THE CHARGE POINT MANAGER´S TO GUIDE THE EV GALAXY When you enter into a new world, you need a guide. In this case a guide to an EV revolution, a guide based upon experiences from the most advanced market for electric vehicles in the world. Delivered to you from the company providing solutions to futureproof your investments. For tomorrow and beyond.
CONTENT THE REFERENCE TO A CULT SCI-FI
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THE STATISTICS BEHIND CURRENT DON´T LIE
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A CHECKLIST TO HELP YOU SET DIRECTION
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GROWTH DEMANDS STABILITY
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«DON´T PANIC», CHOOSE STANDARDISATION. CHOOSE OCPP 10 OCCP EQUALS HARDWARE AGNOSTIC SOLUTION 12 END USER FUNCTIONALITY 14 WHY CHARGE DUMB, WHEN YOU CAN CHARGE SMART? 16 ROAMING. THE ONLY WAY TO PROVIDE ABSOLUTE MOBILITY 18 TIME FOR MORE REFERENCES 20 CAPEX DECISIONS THAT WILL REDUCE OPEX AND INCREASE QUALITY 22 LET´S GO FOR THE BEST CONCLUSION 24 SIXTEEN CPO-QUESTIONS 26 THE EV FLEET MANAGERS QUESTIONS 28 THE EV GALAXY FLIGHT DASHBOARD BY CURRENT 30
THE REFERENCE TO A CULT SCI-FI. In the first paragraph of ”The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” we are introduced to a planet with a problem. ...This planet has a problem... The planet is earth and although the planet face an even more urgent threat in the fantastic book, we recognise and build upon the introduction: This planet has a problem... a climate challenge we have to meet by ambitious goals for sustainability and reduced emissions. THIS PLANET HAS ANSWERS. One idea is to swap out gas and diesel vehicles for electric vehicles, known as EVs, powered by batteries. And the idea unifies. After 2035 it is expected that 100% of new EU car sales will be electric, and by 2040 for the rest of the world. THE EV GALAXY? Yes, we do enter another world, a new world. For the vast majority EV is still in the future, like a fiction of the big change coming. But it is reality. The statistics on page 5 tell the story. The new world, we call it the EV Galaxy, challenge all of us, one way or the other. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE ON THIS MISSION? No matter whether you are the captain of an EV fleet or a charge point operator, you are on board. Your task is driven by the big idea, but your every day life is filled with new challenges and questions. That is why we launch this Guide. CURRENT HAS BEEN OUT THERE, BLAZING THE TRAILS. Out in the “unchartered backwaters”* of the real-world EV charging. We are experienced test pilots. Battle-tested. Future-proven. We are the largest independent Charge Point Management System (CPMS) provider in Scandinavia, growing rapidly and ready to help anywhere your business operations live. * reference to how The Hitchhiker´s Guide describes our part of the universe
PLANNING FOR A TRIP TO THE EV GALAXY? WE CAN HELP NAVIGATE YOUR JOURNEY. Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
THE STATISTICS BEHIND CURRENT DON´T LIE
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THE NEW WORLD IS OUR CURRENT WORLD. From within a new electric reality, comes CURRENT.ECO. We literally lead the charge (pun intended) for Norway and Scandinavia, as the leading, software only, CPMS - Charge Point Management System provider. NORWAY LEADS THE CHANGE. ”COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST SHARE OF PLUG-IN VEHICLES IN NEW PASSENGER CAR SALES IN 2020”
Source: World Economic Forum. ”Chart: Which countries have the most electric cars?” Published 19 FEB 2021. Written by Felix Richter, Statista. Sources for chart: ACEA, CAAM, EV-Volumes
CURRENT COULD´NT BE CURRENT FROM ANYWHERE, BUT NORWAY Our origin has made us. It is the most advanced EV-market in the world. A market were the end of selling fossil-fueled cars is close. In 2020, all electric cars achieved 54% of new car sales in Norway, and the numbers are growing at an amazing speed. According to an article in the magazine Motor from the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF) Norway could be selling its last new gas car in April 2022! Thanks to Norway, Europe has a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for EVs of 60%, compared to 36% in China and 17% in the US.
