Anyone planning a charging infrastructure usually first and foremost thinks of the number of charging points – but that is never the whole story. Because the real power lies behind the scenes: in the charging and energy management system. And this is exactly what decides about how efficient, cost-saving and future-proof your charging solution really is. Particularly important here: vendor neutrality. Why is that and what are the advantages of a manufacturer neutral system?
Vendor neutrality: What does that mean?
Vendor neutrality is both a technical detail and a strategic decision. A charging and energy management system that is vendor neutral ensures that your established charging solution can keep up with future requirements, as well as technical developments and market shifts.
A vendor neutral charging and energy management system has standardized, open interfaces – and thus enables easy integration and combination of different systems. This means that charging and energy management fits seamlessly into the existing energy landscape: from existing charging stations and a photovoltaic system to a higher-level energy management system (EMS).
Success factor: Vendor neutral charging and energy management system
When setting up a charging solution, facility managers and management board should not only think about the required number of charging points. Ultimately, a charging solution is only as strong in operation as its charging and energy management system. A strong system is the backbone of the charging infrastructure and not only guarantees efficient charging of fleet vehicles, but also optimizes costs by avoiding expensive peak loads or taking advantage of favorable, cheaper charging times. Smart load distribution also avoids costly expansion of the grid connection capacity. This keeps both the construction and operating costs of the charging infrastructure as low as possible.
A charging and energy management system that is vendor neutral multiplies this effect: it uses open interfaces and standards and is therefore independent of existing assets, which can be easily integrated, or future providers. This leads to lower investment costs in the long term and, thanks to modular technology, makes it easy to expand the charging infrastructure if required.
The 3 biggest advantages of a vendor neutral charging and energy management system
1. Seamless integration of existing systems
- Individual charging solutions that have already been installed can be integrated and continue to be used. Integration takes place via an OCPP interface to the charging stations. This means that existing investments can continue to be used and stranded assets caused by charging stations from different manufacturers can be avoided
- The possible connection to a higher-level EMS via Modbus makes energy optimization at the location and across different locations universally controllable and enables the integration of PV systems and other energy sources. This leads to higher energy efficiency on the one hand and lower operating costs on the other
2. Interoperability and flexibility for specific requirements
- A vendor neutral charging and energy management system guarantees easy connection to various billing systems such as Monta and enables automated billing of charging processes via the OCPP interface
- The connection of fleet management systems / ITCS (interface: VDV 463) is also made possible by a vendor neutral charging and energy management system such as ChargePilot®. This means that timetables (i.e. departure times, charging statuses) are taken into account during charging processes and vehicles are prioritized accordingly. This guarantees smooth operations when charging in bus or logistics depots
- Communication with the grid operator for grid-optimized control in accordance with § 14a EnWG is also possible (interface: e.g. ripple control receiver or Modbus, depending on the grid operator)
3. Independence from the manufacturer of the charging stations
Of course, vendor neutrality means exactly that: users are not dependent on a specific provider, so there is no vendor lock-in. This makes it possible to combine different charging stations and expand easily without being dependent on specific manufacturers.
Why is this so important?
- The market is highly dynamic: new manufacturers and market exits are not uncommon, and a vendor neutral system makes it easy to switch manufacturers
- With highly volatile price trends, dependency on the pricing of individual manufacturers is avoided and flexibility and cost efficiency are maintained
- Technological openness creates access to innovations regardless of the development speed of individual manufacturers
- Flexibility: there are major differences in the service and quality of charging stations; a vendor neutral system makes it easy to switch manufacturers if unsatisfied
- System openness for location-specific requirements: A vendor neutral charging and energy management system makes it possible to combine different models (e.g. representative charging stations outside and functional ones in the underground parking garage) and different charging capacities (AC and/or DC) as required
Conclusion: Vendor neutrality as a backbone for your charging infrastructure
A vendor neutral charging and energy management system is technically flexible and strategically future-proof. It uses open, standardized interfaces, allowing various charging stations, photovoltaic systems and energy management systems to be seamlessly integrated. This reduces investment and operating costs, increases energy efficiency and makes it easy to expand the charging infrastructure.
A manufacturer-neutral system thus offers investment and future security, cost savings and simple scalability, making it a decisive success factor in the development of efficient, future-proof charging infrastructures.