Semtech is leading the electric mobility sector, particularly in optimizing the reliability of cellular connectivity for EV chargers.
Raphael Atayi, director of cellular connectivity for electric vehicle charging at Semtech, emphasizes the company’s commitment to CPOs:
“We assist them in transitioning smoothly and seamlessly, as it is unreasonable to expect something operational to change overnight.”
This approach is not only necessary but also strategic for adapting to this ever-evolving industry.
A gradual approach enables CPOs to continue operations while upgrading their systems towards a more reliable infrastructure, thereby avoiding any service disruptions.
This is particularly ideal considering they operate hundreds or even thousands of chargers, making it “no small change.”
“Semtech works with them to interconnect the various networks, ensuring that there are no gaps between what they have today and what they will have tomorrow,” he asserts at the International Mobility Portal Summit.
In this way, the company explains and demonstrates to their clients what Smart Connectivity can achieve and the positive impact it has on their businesses.
What other solutions does Semtech offer to CPOs?
One aspect that distinguishes them from its competitors, and “explains why our clients remain with us in the long term,” is Semtech’s proactive collaboration with customers.
“We aim to maximize their uptime by providing recommendations regarding their operational sites and actions to enhance their connectivity,” Atayi elaborates.
Should they encounter any difficulties in this regard, Semtech works with their charger manufacturers.
According to the Atayi, this is since some devices still require software improvements, and the company can help in this area.
And not only that.
“We enabled them to enhance the reliability of their infrastructure, and they now are asking us to increase the security of the sites of their charging stations,” he explains.
Nowadays, the information exchanged by chargers is significantly greater than it was a few years ago.
Thanks to connectivity, a high level of debugging and remote updates is possible.
“Contrary to popular belief, it costs the CPO less because they have this additional visibility that saves them from having to send personnel to the site merely to check or fix something,” Atayi maintains.
Now, operators are beginning to implement cellular-connected cameras, allowing them to have visibility at the site for use cases such as theft prevention and monitoring the environment where chargers are deployed, thus providing additional reassurance to users.
This measure is particularly relevant in poorly lit or remote areas, where safety perceptions may pose a barrier to electric vehicle drivers.
Thus, the trend, according to the expert, will increase the volume of data exchanged between chargers and the platform.
“The role of the governments is crucial in the EV adoption, as decisions for policies and incentives are what drive the driver’s choices for their next vehicles, and so for the infrastructure deployments” he asserts.
He emphasizes: “We need to work collaboratively with the administration, utility companies, and all ecosystem partners: platforms, charger manufacturers, and connectivity providers.”
Semtech eMobility success stories
Semtech Corporation is a high-performance semiconductor provider, offering IoT systems and cloud connectivity services, dedicated to delivering high-quality technological solutions that enable a smarter, more connected and sustainable planet.
As a player in the electromobility sphere, the company operates on various fronts: both in hardware, developing 5G LTE cellular routers and modules, and in being a full MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network) for mission critical applications.
The firm offers its services in more than 190 countries and territories.
The impact of these solutions is reflected in its success stories.
Atayi cites the example of eWays, an independent charging operator with over 25,000 stations in Sweden and Denmark.
“They approached us because they needed a robust and reliable cellular connectivity solution for their rapidly expanding network of chargers,” he indicates.
With Semtech, they found a partner to manage and monitor their stations remotely.
This was achieved through a multi-network cellular solution designed to keep assets and machines securely connected anywhere via a global SIM card.
This provides access to two or more available networks at any location, thereby expanding coverage.