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A CHECKLIST TO HELP YOU SET DIRECTION
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THE QUALITY OF THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON THE QUESTIONS ASKED. That is what this guide is about. We have the experience. We have perspective. We have the technology. Crucially, we have the expertise. We like to share the questions to ask. ASK QUESTIONS. Here is your checklist of topics to consider when preparing your operation for a journey to the EV Galaxy. The 5 core areas, the five point checklist. 1 2 3 4 5
Stability Standardisation End User Functionality Roaming Smart Charging
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS GUIDED ADVENTURE? - Charge Point Operators - EV Fleet Managers - Charge Point Installers - Mobility Service Providers - Energy Utilities - Charge Point Manufacturers
”What seems simple in the beginning is really an expedition into the unknown and could become a chaos of unsolved issues, a nightmare of battles that take you nowhere.” CEO Tom Orvei, CURRENT.ECO
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GROWTH DEMANDS STABILITY
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THE GROWTH IS AMAZING! AND A CHALLENGE IN ITSELF. The public EV charging station target in Europe is 1.3 million by 2025 and 2.9 million by 2030. You might have dipped your toe in the EV water already, perhaps to tick the climate emissions box? But now it´s getting serious. The change will arrive at a speed few would have guessed. QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN GROWING: - How do we scale without losing efficiency? - How do we continuously minimize our operational costs? - How do we ensure customer satisfaction through to the EV drivers? - How do we create our own competitive IP? - How do we monetise with business models to suit all client needs? - If we grow via M&A, how do we ensure smooth consolidation of multiple charger brand and models in multiple locations, into one operation? KEY FEATURES TO LOOK OUT FOR: - Remote management of charge point operation, incl. control of all chargers - Issue resolution; at least 80% of charger issues can be dealt with remotely. - Ability to update firmware - Real-time monitoring/reporting for each charging point - Custom error notifications
Oslo Science Park is a real estate campus with parking facilities. They turned their operations with CURRENT: - Results charging station operation from a loss into a profitable running business within 4 months’ - Results 99% uptime since installation in 2016
SUPERCHARGE YOUR EV KNOWLEDGE FROM CURRENT’S KNOWLEDGE BATTERY Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
”DON´T PANIC”, CHOOSE STANDARDISATION CHOOSE OCPP
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DON´T PANIC. Those are famous words. From the Hitchhiker’s Guide. Iconic. In our context this reference underline the fact that although nobody knows where change will take us, we state our proposition; ”keep calm and choose CURRENT.” DON´T PANIC. ASK QUESTION How to ensure what we invest in today doesn’t become obsolete tomorrow? - Can we combine various charge points brands and models into one operation? - How can we collect data and report on our chargers? - How to check health and status? - How to analyse kWs, sessions uptime on a period basis? - How to optimize performance? - How can we deliver the best possible service to our customers? DON’T PANIC. CHOOSE OCPP. The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP). The electric vehicle industry standard open-source protocol for communication between charging stations (hardware) and central back-end EV charging management systems (software), the Charge Point Management Software (CPMS). CURRENT IS PART OF THE OPEN CHARGE ALLIANCE (OCA). OCA created The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) and CURRENT joined the alliance as we believe in the continuous development and evolution of the market, especially as it’s all about the EV driver and keeping them happy. THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE; DON´T LOCK YOURSELF IN. Read more about the open standard OCPP on next page... (cont next page)
Fjordkraft, a power supplier going into CPO business: “It was crucial for us that CURRENT offers a hardware-agnostic solution choosing amongst certified charging boxes freely - an important future-proofing for our Ladesmart product in Fjordkraft.” Product Manager Torfinn Fæste-Belbo, Fjordkraft AS
OCPP EQUALS HARDWARE-AGNOSTIC SOLUTION
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OCPP, THE OPEN STANDARDS, PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS AND EV OPERATORS WITH: - Future proofing that allows you to maximise the ROI from your hardware for years to come - Ability to plug-and-play multiple locations, chargers, manufacturer brands and models into one operation. - Ensure accessibility to all your charging data from kWs to sessions to turnover to health. - Allow your customers to use new and better solutions keeping them satisfied and ensuring loyalty. CURRENT IS PLAYING AN ACTIVE PART IN DEVELOPING THE CURRENT OCPP STANDARD 2.1 TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION. We test all our box integrations to more than OCPP standard. Choosing the right charging infrastructure should give you the greatest level of control. Chargers should be managed directly through OCPP, simplifying operations and maintenance, and ensuring clear and easy division of responsibilities among installers, operators, and manufacturers. Open communication standards and independent EV charging services should be the common goal of the EV charging industry. It allows customers to make their own choices regardless of the vendor. WE RECOMMEND, TO ANYONE PLANNING TO INVEST IN A CHARGING STATION: Look for a manufacturer that is a member of the Open Charge Alliance (OCA) or that offers OCPP-certified chargers.
WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT HOW CRUCIAL OCPP IS TO THE FUTURE OF YOUR EV OPERATION? Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
END USER FUNCTIONALITY
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NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE END USER EXPERIENCE. When you are entering the charging business of eMobility you need to apply superior service-management. Your ability to provide functionality is your way to improve the end user experience. And you know it is important - happy drivers are happy customers. QUESTIONS TO ASK TO ENSURE EV DRIVER SATISFACTION: - How do we communicate with the end users/EV drivers? - How do drivers pay for their charging? - How do we bill them for their power? - How do we manage VAT WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: - Mobile & web app white-label/branding services - Real-time availability for charger stations nearby - Start and stop charging - Branded receipts - Support tickets - Variety of payment methods - Detailed billing and transaction information - QR code support - ROAMING to find chargers from other networks WE HAVE EXPERIENCE AS A CHARGE POINT OPERATOR, STARTING IN 2013. CURRENT started its journey back in 2009, before transitioning to B2B only in 2020. Back then we were developing solutions for the EV driver. We discovered a need to provide the EV drivers with a seamless charging experience, at home, at the office and everywhere in between. Excellent user experience is the key to create more value and be rewarded for it. When choosing your partner for eMobility, choose someone with answers to your questions, and that understands your customer’s customer needs’.
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WHY CHARGE DUMB, WHEN YOU CAN CHARGE SMART?
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WHAT DOES SMART CHARGING GIVE YOU? A smart charging station speaks with both EVs, users and administrators. Smart EV charging makes it easy to add and remove features to create a sophisticated system that allows you to automate and optimise the power going to each vehicle - to control how, when and how much. SOME SMART CHARGING QUESTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS: - Can we, both as operator and as EV driver, report on energy consumption/ usage and charging performance in real-time? - To what level can we control charging capacity? - How do we prevent too many EVs from charging at once and how do we, automatically, ensure that all EVs have enough power to carry out their duty when needed? - Can we adjust power according to usage and daily consumption? - How do we dynamically distribute energy to and from the grid? FEATURES TO DESIRE: - Real-time reporting for all users on energy usage - Static Load Management: Manage static loads to prevent fuse breakage - Dynamic Load Management: Manage charging capacity, queuing systems, and operate power reductions periodically - Peak Power Control: Automatically adjust power to achieve maximum efficiency - Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): Dynamic energy distribution to and from the grid VEHICLE TO GRID - TESTED SINCE 2019 BY CURRENT. CURRENT, Statsbygg/Multiconsult have tested integration of EV-batteries in the power grid. To implement V2G you’d need EV chargers that support control of power parameter, a Charge Point Management system like CURRENT fully OCPP 1.6 (ready for OCPP 2.0). We’d be happy to talk through the possibilities with you. Necessary hardware; Vehicles that supports discharging, Charger that support discharging and a License to transfer energy back to DSO.
WANT TO CHARGE THE SMART WAY? Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
ROAMING. THE ONLY WAY TO PROVIDE ABSOLUTE MOBILITY
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ROAMING OFFERS THE POSSIBILITY TO USE ALL CHARGING STATIONS WITHOUT BEING A CUSTOMER OF ALL PROVIDERS. No matter if the EV driver is a customer of just one service provider, roaming networks open up access to all charging stations and provide EV-drivers with a hassle-free charging experience anywhere they drive. E-ROAMING QUESTIONS TO ASK: - Does your software support multiple charging networks? - Can you offer a pay-and-go on-the-road experience for EV drivers? - Do you handle all the protocols between EV and charger? - Do you support multiple currencies - Do you handle all the tax and regulations across states/countries? CURRENT SEE ROAMING AS A CORE COMPONENT FOR ANY COMPANY LOOKING TO SUCCESSFULLY SCALE THEIR CHARGE POINT OPERATION. CURRENT already supports roaming between our CPO networks. As a CPO, you want to maximise your revenue from each charger point. WHO CHARGES SHOULDN’T MATTER? The objective is to drive revenue and as long as your chargers are online you want them charging. CURRENT already has the eco-system and we believe opening it up to our clients will reduce ROAMING costs, while providing the largest possible audience for them and ensure continuous charging.
