Coping with a Defunct Charger Firm
In October, Enel X Manner North America introduced that it will 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 may 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 Manner 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 vital to make a sound plan for long-term success to protect towards the danger and chance that Enel X Manner servers will shut down completely.
Listed here 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 varied claims about their potential 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 aren’t.
Many customers can be tempted by these CSMS supplier claims as a consequence of their low value and obvious simplicity–however they aren’t with out potential pitfalls. Amongst them:
- Accomplice danger. What credentials and monitor document does the answer supplier have? How lengthy have they been in enterprise, and might you make certain 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 doable that you simply won’t be able emigrate once more. If a migration is unsuccessful, you possibly can be left in a worse scenario than earlier than. Due to this fact, select a companion that gives a assure or guarantee for his or her companies.
- Hidden value. Credible software-only distributors providing migration companies will in all probability require onsite personnel to replace firmware for every charger in your community. This can contain electricians or technicians working billable hours. Ensure you perceive what’s concerned in migration, aside from a brand new SaaS subscription, earlier than going this route.
- Stability. OCPP platform migration might end in new quirks and undesirable behaviors. Your tools can be operating experimental, doubtlessly unstable firmware, linked to a third-party server through Wi-Fi, with no official customer support accessible.
2. Rip and Exchange
For some organizations, it might be definitely worth the time and expense of tearing out their Enel X tools and changing it utterly–however think about all prices first. Most tools suppliers available on the market cost greater than Enel X did for companies. This strategy is by far the most costly, requiring important tools and labor expense along with a brand new service subscription.
3. {Hardware}-Primarily based Cost Station Administration Techniques (CSMS)
The very best of each worlds could be achieved with hardware-based CSMS options: by retrofitting present JuiceBox programs, customers can preserve the {hardware} and keep away from altering firmware of every particular person system (each expensive, 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 strategy additionally provides the next advantages:
- Reliable companions. Solely a handful of EVSE suppliers supply hardware-based CSMS options, and those who do have stood the check of time. For instance, Liberty Plugins has been in enterprise since 2009.
- Approachable value construction. Most hardware-based CSMS options are tailor-made to workplaces and multi-unit residences, the place customers want to manage entry to chargers and invoice to be used, however don’t need or must revenue from their charging.
- Versatile and upgradeable. Each EV charger has a lifespan, so when it’s time to switch 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 possibly can add extra chargers of any kind, whether or not Degree 2 or DC quick chargers.
Because the preliminary shock wears off for JuiceBox customers, it’s vital to contemplate all the 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 totally changing programs, however retrofitting JuiceBox programs to a hardware-based CSMS allows higher management, flexibility and, above all, reliability.
