Once all charge stations are correctly configured as described in the Charge Station Configuration section, the next step is to group these charge stations into a Smart Charging Group. This section provides a step-by-step guide to doing that in the EV Portal.
Step 1: Accessing Smart Charging
- Navigate to "Smart Charging" in the left pane of the EV Portal.
- Click "+ Add New".
💡 Tip: If you don’t see the "Smart Charging" option, contact your administrator and request that the 'Smart Charging Manager' role be added to your account.
Step 2: Creating a New Smart Charging Group
- A screen will appear prompting you to enter a name for the new group.
- Select the CPO under which you would like to create the group.
- Click "Next" to proceed to the EVSE selection.
Step 3: Selecting the Algorithm
- On the Algorithm Selection screen, choose which algorithm you want to use. For instance "Capacity Management DC".
Step 4: Configuring Algorithm Settings
Next, you will need to select a Capacity Update Method from the following options:
- Always use default
- Use when the group’s capacity is constant over time (e.g., a single circuit breaker).
- File-based
- Use if the capacity fluctuates throughout the day or week but follows a predictable pattern.
- Upload a file in
.csv,.xls, or.xlsxformat with no overlapping time instances and no gaps. - Example files are provided via the portal.
- Specify the time zone of the smart charging group to correctly interpret the data.
- API-based
- Use if capacity is managed through the external Smart Charging API.
- More information on the API is available here.
Step 5: Setting the Default Capacity
Regardless of the update method chosen, provide a value for the Default Capacity (in Amperes or kiloWatts, depending on the algorithm).
- The default capacity must always be set and should represent the fallback value when no data is available.
- This value should always be realistic and reliable, such as the maximum amperage of the circuit breaker.
- This capacity will also be used as fallback in case the charge stations would lose connection.
Step 6: Adding EVSEs to the Group
- The group will be empty at first. Click "Add EVSE to group" to add one or more EVSEs (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment).
- EVSEs represent the sockets/connectors of a charge station that can independently charge an EV.
- Each EVSE must be added individually.
- Use the search function to find charge stations and add EVSEs efficiently.
- Click "Add" for each EVSE you want to include.
- Once finished, close the pop-up and click "Next".
Step 7: Finalizing the Group
- Double-check all chosen parameters and settings.
- Click "Finalize" to create the group.
- After saving, the group becomes active and visible in the overview.
Summary
Following these steps will ensure that your smart charging group is properly configured and managed. For further assistance, consult the FAQs & Troubleshooting section or reach out to your administrator.