panel is <br />used to power HVAC in a building, which typically runs <br />at 40 amps during normal building operations.The <br />management system dedicates the remaining available <br />power to all EV charging, and as the non-EV loads <br />fluctuate throughout the day, the chargers respond <br />accordingly. <br />On a hot afternoon, when air conditioning consumes <br />more power than usual, the system detects this <br />instantly and temporarily reduces EV charging on active <br />chargers. Later that night, when AC units cycle off, <br />charging power automatically increases when more <br />power becomes available. <br />The benefits <br />Maximize existing infrastructure. You can add <br />substantial EV charging capacity to existing electrical <br />panels without major upgrades—installations that <br />would otherwise require significant investment in new <br />panels and utility service work. <br />Fast deployment. This approach often provides <br />the quickest path to getting chargers operational, <br />addressing immediate tenant or employee demand <br />while you plan longer-term solutions. <br />Intelligent adaptation. The system learns building <br />patterns and can predict when more power will <br />be available, pre-positioning charging schedules <br />accordingly. <br />Technology requirements <br /> →All components from Level 2 (networked chargers <br />and central software) <br /> →Current Transformer (CT) clamps connected to the <br />network management system <br /> →Integration with existing electrical panels (requires <br />licensed electrician) <br /> →More sophisticated software algorithms to balance <br />competing loads <br />The trade-offs <br />Charging performance is directly impacted by the <br />building’s overall electrical consumption. <br />During peak demand periods—think summer heat <br />waves or winter cold snaps—available charging power <br />may decrease significantly for extended periods. <br />Some installations see 70-80% reduction in charging <br />speeds during extreme weather events lasting several <br />days. <br />Best applications <br />Existing buildings where major electrical upgrades <br />aren’t feasible. Properties needing operational chargers <br />within 60 days to satisfy immediate demand. Buildings <br />with physical constraints preventing new panel <br />installations. Applications where longer charging times <br />meet user needs.