Coping with a Defunct Charger Firm
In October, Enel X Method North America introduced that it could stop its operations, leaving the corporate’s JuiceBox EV charger customers lower off from software program performance. Whereas server operations will proceed for an indeterminate interval and battery charging capabilities are nonetheless energetic, the corporate maintains that they are going to search a long-term answer (but to be disclosed).
Though this information isn’t precisely reassuring to these with JuiceBox cost stations, it means that there’s nonetheless time emigrate Enel X Method JuiceBox 40 EV chargers to a brand new cost station administration system (CSMS). No charging performance has been misplaced but, however that’s solely a query of time. Given the uncertainty, it’s vital to make a sound plan for long-term success to protect towards the chance and risk that Enel X Method servers will shut down completely.
Listed here are three viable methods ahead for JuiceBox system house owners:
1. OCPP Platform Migration
Dozens of OCPP-based cost station administration platforms have come out of the woodwork for the reason that information of Enel X’s withdrawal from the North American market. The businesses behind them are making numerous claims about their potential to assist determined system house owners transfer the administration of their JuiceBox chargers to a brand new cloud administration platform. A few of these firms are genuinely ready and have processes in place to handle such a migration. However many should not.
Many customers can be tempted by these CSMS supplier claims on account of their low price and obvious simplicity–however they aren’t with out potential pitfalls. Amongst them:
- Associate danger. What credentials and observe report does the answer supplier have? How lengthy have they been in enterprise, and may you make sure they are going to be there to help you lengthy after you transition to their platform? In case your charger is repointed to a third-party’s OCPP server and the Enel X backend service is discontinued, it’s potential that you simply will be unable emigrate once more. If a migration is unsuccessful, you could possibly be left in a worse state of affairs than earlier than. Due to this fact, select a accomplice that gives a assure or guarantee for his or her providers.
- Hidden price. Credible software-only distributors providing migration providers will most likely require onsite personnel to replace firmware for every charger in your community. This may contain electricians or technicians working billable hours. Make sure you perceive what’s concerned in migration, aside from a brand new SaaS subscription, earlier than going this route.
- Stability. OCPP platform migration may end in new quirks and undesirable behaviors. Your gear can be operating experimental, probably unstable firmware, linked to a third-party server through Wi-Fi, with no official customer support accessible.
2. Rip and Change
For some organizations, it could be definitely worth the time and expense of tearing out their Enel X gear and changing it fully–however think about all prices first. Most gear suppliers available on the market cost greater than Enel X did for providers. This method is by far the most costly, requiring vital gear and labor expense along with a brand new service subscription.
3. {Hardware}-Primarily based Cost Station Administration Techniques (CSMS)
The most effective of each worlds might be achieved with hardware-based CSMS options: by retrofitting current JuiceBox programs, customers can preserve the {hardware} and keep away from altering firmware of every particular person system (each expensive, time-consuming processes).
A hardware-based CSMS not solely protects your {hardware} funding, however re-enables the now-lost entry management, person administration, monetization and reporting options that EV cost station managers want to take care of environment friendly and cost-effective operations. This method additionally provides the next advantages:
- Reliable companions. Solely a handful of EVSE suppliers provide hardware-based CSMS options, and people who do have stood the check of time. For instance, Liberty Plugins has been in enterprise since 2009.
- Approachable price construction. Most hardware-based CSMS options are tailor-made to workplaces and multi-unit residences, the place customers want to manage entry to chargers and invoice to be used, however don’t need or have to revenue from their charging.
- Versatile and upgradeable. Each EV charger has a lifespan, so when it’s time to exchange a JuiceBox or every other system, you are able to do so with out altering the way you handle your charging system. As a bonus, you possibly can add extra chargers of any kind, whether or not Stage 2 or DC quick chargers.
Because the preliminary shock wears off for JuiceBox customers, it’s vital to think about all the choices for an economical, long-term plan for sustaining cost station operations. The cons are inclined to outweigh the professionals of migrating to cloud platforms, or totally changing programs, however retrofitting JuiceBox programs to a hardware-based CSMS allows better management, flexibility and, above all, reliability.
The publish Deserted No Extra: 3 Choices for Enel X Method Cost Station Operators first appeared on Clear Fleet Report.
