The development of electromobility means that a charging station for a company or an EV charger in a company are no longer a luxury, but are becoming a standard. The situation is similar in multi-family housing, where an EV charger in a housing cooperative is generating huge interest from property managers. Business owners and housing cooperatives are increasingly looking for answers to the question: how to approach the topic of electric car charging so as not to go broke on electricity, ensure installation safety, and even make money on it?
The implementation of infrastructure is a great step, but it requires a good plan. The key to success is not just setting up a pillar, but the system that manages it.
Safety and power: The foundation of every installation
Before we think about making money, we must take care of the technical background. Connecting several electric cars simultaneously is a massive load for the grid.
- Dynamic Load Balancing: The system must ensure that electric car charging stations do not overload the building’s connection. When all devices are running in the company or residents turn on washing machines and ovens, the wallbox automatically reduces the cars’ charging power. Only at night or during lower load do cars draw maximum current.
- Installation Protection: Installing a station requires professional anti-shock and surge protection. The safety of the building and parked cars is an absolute priority.
How to safely account for electricity? The role of the OCPP protocol and applications
The most common mistake in housing cooperatives or companies is connecting a publicly available socket on a flat-rate basis or settling accounts based on word of mouth. This quickly leads to conflicts – because why should all residents pay for their neighbor’s electricity?
The solution is intelligent charging stations with the OCPP protocol. Thanks to it, the charger communicates with the cloud and the billing system.
- For business: Employees can log in using RFID cards or an app. The system precisely counts the energy used, allowing the company to settle costs within the fleet or deduct the appropriate amount from the salary.
- For a housing cooperative: A resident has their own card or app. They pull up to the pillar in the housing estate, charge their car, and the system issues an individual invoice for the actually consumed kilowatt-hours every month.
How to turn a station into a source of income?
Publicly available chargers in company areas (e.g., active after working hours) or pillars near residential buildings can generate real profit.
Billing system operators allow you to set your own price tariff for external guests. If you set a rate higher than the cost of purchasing electricity, the difference becomes a margin. For many businesses, this is an interesting monetization of empty spaces at night, and for cooperatives – an additional renovation fund.
Summary
Making charging stations available does not have to be a logistical nightmare. The key is to abandon simple sockets in favor of intelligent devices based on the OCPP protocol. Thanks to this, you gain full control over costs and grid safety.