AeroVironment completes first installation of Smart Charging Systems for EVs

The image is Courtesy AeroVironment, Inc. and reflects a four-port station. There is a two-port and single port unit as well.

According to the www.avinc.com News Release, the Smart Charging Dock (model EVSE-RS+) system is designed with an open architecture to ensure interoperability with the thousands of individual utilities nationwide.

The chargers wirelessly communicate with the grid so it charges electric and plug-in electric hybrid cars by turning drivers’ homes into convenient, smart refueling hubs.

“Our Smart Charging Dock is designed to flex with the needs of utilities and drivers,” said Mike Bissonette, senior vice president and general manager of Efficient Energy Systems at AeroVironment. “The open architecture ensures that utilities will be able to incorporate it easily into their own monitoring systems. It also communicates wirelessly with the grid and provides feedback that helps determine the optimum charging times to effectively manage demand on the grid.”

AeroVironment designed its Smart Charging Dock and supporting software to integrate easily with a utility’s IT network over various communication methods, including GPRS (cellular), Ethernet, WiFiÔ and ZigBeeÒ.

The charging system enables communication with the utility to allow for easy monitoring of energy use, troubleshooting and data analysis to help optimize the grid. Utilities can then assess charging patterns and proactively manage the needs of electric vehicles on the utility‘s generation and distribution systems. Utilities will ultimately be able to aggregate collected data for a global view of EV energy usage and user habits.

The company also recently announced that it would be providing and installing the charging systems and data network for the nation’s first privately-funded EV charging “ecosystem” in Houston for New Jersey-based NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG). This is an example of how AeroVironment collaboratively supports an energy company and its EV-driving customer base.

AeroVironment is working closely with NRG Energy to ensure that its charging hardware and software work seamlessly with the company’s management system, allowing for grid optimization, CO2 footprint data and energy consumption reports.

For the record, AeroVironment’s Smart Charging Dock can charge an electric or plug-in hybrid car automatically or be pre-programmed by a utility or driver for optimal power draw so that the car charges when energy costs are lowest. EVSE-RS+ is designed to be compatible with all SAE J1772-compliant electric car models from major automakers.

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About the Author: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks and writes articles, books and ebooks via authorfrank.com, but may be contacted here by email: [email protected]

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