ROAMING IS TRUE MOBILITY. IF YOU’D LIKE TO ADD THAT TO YOUR PACK Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
TIME FOR MORE REFERENCES
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Ladeklar is a service set up by BKK (Eviny) and Hafslund eco. Their goal is a renewable and 100% electric future: The continous transformation of a new industry was decisive as Energy operator Ladeklar entered the boosting EV charging market ” We believe that tomorrow’s society needs to be fully electrical. One of the key elements of this vision is to eliminate fossil fuels in transportation. And that’s why we started Ladeklar. We are actually more like an investment company driving the transition from gas to electricity, says charging expert and Ladeklar ...” ”With the support of CURRENT EV charging platform, we are committed to offer our customers EV charging products that will continue to innovate and expand according to the continuous transformation taking place in the EV industry” CEO Stian Bjørhei, Ladeklar
Hurum Kraft is a power supplier starting a CPO business: ”Within a few weeks, we were able to install several EV charging stations using the CURRENT platform. As a result, we can now offer a complete charging solution for the smart grid of the future and grow our network.” CEO Christian Aakermann, Hurum Kraft AS
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5 POINTS TO SECURE CAPEX DECISIONS THAT WILL REDUCE OPEX AND INCREASE QUALITY
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CURRENT IS READY TO BE YOUR PARTNER ON YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS IN THIS NEW WORLD. In the guide we have focused on 5 points that our experience tells us will be keys to success: Stability. Standardisation. End user experience. Roaming. Smart charging. The financial implications and operational issues will show in your customer satisfaction and in your OPEX. AFTER-INVESTMENT COSTS (OPEX) Your choice of electric infrastructure, hardware, vendor and connectivity method will directly affect your EV fleet’s operating costs in the future. Here are five factors that directly affect how profitable your EV fleet operation will (or won’t be). 1. UNPLANNED DOWNTIME AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS Make poor investment and installation choices, i.e., choosing the cheapest hardware, and you’ll be calling an electrician a lot later. There is a cost associated with this... 2. DATA AND DATA COST Will you have 4G or your own Internet line? How about the ability for the operator to access your internet remotely, so they can provide remote support? This is a cost/ benefit analysis – stability vs. cost and external access. Using 4G in a parking garage is a bad idea, while using a cabled network is ideal. 3. SYSTEM MAINTENANCE TIME You must have someone maintain your charging infrastructure. The longer they have to spend manually operating it, the less productive work they can do elsewhere. Automated and remotely managed systems are more efficient, whereas manual systems cost more to operate.
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LET´S GO FOR THE BEST CONCLUSION
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4. ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY BILL (KWH AND KW) Is what you need really clear to you? If not, it will be expensive. The following elements affect your total electricity and energy costs: - Peak management: How is energy and effect peak affecting your costs? This is a complex issue, but it can’t be ignored. - Prioritised charging: Who needs to charge, and when? All vehicles don’t have to be fully charged at the same time. - Overnight charging: Is a 350 kW charger really necessary for overnight charging? - The cost of DC chargers is much higher than that of AC chargers. Do you require DC? If so, why? 5. EV FLEET VEHICLE CHARGING AT HOME The types of electric fleets you run will determine the charging needs for them. Is your fleet of trucks owned by you, or does your company provide company cars to your employees to charge at home? These are two entirely different use cases that require completely different setups. CONCLUSION: MAKING THE RIGHT CAPEX DECISIONS REDUCES OPEX Fleet operators have to carefully consider the infrastructure, hardware and connectivity investments they make. By making the wrong decisions at this point, you’ll end up with a fleet operation that costs a lot more to operate than it should.
