The world is heading toward wider-ranging and more destructive climate effects if countries don’t meet their emission reduction targets. To mitigate their impact and meet their climate commitments, countries are pursuing a host of sustainability initiatives. Electric vehicle (EV) adoption has a central role in sustainability plans because EVs can reduce cars’ significant carbon footprint, which is why the EU, United States, Canada, and China, as well as other countries, are focusing heavily on policies that increase EV adoption.
This approach seems to be working based on record-breaking EV sales. However, simply increasing the number of EVs on the road isn’t enough to combat vehicles’ climate change effect. EVs that are charged using fossil fuels for electricity and whose charging patterns don’t optimise clean energy use can still have a significant carbon footprint.
What is smart charging?
Smart charging is the solution for more sustainable charging, using a system able to monitor, manage and eventually limit the use of EV charging devices to optimise energy consumption. It can intelligently and flexibly adapt the charging strategy to meet both the needs of EV users and the power grid. In fact, a study found that aligning EV charging to when cleaner power is available on the grid could save around 800 pounds of CO2 per vehicle annually. Adding smart charging points in places like commercial and multi-family residences not only offers drivers more places to charge, but also more charging options than traditional load management options. For example, charging can be adjusted for drivers’ needs, considering variables like time and cost and the charging level based on local renewable energy sources.
Regardless of if a driver is charging with renewables or fossil fuels, smart charging can also optimise electricity use. For example, smart charging solutions can charge at off-peak times, which reduces charging costs for drivers and minimises load impact.
This, in turn, avoids the need to upgrade electrical distribution installations in the buildings and contributes to grid balancing by adjusting charging levels.
Sustainability and convenience
By 2030, the EV market will require more than 55 million chargers in buildings, according to American consulting firm McKinsey.
Why is smart charging in buildings and homes so important for the EV revolution? In addition to the sustainability benefits, it comes down to convenience. EV charging is not nearly as quick as filling up with petrol at the pump. Because EVs take longer to charge, EV drivers want to be able to charge at convenient places where they will already be parked for extended periods – such as workplaces and homes. In fact, it’s predicted that more than 60% of the global EV charging will take place at commercial or multifamily buildings by 2030, according to Bloomberg, so the smart charging infrastructure must be in place to support them.
Smart EV charging also benefits the building owners and facility managers as it can accommodate the increased energy demand while also using renewable energy when available, taking the stress off the buildings’ electrical systems.
It’s clear that EVs are part of the new mobility, so a smart charging infrastructure future-proofs buildings for the regulations that are already in place or forthcoming in the years to come.
What is EcoStruxure for eMobility in buildings?
Combing all end-to-end solutions means that Schneider Electric is offering reliable and energy-efficient technology for implementing EV charging infrastructure in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings.
EcoStruxure for eMobility provides more than just EV chargers, it is an end-to-end connected solution that is easy to install, maintains building power reliability, and provides a convenient experience for EV drivers.
EcoStruxure for eMobility consists of:
1. EVlink Pro AC, a reliable, sustainable, and connected charger that is fast to install, easy to operate and maintain, as well as great for minimising costs and downtime.
2. EcoStruxure EV Charging Expert, an on-site load management system that dynamically distributes real-time available power in the building to charge EVs, avoiding peak hours and integrating renewable energy.
3. EcoStruxure EV Advisor, a cloud-based operations software that will enable partners to supervise remotely and easily commission, monitor, and control the EV charging infrastructure.
Since beginning the journey into the electrification of vehicles, Schneider Electric’s main aim has been to deliver solutions to solve customers’ challenges when it comes to adopting EV charging infrastructure.
Discover more about EcoStruxure for eMobility and the newly launched EVlink Pro AC at www.se.com/ie
