When it comes to running an electric vehicle fleet, your charging infrastructure is the lifeline that keeps everything operating smoothly and on-time.
For fleet managers, charger problems or blackouts can lead to headaches like delays, extra costs, and unhappy stakeholders.
With EVs becoming more popular across the globe, charger reliability is going to be a major concern going forward. Fleets need to avoid downtime at all costs.
A recent Bloomberg report showed that EV adoption is skyrocketing globally. Sales leapt from 10.5 million in 2022 to around 27 million predicted by 2026. EVs are expected to make up 30% of new passenger vehicle sales by 2026, up from 14% in 2022.
The acceleration in EV adoption is mostly down to growing environmental awareness. Climate change and pressure to cut carbon footprints are steering the world toward green transportation.
Smart charging can help on both fronts - reliability and sustainability.
In this guide, we'll look at some of the common EV charger challenges and how AI-powered smart charging software helps fleets overcome them.
Why Reliable EV Charging Infrastructure Matters for Fleets
Robust charging is essential for long-distance travel and reliable day-to-day operation. This is especially true for fleets that need to keep services going throughout the day or night – e.g. logistics, buses, and commercial services.
With dependable charging infrastructure in place, fleets can avoid or limit the impact of the following issues:
- Vehicle downtime from depleted batteries
- Late deliveries
- Disrupted bus schedules
- Inefficient operations
- Extra costs
- Lost customers and revenue
- Bad press and reputation damage
Most importantly, solid EV charging infrastructure enables fleets to provide consistency and on-time performance. These are key selling points for most logistics and commercial service providers.
Understanding EV Charger Downtime
What Causes Charger Downtime?
EV charger downtime can originate from a variety of sources.
- Hardware failures like blown fuses, loose connections, and degraded components over time are common culprits.
- Network connectivity issues that impede remote monitoring and control can also lead to outages.
- Insufficient preventative maintenance and delays in completing repairs inevitably cause extended downtime events.
- Faulty communication between the vehicle and charger disrupts the charging process itself.
- Human errors like drivers mistakenly unplugging during an active charging session can trigger downtime.
One of the biggest issues facing the EV industry is poor maintenance. A recent study from the University of California found that 27.5% of 657 DC fast chargers in the San Francisco Bay area were out of order at the time of the study.
If the above stat is anything to go by, then it suggests three things:
- How prone EV chargers are to failure
- More needs to be done to prevent failures from occurring (preventative maintenance)
- Technicians may struggle to keep up with necessary repairs when relying on manual diagnostics.
Manual Diagnostic Challenges
Let’s look at an example.
Imagine you arrive at your logistics depot on a Monday morning and find that one of your primary chargers isn’t working. Vehicles are queued up, causing dispatch delays. Without charging management software, the troubleshooting process might look like this:
- A visual inspection of the charger doesn't reveal any blown fuses or obvious loose connections.
- The charger's interface shows a stable network connection.
- You check the maintenance logs which show the charger was serviced just two months ago, making it unlikely that worn out parts are to blame.
- Communication log checks between the vehicle and the charger look good, with no obvious anomalies.
- You talk to the drivers and none of them recall unplugging the charger prematurely.
Despite doing all these checks, the root cause remains a mystery. It's only after you call out a technician who performs a deep diagnostic test, that a minor fault in the internal circuitry is identified as the problem.
By this time, your operations have been delayed by four hours, causing annoyed drivers, disgruntled customers, and revenue losses.
It’s pretty obvious that this isn’t the most efficient way to run charger diagnostics and rectify problems.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to this problem that helps you to maintain charger uptime – AI-powered smart charging management software.
AI-Powered Smart Charging Management Software
Advanced smart charging management systems powered by AI, such as Ampcontrol, offer a number of key benefits:
- Optimized Power Distribution: Analyzing vehicle and energy patterns guarantees full charge for every vehicle, ready for the next shift.
- Maximized Charger Uptime: Data visualization helps you to spot issues early. It can be used to forecast problems and put preventative maintenance fixes in place.
