“Offering effective and reliable solutions, providing post-sales service, and above all, paying attention to the needs of customers” are the key factors ensuring the success of a charging infrastructure project, according to Iñigo Oraa.
The Manager eCity Charge reveals to Mobility Portal Group the steps to achieve 100% efficient installations.
To illustrate, he references one of the most innovative projects undertaken by the company, part of a collaboration with a Spanish SOCIMI.
This project involves installing 17 chargers in a building for use by employees working in the offices on the premises.
Specifically, 15 of them are single-phase with a power of 7.4 kW, while the remaining two are three-phase, with 22 kW power.
The main challenge faced in devising this project revolves around ensuring that the overall power capacity between the offices and the chargers does not exceed 400 kW, thus preventing an overshoot of the building’s power capacity.
The sum of the powers of all chargers amounted to 155 kW, representing a significant consumption for the property.
How did eCity Charge address this issue?
By installing a balancing system that allows the unused power from the rest of the building to be used for electric vehicle charging.
In this regard, they decided to implement chargers from the Spanish manufacturer Circutor.
“We observed that the brand allows for very high power when performing this power balancing,” Oraa notes. And, he emphasizes, “In fact, we ended up using their chargers.”
The Manager refers to the ePARK units, which are presented as the best option for indoor charging, featuring a modern and minimalist design.
These units offer the maximum performance required by the market, with remote control management and monitoring or integration into management platforms based on the OCPP 1.6J protocol.
The chargers are specially designed for use in covered parking lots, being versatile for vehicles of any type.
They are available in both single-phase and three-phase versions, with powers of 7.4 kW and 22 kW.
According to Oraa, the ePARK model meets basic requirements.
These include Ethernet connectivity for internet cable access and user identification systems through RFID readers.
They also have built-in hoses, significantly improving the usability of the equipment.
In this context, the representative of eCity Charge recommends that charging point installers offer effective and reliable solutions.
“In this case, Circutor is a brand that has a lot of authority in the field of electric vehicle charging, with highly efficient equipment,” he emphasizes.
Additionally, after-sales service is a fundamental element to consider.
However, the main point that the Manager emphasizes is to pay attention to the specific needs of each customer.
“This is what guarantees the comprehensive success of the project,” he asserts.
eCity Charge: Step by Step of this “Innovative Solution”
A year ago, eCity Charge was awarded this project.
The first step involved a careful understanding of the customer’s needs.
Followed by obtaining the electrical certificate from the School of Engineering and approval from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, which took approximately a month.
The installation phase, which included placing chargers, wiring, and other infrastructure, was completed in a three-week period.
However, the wait for the delivery of balancing equipment and restrictions due to ongoing building works, as well as external factors to the company, extended the project’s duration.
The final phase, involving the detailed configuration of the chargers and the optimization of power balancing, required collaboration with the supplier.
“The chargers have been available for a while, but the final configuration for the balancing to work correctly has caused certain delays,” he explains.
