Smart Charging with AC Chargers

When it comes to EV charging, two types of chargers exist: the more affordable AC wallbox chargers, where the AC-to-DC conversion takes place inside the vehicle, and the larger, heavier DC chargers used at public charging stations and in heavy vehicle and bus depots.

The main differences between the two are cost, charging capacity/speed, and software capabilities. Although both charger types may claim to support data exchange via Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), AC chargers rarely deliver state-of-charge (SOC) information. Instead, they typically report only the amount of energy delivered.

While this is sufficient for billing and payment purposes, it presents a challenge for smart charging applications, where monitoring the charging progress based on SOC is essential.

With the AC SMART-Charge algorithm in ChargePlan, it is now possible to enable SMART-charging using AC chargers. This algorithm leverages the charging history of both the charger and the vehicle as a proxy for SOC. Based on this data-driven approach, it can deliver energy savings of up to 35%, depending on the user’s driving pattern.

The AC SMART-Charge algorithm is available in ChargePlan from February 25, and it works with all types of vehicles from cars, vans, trucks and busses.