- Improved User Experience: AI-driven automation cuts manual work. Fleet operators get a streamlined, error-free charging process.
Let’s return to the logistics depot example.
This time, instead of spending hours trying to diagnose the problem, the depot has a smart charging software system in place. In this instance, the software detects unusual temperature fluctuations in the charger's circuitry. This suggests an internal fault which can be taken care of before causing a full-blown failure.
The system can notice patterns that historically led to failures, like parts wearing down and degradation. Instead of part failure and machine downtime, you get an advance alert to replace parts preemptively, saving time and money.
Even without early detection, diagnostic tools accelerate issue resolution once they occur. Chargers can be remotely assessed and even rebooted – no technician required. This drastically cuts downtime and speeds up repairs.
Integrated Smart Charging – Cut Costs & Carbon
One of the main things to look for in an AI-driven smart charging software system is how well it integrates with your EV charging infrastructure.
For instance, Ampcontrol connects directly with OCPP charge points, vehicle telematics, energy meters, and utility signals. This integrative approach enables you to gather, store, and analyze a wide range of data and run diagnostics remotely.
Additionally, by syncing with vehicle scheduling systems, the software can predict when vehicles require charging. The software can also help to dynamically manage the load, ensuring that power is distributed optimally among active charging sessions.
Smart charging software can also integrate with solar and metering systems to further reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, as well as responding to utility events and potentially generating extra revenue through vehicle-to-grid initiatives.
Ampcontrol also boasts a 99.995% uptime and 24/7 support, which further help to minimize charging disruptions.
How AI-Powered Smart Charging Works
In this section, we’ll take a closer look at what AI-powered smart charging software does, how it works, and the positive effects on EV charger downtime.
Advanced Algorithms and Data Analytics
Smart charging software accesses and stores vast amounts of data such as charging logs, activity, and fleet details. It then uses algorithms to analyze EV charging patterns and trends. This leads to valuable insights and recommended actions to optimize the charging process.
Built-in data analytics help to detect irregularities, anticipate charger errors, and identify under-utilization of charging sites. You can also set up alerts to let you know when issues arise by monitoring present operations, as well as alerting you to potential upcoming issues by analyzing historical data.
Real-time Decision-Making Capabilities
A manual and reactive approach to EV charging is far from optimal. There are too many demands for that kind of approach to work smoothly:
- Varying power supply
- Fluctuating grid conditions
- Complex fleet schedules
- Driver behavior
- Weather conditions
- Scalability issues
- Limited diagnostics
A reactive approach often relies on pre-set schedules or manual input. An AI-powered system, on the other hand, can be programmed to make instant proactive decisions.
Whether it's adjusting power distribution due to sudden grid changes or pausing a charging session due to detected faults, it can be configured to act immediately.
Being cloud-based, Ampcontrol’s system has the power to proactively analyze and respond to data in real-time and connect to any EV charger using OCPP to automatically control it.
For example, when the software detects potential charger faults or inconsistencies, it can swiftly pause or modify the charge session. This prevents potential damage and inefficiencies. Equally, if a drop in grid energy supply is detected, the system can prioritize certain charging sessions to make sure key vehicles keep running.
Machine Learning for Continuous Improvement
An advanced smart charging software system like Ampcontrol is constantly learning. As it monitors charger performance, evaluates charger errors, and keeps track of energy consumption patterns, it also applies machine learning to improve outcomes. The system is designed to automatically refine its algorithms and decision-making abilities.
For example, by understanding the typical energy consumption rates during specific hours, or recognizing patterns in vehicle schedules and their corresponding SoC (State of Charge), Ampcontrol’s software can preemptively adjust power distribution or allocate resources more effectively.
Over time, this iterative improvement approach translates to benefits like reduced energy costs, higher charger uptime, and minimized manual interventions on-site. This can be seen in the case of Revel, where Ampcontrol managed to reduce 45% of its energy costs and ensure a staggering 99.999% uptime.
AI Smart Charging In Practice
Here is a brief rundown of the operational benefits and features that AI-powered smart charging software can bring to an EV fleet.
