The implementation of charging infrastructure is revealing a limitation that is not technological, but structural: electrical installations were not designed to support the simultaneity introduced by electric mobility.
The problem is not the installation of a charging point, but what happens when several vehicles demand energy simultaneously at the same installation.
A question of layers, not teams
Integrated recharge management does not respond to a single functionality, but to the superimposition of several technical layers that must operate in a coordinated manner:
- energy delivery (charging mode, power, vehicle interface),
- power control,
- communication,
- measurement,
- and, in certain cases, energy integration.
At the base, all equipment operates under standardised schemes, such as mode 3 as defined in IEC/EN 61851, which ensures basic interoperability between vehicle and charging point. From there, the differences appear in how each solution manages the rest of the layers.
Power control as a structural element
The critical variable in any installation with recharging is not the nominal power of each equipment, but the aggregate power in real conditions of use.
Without a control system, simultaneity leads to:
- protection triggers,
- need to increase the contracted power,
- And oversizing of the installation.
The incorporation of dynamic modulation systems, present in the entire range of chargers VIARIS, changes this approach. The power is no longer fixed and is now assigned according to the instantaneous state of the installation, adjusting to the consumption of the rest of the loads.
This approach makes recharging a manageable charge, compatible with existing infrastructure.
For example, in a community of owners with 20 parking spaces, installing 20 charging points without management would imply a power that would be difficult to assume. However, by means of dynamic control, it is possible to distribute the available power in real time, allowing simultaneous charging without the need to increase the contracted power.
Scalability and multi-point coordination
When the number of points grows, the problem is no longer local. In communities of owners or tertiary environments, management must be common.
The possibility of integrating multiple chargers into coordinated power control systems, as is the case in equipment-based configurations, can be used in the following ways VIARIS with line protection systems, The installation is not sized for the final scenario, but for a phased deployment. The installation is not sized for the final scenario, but for a staggered growth.
This introduces a different design criterion: infrastructure is not only defined by its initial capacity, but by its capacity to evolve.
Coordination of different types of recharging in the same facility
In certain environments, the charging infrastructure is not homogeneous. There coexist points of recharging in alternating current (AC), long-load oriented, with direct current solutions (DC), designed for fast recharging.
This combination introduces a new variable in management: the coexistence of demands with very different profiles, both in terms of power and time of use.
Without a comprehensive control system, this situation can lead to:
- peaks in demand that are difficult to manage,
- under-utilisation of available capacity,
- or the need to oversize the installation.
The incorporation of energy metering systems allows this complexity to be addressed from an integrated perspective. Through the continuous monitoring of consumption, it is possible to dynamically modulate the available power and distribute it among the different charging points, regardless of whether they are AC or DC.
This type of architecture, implemented in solutions such as the VIARIS range through the use of energy meters and power control systems, allows both typologies to operate in a coordinated manner within the same infrastructure, adjusting their demand according to the instantaneous capacity of the installation.
This approach allows:
- maintaining the stability of the system,
- optimise the use of available power,
- and provide the installation with greater operational flexibility.
Recharging is no longer dependent on rigid configurations, but is integrated into a dynamic system capable of adapting to different usage scenarios.
Private environment: power limitation and consumption management
In the residential sector, the main constraint is the available power.
Management is oriented towards:
- avoiding increases in contracted power,
- shifting consumption to favourable tariff periods
- and to integrate recharging with other household loads.
The VIARIS range of equipment incorporates this logic by means of power modulation based on instantaneous consumption and monitoring tools to visualise the energy performance of the installation, including, where appropriate, photovoltaic generation.
In this situation, the charging point is no longer an isolated element but is integrated into the energy management of the building.
This translates directly into an economic impact: reduction of energy costs, elimination of unnecessary investments in electricity infrastructure and optimisation of the use of available power.
Public and corporate environments: operation and availability
In shared or public use infrastructures, the nature of the problem changes. It is not just about managing power, but about operating the system.
This implies:
- manage multiple users,
- record consumption,
- guarantee availability,
- and allow integration into external platforms.
Solutions such as VIARIS COMBI + or equipment intended for use on public roads such as VIARIS CITY + respond to this logic. The possibility of having multiple outputs per device, managing simultaneous load and communicating via standard protocols optimises the use of the infrastructure and facilitates its operation.
In applications with higher energy demands, DC solutions, such as the VIARIS LANDER with powers from 60 to 240 kW, they also introduce the recharge time variable, significantly reducing connection times in high turnover environments.
Energy measurement and traceability
As recharging becomes linked to shared-use or fee-for-service models, metering takes on a central role.
The integration of metering systems, in some cases with MID certification, makes it possible to associate consumption with users or sessions, enabling billing models and meeting regulatory requirements.
It is not only about measuring energy, but also about ensuring its traceability.
Interoperability and connected systems
The charging infrastructure is part of wider systems. The use of open protocols such as OCPP, together with different connectivity options (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile communications), allows the hardware to be “decoupled” from the management system.
This makes it easier:
- integration into third party platforms,
- remote management
- and the evolution of the system without replacement of equipment.
From an engineering point of view, this reduces the risk of obsolescence and avoids closed dependencies.
Integration with distributed generation
The incorporation of photovoltaic generation introduces a new variable: energy availability is not constant.
From this perspective, recharging can act as flexible charging, absorbing surpluses and optimising self-consumption. To this end, the system must be able to correlate consumption, generation and vehicle demand.
Solutions that integrate this functionality allow the recharging point to actively participate in the energy management of the installation.
VIARIS, the most complete range for EV charging
Electric vehicle charging can no longer be approached as the addition of a new load, but as the integration of a dynamic system within the electrical installation.
This requires consideration:
- power management,
- coordination of multiple teams,
- interoperability,
- measurement,
- and energy integration.
Not all solutions on the market natively integrate all these capabilities into a single platform, making the management architecture a key differentiator.
Under this approach, the selection of solutions must be based not only on their load capacity, but also on their ability to integrate into a coherent architecture and to design systems capable of managing energy intelligently. And that is what determines the success of any charging project.
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