Performance, ergonomics, and network support – the present and future of EV charging stations.

Charging electric vehicles is one of the most important issues in the context of the automotive revolution that has already begun. Charging speed, availability, infrastructure costs, and the need to adapt the network to the growing number of stations are the main topics that arise during discussions about e-mobility.

Fortunately, charging stations are one of the fastest-growing sectors. Innovative projects are becoming a technological response to the above problems. Inductive charging, charging stations adapted for urban areas, and Vehicle-to-Grid technology are just some of the solutions worth noting.

Speed Matters

With a busy schedule, consumers increasingly appreciate solutions that save time. This has led to the development of fast EV charging technology. This is a sector where we can certainly expect regularly emerging innovations.

Piotr Krzemiński, COO at Euroloop and WILLBERT, spoke to us about the fast charging station market.

“Fast charging stations are attracting the interest of an increasing number of customers. This interest is coming not only from oil companies or charging network operators but also from companies that, alongside their current activities, want to invest in fast chargers. Such an investment sometimes accompanies the electrification of a corporate fleet, but every time companies see opportunities for diversifying their sources of income. With the dynamic development of the market, business models based on selling energy to electric vehicle drivers look very attractive. Fast chargers offer the possibility to sell more energy at a higher rate (the rate depends on the charging power). To make this possible, an efficient charger is needed to reduce operational costs and provide an easy and hands-free way to monetize such activity. In addition, the infrastructure must meet the requirements for direct payments, as required by AFIR legal regulations.”

Meeting the needs of both drivers and operators is one of the biggest challenges faced by fast charging station manufacturers.

“At EUROLOOP, we focus on providing comprehensive EV fast charging services while ensuring a positive experience for both our customers – operators and their customers – EV drivers. Thanks to their modularity, WILLBERT chargers can be easily adapted to diverse market conditions and, if necessary, expanded. The highest efficiency on the market, exceeding 97%, provided by these devices, allows for significant reduction in operational costs by halving energy losses compared to the competition. A dedicated IT system allows for constant monitoring of the infrastructure from both a business and technical perspective, increasing the reliability of the charging network. Managing ads on charger screens allows for full utilization of marketing resources. Most importantly, billing and payment processing with a card during charging sessions operate for operators in a completely hands-free manner, while also offering a long-awaited payment option for EV drivers using a bank card, without the need to install another app on their phone,” adds Piotr Krzemiński.

According to Euroloop’s COO, new DC chargers will increasingly appear not only along fast routes but also in diverse locations beyond major communication arteries. This will lead to increased awareness among charging network operators and improved reliability of installed solutions.

Cable-Free Charging

Nearly 100 startups worldwide have set out to eliminate cables from charging stations. Inductive charging for electric vehicles has been with us for several years, but it has not yet gained widespread popularity. Cost and some technological limitations may be barriers.

Fortunately, there are fewer and fewer of these limitations. Inductive stations achieve charging speeds comparable to plug-in solutions. Moreover, inductive charging is not limited to home stations. In the USA, charging stations with a power of over 250 kW that support public transportation are already functioning successfully. Berlin buses are also charged inductively, and in Norway, taxis waiting in parking spaces are charged wirelessly.

A cable-free charging station opens up vast possibilities. Just four years ago, Swedes celebrated the opening of the world’s first charging road. Today, there are dozens of such roads around the world (including Italy, China, and the USA).

Wireless long-distance charging technology (LDWC) is also available on the market, providing power for several meters with high efficiency and, above all, safety.

The wireless charging station sector is becoming increasingly attractive to vehicle manufacturers. They help technology companies adapt inductive stations to the secondary market for cars. ABT e-Line and WiTricity have announced plans to deliver wireless electric vehicle charging technology to the European secondary market. With experience in collaboration on projects with the Volkswagen Group, ABT e-Line will start by modernizing the ID.4 model. We will see the first results of this venture in 2024.

Support for Operators and Drivers

The expanding infrastructure also presents challenges in terms of management. CMS-type software solutions are already appearing on the market to simplify the lives of charging station operators.

These are comprehensive platforms that allow owners of multiple charging stations in a given area to control their availability, customer prices, payment methods, and balance loads between points.

Price differentiation for end-users through CMS is crucial in a rapidly changing market. Applications allow setting prices per kWh, session, hour, or any combination. In addition, operators can offer discounts or provide subscription options to customers.

Technology also supports drivers. Each smartphone can download at least several apps that facilitate electric vehicle travel. A notable example is the A Better Routeplanner app, which allows you to plan your route based on your electric vehicle model, defined energy consumption at a given speed, and the number of planned stops.

Apps that show nearby charging stations (e.g., Plugshare) will also be helpful. These apps search for stations compatible with our car model and help distinguish between fast and slow charging stations. Additionally, you can mark a station as occupied when you are using it.

Most charging station operators also provide their proprietary mobile apps.

Chargers in Urban Areas

In the coming years, we will see a significant increase in the number of charging stations in our country. This may be problematic, especially in urban areas where demand will be the highest.

Engineers worldwide are working on the least invasive placement of EV charging infrastructure in city centers and tight neighborhoods. One innovative idea in this regard is curbside charging developed by the German company Rheinmetall.

As the name suggests, charging stations are hidden in curbs. This way, the infrastructure is practically integrated into the cityscape and inconspicuous. This technology allows charging with a maximum power of 22 kW. Currently, curbside chargers are being tested as a pilot project in public areas in Cologne.

A interesting concept was developed by the startup Ecoro, which wants to move freight transport underground. In tunnels located directly under the road, freight would be transported on dedicated rails.

What does this technology have to do with charging stations? In the concept of the German company, roads above the tunnels would be covered with PV installations and inductive chargers. The produced electrical energy would be used to power underground transport and charge vehicles traveling on the surface.

The solution is modular, allowing for the construction of a 300-meter system in a single day.

Energy Warehouses on Four Wheels

Electromobility is closely related to grid flexibility. Although Vehicle-to-Grid technology has been known for over two decades, it can now become a key element of e-mobility. The growing charging infrastructure and thousands of new electric vehicles on Polish roads each year pose a challenge to the electrical grid.

Vehicle-to-Grid technology can be a component that helps make the grid more flexible in response to changing conditions. These vehicles can be charged during off-peak hours when energy demand is lowest (e.g., at night) or when renewable energy production is at its highest.

Unused energy during travel can be fed back into the grid during peak hours or sudden increases in demand. Moreover, electric vehicles can store more electrical energy than the daily demand of an average household. As a result, such a vehicle could provide backup power to a home for several days using Vehicle-to-Home technology.

The first Vehicle-to-Grid charger in Poland appeared in Bolechów. Bidirectional energy flow allows the use of electric buses as mobile energy storage units. Similar solutions have been implemented in places like San Diego, where 8 buses can serve as energy warehouses. Pilot projects and research in this area are being carried out in the UK, Australia, Denmark, and Japan.

Infrastructure Needed Right Now

According to the electromobility counter created by PSPA, as of April 2023, Poland currently has 2,768 charging stations. Just three years ago, this number was over twice as small. The dynamic development of EV charging infrastructure is certainly encouraging, but it is still a drop in the ocean of needs.

The same electromobility counter provides data that indicate that in April 2020, there were slightly over 11,000 electric vehicles on Polish roads. Now, this number stands at 73,695. Such a growth rate (which is likely to accelerate further) will require investments in charging stations and the flexibility of the grid, which is necessary to support the e-mobility revolution.