Predictive Maintenance
Instead of reacting to faults, AI anticipates them. It actively analyzes usage data and wear patterns to forecast when a component is likely to fail, prompting maintenance before a breakdown occurs.
Dynamic Load Balancing
AI assesses the current grid load, the number of vehicles currently charging, their battery statuses, and more. Then it dynamically allocates power to where it is needed most. This ensures that no charger is overworked and every vehicle gets an efficient charge – especially mission critical ones.
User Behavior Analysis
The software learns to understand user patterns, such as peak charging times or preferred charge levels. This analysis can be used to optimize power distribution or suggest improved charging schedules to users.
Energy Source Optimization
The software selects the greenest energy sources available at any given time, promoting eco-friendly charging and reducing carbon footprints.
Peak Demand Prediction
AI anticipates high-demand periods in advance, allowing utilities to prepare resources and users to adjust to revised charging schedules.
Optimal Pricing Selection
Using AI, the software analyzes energy market trends to recommend cost-effective charging times, promoting sustainable consumption and helping users benefit from lower rates.
Other Steps to Avoid EV Charger Downtime
As well as choosing and implementing the right AI smart charging management software, there are other key steps you can take to ensure smooth charging operations.
Select the Right Hardware
- Quality Chargers: Invest in high-quality charging hardware that's durable and efficient.
- Redundancy Measures: Implement backup systems to maintain operations during faults.
- Compatibility with Software: Ensure the chargers work well with your chosen management software.
- Test with CMS Provider: Engage in rigorous testing of the charging hardware alongside your CMS provider to identify potential glitches.
Ensure Robust Network Connectivity
- Reliable Internet Service: While convenient, it's advisable to avoid relying solely on wifi or cellular connections. Try to go for LAN solutions as much as possible.
- Backup Connectivity Options: In situations where the primary network fails, having a fallback option like cellular connectivity can be invaluable.
- Network Security Measures: Guard against potential cyber threats to maintain system integrity.
- Monitor Network Connectivity: Regularly check network strength and address weaknesses promptly.
Alerts and Monitoring
- Relevant Alerts: Ensure alerts are configured correctly to notify the right personnel promptly.
- Immediate Paging for Downtimes: Instantly notify relevant teams when a system goes down.
- 24/7 Support Availability: Whether it's your internal team or a software partner, someone should always be available to address issues.
- Effective Troubleshooting: Ensure teams are trained and equipped to address problems, and have a robust software system to assist.
- Error Reporting and Tracking: Whenever issues arise, they should be reported to the relevant party (e.g., manufacturer or network). It's crucial to track these errors, follow up, and organize test sessions to prevent future occurrences.
Implementing Regular Maintenance
- Preventive Maintenance Schedules: Regular checks can identify and address potential issues before they escalate.
- Swift Repairs: When problems are detected, they should be addressed immediately.
- Monitor Software Integration: Ensure the software is always in sync with the hardware, getting timely updates and patches.
Training and Education
- Operator Training: Equip those in charge of the charging stations with the necessary skills and knowledge.
- User Education on Proper Charging Technique: Inform EV users about the do's and don'ts to prevent avoidable errors.
- Accessible User Guides and Resources: Make sure users have easy access to resources that guide them on using the charging services.
Key Takeaways
Rapid EV Adoption & Importance
The recent surge in global electric vehicle adoption underlines the importance of reliable charging infrastructure for fleet management.
Downtime Challenges
Multiple factors, from hardware failures to human error, can lead to charger downtime. Charger failure has a knock-on effect on fleet operations, costs, and reputation.
The AI Solution
AI-powered smart charging management software, such as Ampcontrol, uses advanced algorithms, real-time data, and machine learning to optimize charging. It can help to foresee problems and increase charger uptime by taking a proactive predictive maintenance approach.
Holistic Approach
As well as software, fleet managers need to select quality charging hardware, ensure robust network connectivity, implement regular maintenance programs, and provide proper training to avoid unnecessary EV charger downtime.
Are you ready to revolutionize your EV charging management and reduce downtime?
Experience the future of EV charging today – book an Ampcontrol demo.
