Coping with a Defunct Charger Firm
In October, Enel X Approach North America introduced that it will stop its operations, leaving the corporate’s JuiceBox EV charger customers reduce off from software program performance. Whereas server operations will proceed for an indeterminate interval and battery charging capabilities are nonetheless lively, the corporate maintains that they may search a long-term answer (but to be disclosed).
Though this information just isn’t precisely reassuring to these with JuiceBox cost stations, it means that there’s nonetheless time emigrate Enel X Approach 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 necessary to make a sound plan for long-term success to protect in opposition to the danger and risk that Enel X Approach servers will shut down completely.
Listed here are three viable methods ahead for JuiceBox system homeowners:
1. OCPP Platform Migration
Dozens of OCPP-based cost station administration platforms have come out of the woodwork because the information of Enel X’s withdrawal from the North American market. The businesses behind them are making numerous claims about their capacity to assist determined system homeowners 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 aren’t.
Many customers might be tempted by these CSMS supplier claims because of their low value and obvious simplicity–however they don’t seem to be with out potential pitfalls. Amongst them:
- Associate threat. What credentials and observe document does the answer supplier have? How lengthy have they been in enterprise, and might you be 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 would be left in a worse state of affairs than earlier than. Subsequently, select a companion that gives a assure or guarantee for his or her companies.
- Hidden value. Credible software-only distributors providing migration companies will in all probability 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, other than a brand new SaaS subscription, earlier than going this route.
- Stability. OCPP platform migration may end in new quirks and undesirable behaviors. Your gear might be operating experimental, doubtlessly unstable firmware, linked to a third-party server by way of Wi-Fi, with no official customer support out there.
2. Rip and Exchange
For some organizations, it might be well worth the time and expense of tearing out their Enel X gear and changing it utterly–however think about all prices first. Most gear suppliers in the marketplace cost greater than Enel X did for companies. This strategy 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 Methods (CSMS)
The perfect of each worlds might be achieved with hardware-based CSMS options: by retrofitting current JuiceBox techniques, 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 strategy additionally presents the next advantages:
- Reliable companions. Solely a handful of EVSE suppliers supply hardware-based CSMS options, and those who do have stood the take a look at of time. For instance, Liberty Plugins has been in enterprise since 2009.
- Approachable value construction. Most hardware-based CSMS options are tailor-made to workplaces and multi-unit residences, the place customers want to regulate 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 switch a JuiceBox or another system, you are able to do so with out altering the way you handle your charging system. As a bonus, you may add extra chargers of any kind, whether or not Degree 2 or DC quick chargers.
Because the preliminary shock wears off for JuiceBox customers, it’s necessary to contemplate the entire choices for a cheap, long-term plan for sustaining cost station operations. The cons are likely to outweigh the professionals of migrating to cloud platforms, or totally changing techniques, however retrofitting JuiceBox techniques to a hardware-based CSMS permits higher management, flexibility and, above all, reliability.
