3 EV Charging Challenges Solved by Dynamic Load Management (DLM)

Recent reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlight that electrical infrastructure upgrades are not keeping pace with the rapid rollout of EV charging networks. This discrepancy creates increasing complexity for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) as they scale their networks to meet the growing demand for EV charging. Balancing limited site power capacity while supporting multiple charging stations has become a significant challenge.

CPOs are often focused on the fast expansion of their charging networks, particularly in areas with high demand. However, the existing grid capacity limitations can lead to prolonged negotiations with local utilities and power companies. This is where an efficient load management solution for charging stations can make a significant difference. 

In this article, we will explore the key capabilities of AMPECO’s platform that empower CPOs to overcome three critical load management challenges.

3 EV Charging Challenges Solved by AMPECO’s Dynamic Load Management (DLM)

Dynamic Load Management (DLM) is an essential tool for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) managing EV charging networks with limited grid capacity. As a core component of AMPECO’s CPMS, DLM empowers CPOs to efficiently oversee their networks while optimizing energy use and avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades. AMPECO’s DLM dynamically and automatically distributes available grid power among charging stations, ensuring balanced energy allocation, uninterrupted operations, and superior charging performance. Let’s explore how AMPECO’s advanced DLM capabilities address 3 of the most critical load management challenges in EV charging.

1. Grid Overload 

1st Challenge: Inefficient regulation of electricity consumption can overwhelm the grid, disrupt charging operations, and incur additional costs due to blackouts, equipment failures, and damage to the electrical infrastructure.

Solution: AMPECO’s DLM prevents grid overload by monitoring real-time energy consumption and dynamically adjusting power allocation between chargers while maintaining the same total power limit. The system always establishes a buffer between the grid capacity reserved for EV charging and the actual DLM circuit limit. Additionally, DLM ensures offline chargers do not consume electricity, safeguarding against grid overload and maintaining seamless charging operations by keeping the total energy draw within site limits.

2. Unbalanced Power Distribution

2nd Challenge: Unbalanced power allocation among chargers can lead to suboptimal performance, longer wait times, and unhappy EV drivers.

Solution: AMPECO’s DLM intelligently and dynamically distributes power among all connected chargers, ensuring efficient usage tailored to each EV’s unique charging requirements. Unlike equal power distribution, which may not always be optimal, because the EV does not always consume what has been allocated, DLM dynamically adjusts allocation based on the varying charging cycles of individual EVs. This ensures no single charger monopolizes the available electricity, resulting in balanced, efficient power distribution across all active sessions and improved user satisfaction.

3. Peak Usage Challenges 

3rd Challenge: High electricity demand during peak hours strains resources and escalates energy expenses, translating into operational inefficiencies, higher costs, and a degraded user experience.

Solution: AMPECO’s DLM mitigates peak usage challenges by temporarily limiting the charging speed at stations or pausing sessions during peak hours. It also recalculates session limits in real-time to account for external loads reported by smart meters. This capability helps prioritize high-demand periods, ensuring efficient energy distribution, reducing peak demand costs, and maintaining a reliable charging experience.

The Technology Behind the Solution

Setting AMPECO’s DLM involves configuring the system to meet specific site and operational requirements. As a starting point, all charge points, as well as any other non-managed devices, at a specific location are grouped into a “DLM circuit,” where a predefined power limit ensures grid stability. Here are the DLM options used for addressing load management challenges:

1. Energy Usage Limits

• Charging station operators can set precise limits per charger, or EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) in DLM based on the specific requirements of the grid where the chargers are installed. This granular control over energy usage helps CPOs align with operational, business, and customer needs. 

2. Automatic Power Distribution

• The very essence of DLM is to adjust energy allocation across active sessions. Once the DLM option is enabled in AMPECO’s CPMS, the automatic optimization of energy distribution will be triggered. The system continuously monitors and adjusts based on the charging limits set in the DLM settings, the new sessions started, the number of sessions finished, and the capacity of the individual EVs at a given time. For instance, DLM dynamically lowers allocated power when the EV consumes less than the limit and redistributes the free load to the other chargers in the DLM circuit. 

3. Recalculation Due To Smart Meter Data

• The integration of smart meters gives DLM the possibility to recalculate power distribution on a more granular level by taking into account any external loads. As devices beyond EV chargers draw power from the circuit, the smart meter communicates these changes to the DLM. This triggers an automatic recalculation adjusting power distribution across all active charging sessions to maintain optimal performance. After the recalculation, all current charging sessions within the given DLM circuit will be assigned new limits. All these operations happen in real-time as new chargers or loads are added to the circuit.

These features empower CPOs to operate efficiently, even in high-demand environments. DLM saves them significant investments in infrastructure upgrades and alleviates the need for additional time-consuming settings per charger.

AMPECO’s DLM: A Strategic Solution for Scalable EV Charging Networks

DLM is more than just an operational tool—it is a strategic foundation for the sustainable growth of EV charging networks. As CPOs face the challenge of scaling operations to accommodate increasing demand while navigating limited grid capacities, DLM provides a smart, cost-effective solution to optimize energy distribution without the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades. 

By addressing issues such as grid overload, peak electricity demands, and unbalanced power allocation, DLM empowers CPOs to manage their networks with unparalleled efficiency and flexibility. Solving energy management challenges is part of every CPO’s journey, and AMPECO’s DLM equips them with the right capabilities to reduce downtime and enhance user satisfaction by ensuring consistent charging performance. AMPECO not only provides the right load management technology, but we also offer hands-on support to address specific load management scenarios to ensure the most optimal use of our DLM feature.