Plan the management of electric vehicle charging stations

This article describes installation planning. For on-site implementation and equipment configuration on the Climkit platform, refer to the links at the end of the article.

1. Electric vehicle charging station management - standard installation

The standard case illustrated in this section consists of installing a basic infrastructure in a building already equipped or simultaneously equipped with the Climkit solution for electricity and metering management within an RCP with a single connection to the distribution grid.

The system consists of installing charging stations in the building's collective parking lot. The stations communicate with the Climkit Gateway via a LAN network (wired or Wi-Fi) and use the standard OCPP communication protocol.

Thanks to this communication, the Climkit Gateway regulates the available power allocated to the charging stations based on available energy and manages user access via RFID badges.

Other installation variants are explained below under "Other configurations according to site type".

Standard connection diagram with RCP

Flat cable

It is recommended to install a flat cable to supply electricity to each parking space. This solution facilitates the progressive installation of charging stations as residents wish to get equipped. This approach corresponds to level C1 of the SIA 2060 standard.

Electrical connection

The flat cable is powered from the electrical panel via a 3P+N MCB of 63A maximum.

The connection is carried out as follows:

• A dedicated outgoing feeder in the electrical panel with a 63A circuit breaker
• A dedicated meter installed at the same level as the other consumers' meters (behind the input meter and never behind the common services meter)

Each outgoing feeder corresponds to a distribution zone. Although the number of charging stations per zone is technically unlimited, it is recommended not to exceed 30 charging stations per zone and to provide an additional feeder beyond this threshold.

The Gateway reads the instantaneous amperage of the input meter and regulates the charging station charging power accordingly, in order to prevent tripping the main circuit breaker or the zone circuit breaker.

Setting up the IP and Wi-Fi network

Wi-Fi access points are positioned to cover the entire parking lot with sufficient signal. Their distribution takes into account signal attenuation caused by conduits, ceiling equipment, and parked vehicles, to ensure a stable connection for the charging stations.

Climkit offering

The standard Climkit offer includes all the elements necessary for system operation: hardware equipment, software features, and commissioning services.

All hardware is supplied preconfigured to simplify installation and ensure proper communication between meters.

• Basic infrastructure equipment:
  • LAN router or 4G Router
  • PoE switch
  • Climkit Gateway
  • Wi-Fi access points (minimum 2)
  • Wi-Fi access point controller
  • I/O module for charging station load shedding via the DSO meter
• Individual electric vehicle charging station(s)
• Software features:
  • Charging station management and dynamic load management
• Commissioning service:
  • Configuration and commissioning of the basic infrastructure
  • Configuration and commissioning of each charging station
  • Administrative setup

All products are ordered directly from Climkit.

In most cases, the installation can be carried out by the installer without on-site intervention from a Climkit technician.

Telephone support is available if needed during commissioning.

Details of equipment used

LAN or 4G Router

An internet connection is essential for system operation. If no connection is available, Climkit can provide it via a 4G router equipped with an active multi-operator SIM card.

If an internet connection already exists, a Climkit LAN router is systematically provided.

The LAN or 4G router allows creating a dedicated IP network to which all system equipment connects (Gateway, charging stations, and Wi-Fi access points), enabling independent administration.

Using the Climkit TRB140 4G router offers several advantages:

• Simplified installation: the router is easily installed inside the electrical panel, directly on the DIN rail
• Complete delivery: supplied with its DIN rail mount and 24V DC power supply
• Ready to use: delivered preconfigured with an activated SIM card
• Cost-effective 4G subscription: low-cost internet connection

  

  

  Useful link: TRB140 Router Datasheet

In the case of a LAN router, Climkit provides the preconfigured Teltonika RUT301 router with 4 LAN ports + 1 WAN port. It comes with its DIN rail mount and 24V DC DIN rail power supply.

PoE Switch

For Ethernet equipment requiring PoE power supply, a PoE switch is required.

