EV Charging Station Manufacturer Support Demand Response Programs

Electric vehicle sales are exploding around the world due to a growing understanding of their advantages over gasoline-powered automobiles. These vehicles are cleaner, more fuel-efficient, and require less maintenance. To charge these vehicles, charging stations are used in homes, workplaces, and public parking lots. They are powered by electrical energy provided by the local power utility company.

To ensure grid stability, the utility must carefully manage EV charging loads. A key part of this management is the implementation of demand response programs. These programs help to lower peak electricity demand during critical times and mitigate the risk of outages. They also promote energy-efficient behavior by encouraging EV owners to use their chargers during off-peak hours.

Many ev charging station manufacturers are offering smart chargers that support demand response programs. These intelligent charging devices are designed to communicate with the grid through an open charging point protocol (OCPP). They can help utilities maximize renewables, reduce energy costs and congestion, and improve reliability.

Can Your EV Charging Station Manufacturer Support Demand Response Programs?

EV charging stations can also be equipped with advanced software to enable them to participate in demand response programs. They can be programmed to store excess electricity generated from solar and wind sources during peak production and then release that electricity at a predetermined time. They can also help to balance energy distribution by limiting charging during periods of high electricity demand.

These features are particularly important for utilities as they work to meet the needs of environmentally conscious millennials and Gen Z drivers. These customers are likely to demand a greater share of their power comes from renewable sources like solar and battery energy storage. Utilities that can support a variety of sustainable energy options will likely attract these new customers and build brand loyalty.

The key to attracting more EV owners and making demand response programs successful is providing access to convenient and reliable charging infrastructure. This means building more charging stations at home, work, and popular destinations. It also means establishing partnerships with local and national companies that want to add EV charging to their fleets.

The leading EV charging station manufacturers are focusing on innovation, reliability, and safety in their products. Blink Charging is one example of a company that is delivering on all of these goals. The company manufactures state-of-the-art home and commercial Level 2 EV chargers in its Bowie, Maryland facility. These chargers are sold to customers across 27 countries.

Blink also supports a number of demand response pilots with its networked chargers, which can be turned on or off remotely by the grid operator. The networked chargers also have the ability to reroute energy to other devices when it is available, such as during a power outage or in response to a weather event. This feature is known as vehicle-to-home (V2H) or vehicle-to-grid (V2G). This technology can re-direct power from an EV to a compatible appliance, such as a refrigerator or microwave, or back to the grid. It can also support V2L, which re-directs power from an EV to its home.