Managed charging is the control of when and how fast electric vehicles charge, so total demand fits within the available electrical capacity, electricity prices or grid needs.
Without management, every charger must be supplied at full power at once, which can require expensive service upgrades. With it, a facility can connect more vehicles to the same capacity, because cars parked for hours rarely need full power the whole time. Electrical codes recognize this through provisions for load management systems, which allow equipment to be sized to the managed load.
Types of managed charging
- Load sharing. Power divided among connected vehicles within a fixed limit. See automated load management system.
- Time-based. Charging shifted to off-peak hours under time-of-use rates.
- Demand limiting. Charging reduced to avoid demand charges.
- Grid response. Charging adjusted in response to utility signals. See curtailment and vehicle-to-grid.
Trade-offs
Managed charging delivers less power per vehicle at busy times. It works best where dwell times are long, such as workplaces, residences and airports, and needs software that drivers trust.
The Parkonomics view
Managed charging turns capacity into a schedule. For most garages it is the difference between a few chargers and a charger at every space.
Related terms: Automated Load Management System, Demand Charge, Time-of-Use Rate, Vehicle-to-Grid, EV Ready, Bidirectional Charging