This knowledge hub article introduces you to the Smart Charging Calculator Tool, designed to help you determine the optimal balance between your grid connection size and the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations you can install.
What can this tool do?
The Smart Charging Calculator Tool tackles on of the two key questions for CPOs:
- Given a grid connection size, how many EV charging stations can I install?
- Considering the number of EV charging stations I want to install, how large should my grid connection be?
How does it work?
The tool takes several key inputs related to your charging station usage:
- Mean arrival time & mean departure time: This information helps calculate the average duration of a charging session.
- Average kWh per session: This reflects the typical amount of energy used per charging session.
- Number of sessions per station per day: This indicates how frequently your stations are expected to be in use.
- Max charging current per charger: This specifies the maximum power output of your individual charging stations.
Based on these inputs, the tool calculates various factors to determine the optimal grid connection size:
- kVA of the grid connection: This reflects the apparent power capacity of your grid connection.
- Theoretical maximum kWh deliverable: This indicates the maximum amount of energy your grid connection could deliver during an average charging session.
- Maximum theoretical sessions per day: This is obtained by dividing the theoretical maximum kWh by the average kWh per session.
- Realistic number of sessions per day: The tool applies a correction factor, based on historical data, to account for real-world deviations from the theoretical maximum. This factor is typically higher for smaller grid connections.
- Comparison with non-smart charging: Finally, the tool compares the realistic number of sessions per day achievable with smart charging to the number of charging sessions possible without smart charging. This highlights the potential efficiency gains from smart charging technology.
What are the limitations?
The Smart Charging Calculator Tool is an Excel-based application that provides an initial assessment. It relies on user-provided assumptions and historical data, and therefore cannot guarantee exact results.
Benefits of using this tool
- Planning your EV charging infrastructure: This tool allows you to estimate the optimal number of charging stations for your existing grid connection or determine the necessary grid upgrade for a desired number of stations.
- Demonstrating the value of smart charging: The tool can showcase how smart charging technology helps maximize charging capacity within existing grid limitations.
Remember: The Smart Charging Calculator Tool is a valuable starting point for optimizing your EV charging infrastructure. While it provides initial estimates, consider consulting with a qualified professional for a site-specific evaluation.
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