If you’re looking to install multiple charging stations, you may have heard the term “local load management” (LLM). While some single-occupant homes may want to look into electric vehicle (EV) load management systems if they have multiple EVs, it is especially important for commercial and multi-unit dwellings to look into load-sharing EV chargers if they currently have multiple charging stations or are considering multiple chargers in the future.
What Is Electric Vehicle Load Management?
Whenever you plug an electronic device into the wall, you expect it to work while also expecting that another appliance won’t shut off merely because you plugged in something new. However, there isn’t an infinite amount of electricity that surges into your home. There are layers of checks and balances to ensure that your appliances continue to receive power from the electricity that is available. But an electric vehicle charging system takes much more electricity than, say, a toaster. Although your electrical panel can handle and supply energy to one, things become trickier when multiple devices are used. That’s where local load management comes in.
Local load management allows you to use your building’s existing electrical panel power capacity to charge multiple electric vehicles via charging stations by allowing the charging stations to talk to each other, doling out a steady electrical current to each.
Say your electrical panel provides 80 amps, but you have four chargers that each need 40 amps at full charging capacity. If each charging station worked at full capacity at the same time, they would demand more electricity than the panel can provide, causing issues and overwhelming the electrical panel. But when the chargers are able to communicate with each other, electricity can be spread out amongst all four charging stations. They won’t try to force more electricity than is available.
Ways Electric Vehicle Load Management Can Provide Electricity
There are two ways in which load-sharing electrical chargers will provide a steady stream of electricity to the stations: equally distributed or first in, first charged.
With equally distributed load sharing, each of the EV chargers will get the same amount of electricity depending on how many amps are available and how many stations are being used. Using the example of the electrical panel that provides 80 amps and four 40-amp chargers, each charger will distribute 20 amps, providing an even load between the four. If one were to leave, each would begin distributing 26 amps.
With first in, first charged load sharing, distribution of electricity to the EV chargers would depend on when it began. The first of the four charging stations would charge its electric vehicle at full capacity while the second vehicle would get as much electricity as it could with what was still available. If that vehicle is able to reach full capacity with electricity to spare, that spare electricity would charge the third vehicle. Once the first vehicle leaves, the electrical load it was using would move to the third vehicle and any spare electricity would begin to charge the fourth vehicle.
Deciding on which type of load distribution you would utilize depends on how you want the chargers to be used and where they are located. A fleet manager may want to charge all of their vehicles at once over a longer period of time, so they would choose equal distribution. Meanwhile, an apartment manager would want tenants to finish charging quicker and move their vehicle out of the way so more EVs can be charged, thereby choosing first in, first charged.
How Do EvoCharge’s EV Chargers Communicate Load Sharing?
EvoCharge EV charging stations can communicate with each other via either WiFi or Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) network services. Both the EvoCharge iEVSE and iEVSE Plus stations are capable of local load management through both their WiFi or OCPP capabilities. While other charging stations may only provide EV charging load management through OCPP, EvoCharge’s iEVSE and iEVSE Plus can communicate with each other through WiFi as well, providing you with options.
Why You Would Want EV Charging Load Management?
There are many advantages of EV charging load management.
First, EV charging load management capabilities allow you to connect multiple charging stations to a single feeder which helps you avoid expensive installation costs. With other stations that don’t provide local load management, you may need to install additional power sources or increase the amperage available to your electrical panel. This process is tedious and costly as it involves digging ditches, laying new wiring, adding to or updating the electrical panel, etc. Being able to utilize what is already available saves you time and money.
Second, electric vehicle load management can help you set up your chargers to provide specific amounts of electricity during peak and off-peak hours. Whenever you use electricity during peak hours—typically 8 am to 10 pm on weekdays—your utility company will charge a higher rate than the electricity used during off-peak hours—10 pm to 8 am on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. Electric vehicle load management systems give you an added layer of control over how and when the stations are used, maximizing savings.
Whether you’re planning on adding multiple charging stations to your property immediately or sometime in the future, investing in load-sharing EV chargers up-front will help save you time, money and effort down the line. EvoCharge has two load-sharing EV charging stations for commercial use: the iEVSE and iEVSE Plus.
Watch our video on local load management here.
iEVSE
The EvoCharge iEVSE smart commercial charging station connects over standard Wi-Fi and true Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) to provide access control and integration options for utility and third-party network service providers.
iEVSE Plus
The EvoCharge iEVSE Plus smart commercial charging stations are perfect for managing multiple EV charger connections over Wi-Fi or 4G-LTE cellular. With the true Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) and RFID card reader integration, the iEVSE Plus allows for payment and access capabilities for users.
EvoReel
The ultimate in cable management, EvoReel can be installed overhead on the ceiling or on a pedestal, keeping your cord off the ground and out of your way, improving convenience, safety, cleanliness and efficiency within your space.