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Thursday, January 23, 2025

Deserted No Extra: 3 Choices for Enel X Approach Cost Station Operators


Coping with a Defunct Charger Firm

In October, Enel X Approach North America introduced that it could 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 energetic, the corporate maintains that they are going to search a long-term answer (but to be disclosed).

Though this information is just not 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 chance that Enel X Approach servers will shut down completely.

Listed below are three viable methods ahead for JuiceBox system house owners:

1. OCPP Platform Migration

Dozens of OCPP-based cost station administration platforms have come out of the woodwork for the reason that information of Enel X’s withdrawal from the North American market. The businesses behind them are making numerous claims about their skill to assist determined system house owners 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 are usually not.

Many customers will probably be tempted by these CSMS supplier claims as a result of their low price and obvious simplicity–however they don’t seem to be with out potential pitfalls. Amongst them:

  • Associate threat. What credentials and monitor report does the answer supplier have? How lengthy have they been in enterprise, and may you be sure they are going to be there to assist 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 scenario than earlier than. Due to this fact, select a associate that gives a assure or guarantee for his or her providers.
  • Hidden price. Credible software-only distributors providing migration providers will most likely 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, aside from a brand new SaaS subscription, earlier than going this route.
  • Stability. OCPP platform migration may end in new quirks and undesirable behaviors. Your gear will probably be working experimental, probably unstable firmware, related to a third-party server through Wi-Fi, with no official customer support obtainable.

2. Rip and Substitute

For some organizations, it might be definitely worth the time and expense of tearing out their Enel X gear and changing it fully–however contemplate all prices first. Most gear suppliers in the marketplace cost greater than Enel X did for providers. This method is by far the costliest, requiring vital gear and labor expense along with a brand new service subscription.

3. {Hardware}-Based mostly Cost Station Administration Programs (CSMS)

The most effective of each worlds could be achieved with hardware-based CSMS options: by retrofitting current JuiceBox methods, customers can preserve the {hardware} and keep away from altering firmware of every particular person system (each pricey, time-consuming processes).

A hardware-based CSMS not solely protects your {hardware} funding, however re-enables the now-lost entry management, consumer administration, monetization and reporting options that EV cost station managers want to take care of environment friendly and cost-effective operations. This method additionally gives 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 price 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 exchange a JuiceBox or some other 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 sort, whether or not Degree 2 or DC quick chargers.

Because the preliminary shock wears off for JuiceBox customers, it’s necessary to think about the entire choices for an economical, long-term plan for sustaining cost station operations. The cons are inclined to outweigh the professionals of migrating to cloud platforms, or completely changing methods, however retrofitting JuiceBox methods to a hardware-based CSMS allows better management, flexibility and, above all, reliability.

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