Car Park EV Charging Solution

EV Charging Station Design and Layout Considerations

Installing EV charging infrastructure in a car park requires careful planning and design. Some key factors to consider are:

• Strategic placement near power supply connection points to minimize electrical works
• Allocating sufficient space around chargers for parking and cable access
• Avoiding crossing traffic lanes to reduce tripping hazard
• Positioning chargers in visible locations covered by CCTV for security
• Allowing room for future expansion as EV adoption grows
• Using bollards or wheel stops to protect stations from impacts
• Meeting disability access requirements with adjacent wheelchair spaces
• Providing well-lit signage to clearly identify EV charging bays
• Configuring chargers in groups to maximize sharing of power supply
• Separating AC and DC charging zones for better load balancing
• Consulting experienced EV charger manufacturers on ideal station layout.

With good design, EV chargers can be seamlessly integrated into both new and existing car parks.

Installing EV Charging Infrastructure in Existing Car Parks

Upgrading older car parks with EV charging infrastructure is straightforward when done properly. The key steps involve:

• Assessing the current electrical system and capacity to determine if upgrades are needed
• Installing new distribution boards and sub-mains cabling to support additional EV charger loads
• Extending power supply to new surface-mounted or wall-mounted chargers
• Marking out new EV-only parking bays and signage, reshuffling spacing if required
• Running networking cables for smart chargers connectivity and access control
• Adding protection barriers or bollards around chargers
• Testing and commissioning the chargers
• Integrating payments and management software

While an existing carpark layout presents some limitations, experienced EV charging station contractors can install the required electrical and EVSE hardware with minimal disruption. Modular scalability also allows capacity to be increased gradually.

Advantages of Smart Charging and Load Balancing

Using smart EV charging systems in car parks brings multiple benefits compared to basic standalone chargers:

• Real-time load balancing to avoid overloading supply infrastructure
• Gathering usage data and diagnostics to optimize operations
• Remote monitoring and maintenance to minimize faults
• Dynamic charging speeds to match power availability
• Flexible access control and payment processing via apps
• Integration with other site systems like CCTV and parking access
• Automated energy management to minimize electricity costs
• Futureproofing for smart grid and V2G capabilities

By partnering with an experienced EV charger manufacturer, carpark owners can get fully-featured smart charging solutions suitable for their site requirements. Investing in smart technology is highly recommended for future-proofing larger EV charging deployments.

Connecting EV Chargers to Power Supply and Internet

When installing EV chargers in a car park, they need robust connections to both power supply and internet/network systems:

• Electrical supply is extended from the main distribution boards via sub-mains cabling and RCDs to each charger location. Sizing the cables appropriately avoids voltage drop during high-load charging.
• Connecting EVSEs to an IT network enables remote monitoring, smart charging features, access control and payment systems. Cat5/6 Ethernet cables from a local switch provide the physical layer.
• For internet connectivity, routers with SIM cards or broadband links allow dynamic data transfer and OTA firmware updates.
• Isolating EV loads on dedicated distribution boards and circuits preserves power quality for regular building supply.
• Lightning and surge protection should be installed to shield external EV charger components.

Consulting qualified electrical contractors and EV charger manufacturers during the design process is recommended to ensure robust connectivity.

Operating and Maintaining EV Charging Stations

To keep car park EV charging stations running smoothly:

• Daily visual inspections to check for damage, obstructions, error signals
• Regular cleaning of the charger housing and cable connectors
• Monthly functionality testing to verify correct operation
• Annual servicing of internal components and hardware
• Testing of earth leakage and overcurrent protection devices
• Checking status lights, displays and labeling remain clear
• Recording energy meter readings and usage data
• Monitoring network and internet connectivity for software-driven systems
• Prompt repairs if faults or anomalies are identified
• Software and firmware updates to fix bugs and add new capabilities
• Parts replacement after the manufacturer-recommended service life

Following the EV charger owner’s manual and maintenance schedule helps maximize uptime and lifetime.

Integrating EV Charging Payments and Access Control

Enabling paid access to EV chargers in public car parks requires secure integration of:

• RFID card readers or apps to identify authorized users upon plug-in
• Back-end software platforms to process user accounts and payments
• Real-time charger data to verify active charging sessions
• Automated release of the charging cable when the session ends
• SMS/Email notifications and receipts for billing records
• 24/7 remote monitoring and diagnostics of system health
• Popular payment methods like credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay
• Flexible pricing options e.g. per kWh, per hour, flat fee

Professional EV charging stations are supplied with validated payment systems built-in or API integration to leading third-party platforms.

Scaling Up EV Charging Capacity Over Time

As EV adoption increases, car park charging capacity can be conveniently scaled up by:

• Installing additional standalone chargers at new bays
• Deploying multi-connector stations to maximize share of supply
• Upgrading to higher powered chargers when electrical capacity allows
• Adding localized distribution boards to split EV loads
• Building new hub sites with 50kW+ DC fast chargers
• Enabling smart charging features to balance loads dynamically
• Moving less-used Level 2 chargers to increase Level 3 availability
• Offering preferential prices to incentivize off-peak charging

With modular solutions from leading EVSE manufacturers, capacity can be cost-effectively increased in phases to match rising demand.

FAQ

How many EV charging points are needed in a car park?

The recommended number of EV chargers depends on factors like parking capacity, vehicle turnover, electricity supply, and charging speed needs. As a general guideline, we suggest installing 1 EVSE for every 10-20 regular parking bays, with additional capacity for fleet/taxi areas.

What electrical upgrade is required for EV chargers?

EV chargers are high load devices, so sufficient power supply capacity and new distribution cabling are usually needed. Upgrades like new subpanels, thicker cables, and higher capacity transformers may be necessary. Have a professional assess your car park’s electrical infrastructure.

How can I manage and control access to the EV chargers?

Access control systems using RFID tags, apps and back-end software enable paid user authentication on both AC and DC charging stations before unlocking the cable. This allows charger usage to be managed.

What payment options do your EV chargers support?

Our charging stations support RFID card payments, credit/debit cards via readers or NFC, smartphone wallet apps like Apple Pay/Google Pay, PayPal integration, and prepaid charging from registered user accounts.

How much space is required per EV charging bay?

We recommend allowing at least 3m x 5m for a standard EV charging bay – this provides ample space for parking and opening vehicle doors, routing the charging cable, and accessing the charger. Disabled access bays may require more space.