EV charging station owners must choose the best vendors and equipment to service their electric vehicle (EV) charging station; however, issues ranging from compliance with protocol standards and certifications, to a lack of transparency and accountability across the supply chain, threaten EV adoption and the long-term performance of EV operators. A
Buyers occupy a unique position in this evolving ecosystem, and your decisions have the potential to fuel positive change in the EV industry, as well as future-proof your investments through reliable, smarter operations.
Below, we share five key takeaways from our Buyer’s Report, which offers guidance on how you can play a proactive role in ensuring the long-term success of your EV station.
Mandate Industry Standards Across the Network
Since its release in 2010, the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) has been the open source standard for enhancing interoperability and security in the EV industry. But OCPP implementation varies widely, and providers that claim they’re “OCPP-capable” might not be fully compliant. Plus, charging procedures aren’t always straightforward and can prevent EV drivers from using chargers across different networks and apps seamlessly.
Working with vendors that have official OCPP certification through the Open Charge Alliance is one way to ensure you deliver a consistent EV experience, protect your station from post-deployment failures, and measure uptime effectively.
In addition, contract with network providers that have adopted Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) or Open Intercharge Protocol (OICP) and are compatible with ISO 15118. You’ll not only avoid costly mistakes after installation but also simplify your community’s “plug and charge” experience.
Demand Transparency from Vendors
Like your smartphone or laptop, EV charging stations receive updates that enhance performance, fix bugs, and defend against cyber attacks. But if your firmware is installed poorly or without warning, it can create more problems than solutions and turn your functional station into an operational headache.
Don’t be left in the dark about whether areas like security and payment issues are being addressed by your hardware manufacturer or software provider. Require vendors to notify you about upgrades before they happen and ask for support documentation so you know what’s being installed and when it will be deployed on your charging station.
Streamline Error Reporting With MRECs
A big part of delivering a seamless, secure charging experience is reducing downtime for EV drivers. Unfortunately, drivers and operators are likely to encounter error codes that are inconsistent and difficult to decode.
Industry bodies such as the ChargeX Consortium are working to change this by introducing guidelines like the Recommendations for Minimum Required Error Codes (MRECs). The MRECs aim to expedite error reporting and enable operators and drivers to quickly identify and resolve errors.
Adoption of MRECs is still voluntary, but you can go one step further by making MRECs implementation a contract requirement for vendors. Using common, shared codes improves the reliability of EVSE and keeps you and network providers on the same page when reporting and diagnosing charging issues.
Equip Teams With the Right Data
For error reporting to work, reliability partners need to analyze back-end data from various vehicle systems, from car batteries to charging session status. Without real-time operational data, repairs are much slower and less scalable.
Insist that hardware manufacturers give full access to the back-end data powering your operations. If you have visibility into behind-the-scenes functionality, you can service your station and keep it running if your provider lacks remote access or goes out of business.
Expand Technician Training and Certification
Shoring up your operation’s long-term resiliency and independence also means gaining access to certified technicians. The RFP process is a golden opportunity to review manufacturers’ certification programs, training availability, and capacity, and determine if qualified technicians will be on call when problems occur.
For example, operations and maintenance (O&M) providers like ChargerHelp offer a Reliability as a Service (RaaS) subscription that includes support from certified EVSE technicians. Look for manufacturers that support formal training and partner with recognized certification programs such as SAE International. Demanding proof of training availability and capacity and certification programs results in better diagnostic tools and faster response and repair times from onsite technicians.
Get Insight on Architecting a Reliable EV Ecosystem
As the industry evolves, buyers will continue to have a powerful impact on the EV driver experience and EVSE reliability. O&M providers such as ChargerHelp are dedicated to helping you manage your charging infrastructure network through market ups and downs while delivering operational excellence and long-term sustainability.
Download our Buyer’s Report for more solutions and best practices for improving charger reliability for operators and drivers.
Ready to see ChargerHelp in action? Request a demo with a member of our team.
