A Charging Management System or Software (CMS) is a centralized management tool which helps optimize the efficiency of all EV charge points from one central hub. It provides historical & real-time data of each charging point and the charging network as a whole. It also allows companies to easily add new charging stations and manage station groups remotely. In simpler terms, it is a management tool that allows administrators to oversee all aspects of a charging network’s operation.
CMS provides valuable data on the usage of a charging station or a charging network, which can be used to plan for future charging station installations and to better understand the behavior of EV users of a geographical area. An EV CMS is helpful for fleet operators, charge point operators (CPOs) and government bodies to plan for the deployment of charging infrastructure and to make decisions about the types of charging stations to be installed.
Data collection, reporting & analysis are critical for any business, but they can be especially helpful when it comes to managing EV charging infrastructure. With EV CMS, businesses can automatically collect data on charging activity, identify customer charging habits and make changes to improve customer experience.
As far as EV users are concerned, detailed reports via apps allows them to track EV performance data over time. The software allows them to track their EV’s charging status in real-time.
EV charging management systems enable CPOs to manage, track & optimize electric vehicle charging.
A CMS provides seamless connectivity between CPOs and EMSPs (e-mobility service providers) through universal industry standards & protocols. This helps achieve high interoperability and scalability for the CPO. An EMSP is a company offering EV charging service to customers. It assists EV users by providing access to multiple charging points around a geographical area.
A Charging Management System gives the company complete control of its EV chargers, helps optimize energy usage & costs, provides better charging experience for EV owners, allows remote EV charging network management, makes it possible to reduce costs & generate additional revenue, automates billing & payments and allows scaling & interoperability.
What is a White Label CMS?
White label EV CMS, delivered as SaaS (Software as a Service), allows a company to acquire a scalable charging management system along with self-service tools (apps) for EV users without the time & cost of custom software development.
It enables EV charging companies to manage single/multiple charging stations seamlessly as one network under their brand name. Customers can quickly recognise the brand through its presence on screen, making the business more trustworthy. This credibility can lead to rapid business expansion and word-of-mouth publicity.
White label CMS service modifies the login page and adds company-specific logos and background images to make it more brand specific.
A customised white-label EV CMS can be used by CPOs, fleet operators & power utilities. It can help monetize an EV brand, develop customer loyalty, save software development cost & time, provide future-proof software and help scale a business rapidly.
A white label EV CMS can reduce initial investment and save money over time. Companies don’t need to hire in-house developers to build the software, if they go for a white-label CMS.
It provides real-time monitoring and optimization capabilities for EV charging operations, allowing CPOs to grow their charging station network, and scale efficiently.
At the core of every EV charging network is a CMS acting as a coordinator of activity & data between the users of EV charging points and the entities that provide charging services. In other words, a CMS is a cloud-based software platform which acts as a moderator communicating with the EV charger, the EV driver (via an app), the EV and the charging network.
CMS Interoperability:
One very important feature of a CMS is that it enables interoperability between different chargers and networks when open protocols are used. To support seamless interoperability between different charging management systems and chargers, an interface standard called Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) has emerged. The Open Charge Alliance (OCA) writes and publishes the OCPP. It is free to use.
Conclusion:
An EV charging management system is invaluable for CPOs and EV owners. With its ability to track, monitor and manage the charging process, it can save time & money for everyone involved. In addition to these benefits, the system keeps EV owners up-to-date on their vehicle’s performance.