It allows powering the Gateway, the controller, and the Wi-Fi access points directly via the Ethernet cable, without additional power supply.

Model supplied by Climkit: Teltonika TSW200 (or equivalent), with 8 PoE Ethernet ports and 2 SFP fiber optic ports. Supplied with DIN rail mount and 48V DC, 150 W DIN rail power supply.

Climkit Gateway

The Climkit Gateway manages the charging stations locally and ensures communication with the Climkit platform. Its Ethernet interface allows connection to the IP network and interaction with the charging stations via the OCPP protocol. Its RS485 interface allows reading meters, particularly the input meter, via the Modbus protocol.

The Gateway is installed directly in the electrical panel on the DIN rail.

Climkit Gateway installed in an electrical panel with the TRB140 4G router, the TSW200 PoE switch, and the I/O module.

Wi-Fi access points

Wi-Fi access points create a wireless network covering the entire parking lot, allowing charging stations to be connected without additional cabling.

The recommended coverage radius per access point is approximately 15 m, i.e., roughly two facing rows of 10 spaces. In practice, obstacles (walls, materials, vehicles) significantly reduce range. To guarantee a stable and redundant connection, a minimum of 2 access points is systematically provided. As a guide, a parking lot of 80 to 100 spaces requires 4 to 6 access points, depending on the layout and obstacles present.

Wi-Fi access point controller

The TP-Link Omada OC200 controller optimizes the Wi-Fi network and manages device connections to the different access points.

It is easily installed on the DIN rail in the electrical panel and is powered exclusively via PoE from the PoE Ethernet switch.

It also generates alerts in the event of an access point failure or areas insufficiently covered by the Wi-Fi signal.

Relay I/O Module

The WP8024 I/O module comes with a 24V DC DIN rail power supply and connects to the Climkit Gateway via RS485-Modbus.

Digital input no. 1 is connected to the charging station load shedding relay on the DSO input meter: when the meter opens the relay, the input is deactivated and the Gateway immediately cuts off electric vehicle charging.

Supplied with 24V DC DIN rail power supply.

2. Electric vehicle charging station

Climkit supplies a 22 kW charging station, depending on availability the ABB Terra AC or the Hager Witty Pro, suitable for both indoor and outdoor installation. It integrates all the features of a smart charging station for optimized and flexible charging.

With hundreds of stations installed and managed by Climkit since 2021, this model has proven itself through its ease of installation, durability, and versatility (collective parking lots, buildings, businesses, public charging stations, residential installations).

Prior to delivery, Climkit ensures the complete preparation of each charging station: firmware update and configuration according to the specific needs of each site. Climkit technicians are trained and ready to provide all necessary support for installation and commissioning.

Thanks to its extensive stock, Climkit is able to deliver the required number of charging stations for each project within a few days.

In the operational phase, management and customer support are simplified with a charging station supplied by Climkit, regardless of the model, as any issue can be handled directly by Climkit under warranty and without calling on the installer.

Technical specifications of the charging station

• Maximum power of 22 kW
• Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or 4G connection
• RFID badge reader
• Integrated energy meter
• Communication via standard OCPP protocol
• Ethernet daisy-chain connection possible

Features with the Climkit solution

Combined with the Climkit solution for electricity management, the charging station offers:

• Dynamic charging power management based on available power
• User management via RFID badges and individual billing of consumed energy
• Optimization of self-consumption by charging exclusively with produced solar energy

Hager Witty Pro

ABB Terra

RFID badge access

Electrical connection

The charging station is connected to the flat cable via a junction box specific to the flat cable manufacturer.

The charging station can be configured up to 22 kW (32A) maximum, or limited to 25A, 16A, or 10A depending on requirements.

A 3P+N Type A RCBO is installed for each charging station, sized according to the cable cross-section and the selected maximum amperage. Expensive Type B or EV circuit breakers are not required. For the Hager Witty Pro, a standard circuit breaker is sufficient: the 30 mA residual current protection is built into the charging station (reference XVL122SCH). The circuit breaker is installed directly in a small enclosure mounted next to the charging station.

