News from EVCC

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Guest blog: Charge smart with Garo

General Posted: 11 November, 2022. Written by Conor Charnley, UK Sales Manager, Garo

Charging a car has changed over the last decade, and Smart Charging has taken a significant step forward. The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021was introduced on the 30^th June 2022, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future for EVs. 

Traditionally we have "just plugged in" without any insight into the charging session or considering the energy we are using. The introduction of Smart Charging for all private chargepoints under 50 kW DC allows charge-point owners to make educated decisions when charging private or fleet EVs. It was introduced to –

• Ensure all charge-points are metered and raise awareness of when we use energy. Charge- point owners will have a complete overview of the electricity used and the session duration.
• Provide insights for energy operators on how charge-point owners interact with the charge-point.
• Futureproof charge-points installed across Great Britain (GB).
• Minimise impact to the local grid network when multiple EVs are plugged in, by introducing randomised delay function.

Let's understand it in more detail.

To date, most charge-points in GB have not been metered, not allowing users to understand how much KwH of energy is used in the charging session. Providing EV drivers with this information can help them understand the costs and impacts of the session. For example, Garo chargepoints are integrated with Monta and provide the user with clear insights into:

• kWh usage
• Co2 impacts
• Usage of renewable energy from the Grid

Garo chargepoints with Monta have a feature that only allows the chargepoint to charge when renewable energy is produced.  This is key to a long-term sustainable electric future for GB. The COVID pandemic changed how we commute, with the average commute being less than 25 miles. Most fully electric cars charge at 25 miles per hour when using a 7kW chargepoint. You can then tell the chargepoint how much energy you need and when you will leave home, allowing it to make the best decisions on how to charge your EV—helping the user reduce the impact of their Co2 effect on the planet.

With many energy providers introducing EV tariffs and off-peak rates, having the power to control the chargepoint via your smart device remotely, will significantly impact costs. The kWh cost could be as little as 10p per unit. A potential drop in the price by up to 76% is a significant saving in the current energy crisis. Smart Charging enables the user to have the power to schedule when they want to charge and what suits their lifestyle through the scheduling feature.

Home users can open their chargepoint to the public and generate revenue, something that the domestic chargepoint owner may have never considered. With Monta and Garo, they can now do that. Although not conventional, the chargepoint owner can allow the charge to be used if renting the parking spot to city commuters or neighbours without burdening the expensive energy cost.

Having a smart chargepoint is key to growing the EV space in GB, but let's not forget the need for reliable hardware. EV charging units need to be robust, handle continual charging sessions and become a sustainable part of the future electric landscape the globe is creating. For this, you need a chargepoint that will last for years on the side of your home, and that's what we strive to create in Garo.

Our chargepoints are tested by 3^rd parties to ensure the longevity of multiple car changes. They can be upgraded for future software changes when energy providers, or network operaters change solutions. At Garo, we champion Open Protocol Software (OCPP) for flexibility and longevity to the chargepoint owner. All of this is achieved by 14 years of experience in the EV space and by closely improving our product with EV users across Europe. Smart, reliable EV chargepoints will be critical to the growth of the EV revolution.

About Garo

GARO Electric is a UK EV charging provider, offering a range of wall mounted chargers to UK consumers through electrical wholesalers and approved installers. GARO are committed to providing a high quality product that consumers and contractors can trust and depend on.  To find out more about GARO and their products visit their website here.