5 CHECKPOINTS CHECKED READY FOR TAKE OFF Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
SIXTEEN CPO - QUESTIONS
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IF YOU ARE A CPO. OR IF YOU ARE GOING INTO THAT BUSINESS. IF CAPEX AND OPEX IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. As you travel into the unknown, questions will come at you like shooting stars. They may be related to hardware, management solutions for energy management, billing and finance, as well as end-user experiences. Not based on math. Not based on science. But on experience. We know. THE THIRTEEN TYPICAL QUESTIONS. ALL WITH ONE ANSWER*. - How to select hardware and vendor? - How to ensure optimal connectivity? - How to meet unplanned downtime and expensive repairs? - How about data and data costs? - How about system maintenance time? - How to optimise charging and reduce energy bills? - How to get the right charge management solution for back-office? - How to get payments from the users of the EV network? - How to provide support for drivers who need help with charging? - How to make the charging stations easy to use and discover? - How about electric infrastructure? - How to get your branded app with excellent user experience? *The answer is CURRENT. BUT IN THE END, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CUSTOMER, AND THIS LEADS US TO THREE MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK: - How do we increase customer satisfaction? - How do we reduce churn? - How do we provide the best possible brand experience?
CPO? LET´S TALK CAPEX, OPEX AND BUSINESS Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
THE EV FLEET MANAGERS QUESTIONS
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”EV call home”... Pardon the pun playing on another classic, but the ”E.T.” feeling of being lost is something we´ve frequently heard EV fleet managers express. But whereas E.T. wanted to go home, EV fleet managers want success. Profitability. Lower costs. Easy handling. Happy colleagues. ASK THE FIVE BASIC QUESTIONS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT HOW PROFITABLE YOUR EV FLEET OPERATION WILL (OR WON’T) BE. 1. How to avoid and reduce unplanned downtime and expensive repairs? 2. What about data and data cost? 3. How about system maintenance time? 4. Can we influence on used electricity and energy bill (kWh and kW)? (What about peak management? How to manage prioritised charging? What about overnight charging? How do we utilise the fact that cost of DC-chargers is much higher than that of AC chargers?) 5. Are there any problems with EV fleet vehicle charging at home? HOW TO AVOID AN EV FLEET OPERATION THAT BLEEDS MONEY? Here are a few things we can help you with: - Increase uptime and stability - Reduce management costs related to support and maintenance - Achieve compatibility of different types of hardware - Solve the EV drivers’ challenges in their life cycles
Mustad property is running multiple real estate projects, including shopping centres: ”The scalable solution from CURRENT gives us full control over our charging stations. Energy costs decrease and earnings increase as we expand our electric vehicle charging.” Technical Property Director Terje Wathne, Mustad Property
EV FLEET MANAGERS, THE FRONT OF THE CHANGE Book a consultation at current.eco/free-consultation
THE EV GALAXY FLIGHT DASHBOARD BY CURRENT
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All the necessary tools for establishing and maintaining your own electric vehicle charging network. Regardless of the size of your charging business, we offer complete charging infrastructure management, end-user mobile and web apps, and smart energy management features to help you achieve your business goals.
SELECTED KEY FEATURES: - Manage your charging stations with ease - Customise your charging station features remotely - Set access and visibility rules (private/public), monitor and manage station health - Manage user accounts, define access rules and terms of usage for different user groups - Real-time monitoring of power needs and visual display of energy utilisation - Set your own, detailed pricing plans and customise your billing settings. - Billing of charging sessions and receipts are automatically generated - Integration with payment gateways, with different payment options – credit cards, PayPal, SMS, etc. - Full support of monthly settlement of charging revenues to the location owner - Reporting and real-time dashboards - Support for multiple currencies
Read more: current.eco/platform/key-features
ABOUT CURRENT
Originating from Norway, the worlds most advanced EV market. Established in 2013. The leading Scandinavian CPMS - Charge Point Management System. Our plug and play smart solution enables our customers to manage and scale their EV network, while keeping down the operational costs and providing drivers an unparalleled EV charging experience. CURRENT’s SmartCharge solution is fully certified for OCPP 1.6 compliant, while complying with OCPP 2.1, ISO027001, ISO15118, local regulations, and VAT requirements. Scan the QR-code to go to current.eco/free-consultation
So many questions about EV-charging. One answer