IP network connection

The charging station connects to the IP network via Wi-Fi. It is delivered preconfigured with the Wi-Fi network settings (SSID and password) as well as the IP address of the Gateway it must connect to.

Pedestal and outdoor installation

If the charging station cannot be wall-mounted, it can be installed on a metal pedestal, single or double for two charging stations back-to-back. The pedestal is specific to the charging station model.

The charging station is IP55 certified and can also be installed outdoors.

Public charging station

Each charging station can also optionally be activated in public charging station mode to allow visiting users to pay via TWINT by scanning the QR code affixed to the charging station with their smartphone.

Other charging stations connectable to the Climkit Gateway

All OCPP-compatible (1.6) charging stations can theoretically be connected to the Climkit Gateway to benefit from dynamic load management and user access control. The most common models include Schneider, Eaton, Keba, and Fronius.

3. Other configurations according to site type

Connection diagram - without RCP

The connection differs from the standard RCP diagram only by using Distribution system operator (DSO) meters for the site consumers instead of private meters.

In this case, the flat cable connects either behind the common services DSO meter, or behind a DSO meter dedicated to the charging stations.

In both cases, a private meter is installed at the grid connection for continuous dynamic power regulation (by the Gateway) so as not to exceed the connection capacity limit.

Connection behind a DSO meter dedicated to charging stations

This clearly separates the consumption of the charging stations from that of the common areas during billing, but incurs additional fees related to the installation and management of this meter by the DSO.

Furthermore, it is not possible to benefit from photovoltaics for EV charging if the PV system is connected to the common services meter.

Connection behind common services DSO meter

This saves the cost of an additional DSO meter, but requires installing a private meter on the common services feeder to ensure dynamic load management.

Indeed, since this feeder was initially sized only for the common areas, adding charging stations requires continuous regulation of charging power via the Gateway in order not to exceed maximum capacity, as is already done for the main grid connection.

A meter is also added to each zone feeder as well as to the photovoltaic system, if present. The common services consumption will then be deducted via a rule meter.

During billing, it will thus be possible to distinguish consumption related to EV charging and, if applicable, differentiate electricity from the grid from solar power.

Connection with two or more grid inputs and common services DSO meter

When there are multiple grid connections available for the same parking lot, each flat cable feeder (63A) can be taken from each of the connections.

Only one Gateway and one 4G router are required. Control meters for power regulation are connected to the Gateway via an RS485 bus or IP-Ethernet using RS485-Ethernet converters.

In the event that charging stations are connected behind the common services DSO meter, it is necessary to install a meter on the common services feeder and another on the charging station feeder, for the same dynamic load management reasons explained previously.

Connection with two or more grid inputs and dedicated DSO meter

When flat cable feeders are connected behind a dedicated DSO meter for charging stations for each building, it is not necessary to install private Climkit meters.

Connection behind apartment meters (not recommended)

Connecting a charging station behind an individual apartment meter is strongly discouraged, as it prevents dynamic load management based on the building's available energy and makes it impossible to dissociate charging station consumption from household consumption.

This configuration also prevents sharing the charging station or renting the space to another user, limiting long-term management flexibility.

For these reasons, Climkit does not offer a solution for this type of connection and recommends applying the SIA 2060 standard and a centralized connection of charging stations even in small sites with only a few spaces.

Third-party charging station systems and Remote OCPP server

When a third-party charging station system is installed and manages both the charging stations and dynamic load management, it is not necessary to install Climkit equipment, as all network communication and power regulation are handled by that system.

In this case, Climkit only manages user access via their RFID badges and forwards transactions to the platform for billing.

To allow communication between the third-party system and Climkit, the third-party system's OCPP settings must be configured to communicate with the Climkit Remote OCPP server.

Common systems of this type include:

• Easee
• Zaptec
• Schneider EcoStruxure EV Charging Expert

4. Next steps