Coping with a Defunct Charger Firm
In October, Enel X Means North America introduced that it might stop its operations, leaving the corporate’s JuiceBox EV charger customers minimize off from software program performance. Whereas server operations will proceed for an indeterminate interval and battery charging capabilities are nonetheless lively, the corporate maintains that they may search a long-term answer (but to be disclosed).
Though this information shouldn’t be precisely reassuring to these with JuiceBox cost stations, it means that there’s nonetheless time emigrate Enel X Means 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 risk that Enel X Means servers will shut down completely.
Listed here are three viable methods ahead for JuiceBox system homeowners:
1. OCPP Platform Migration
Dozens of OCPP-based cost station administration platforms have come out of the woodwork because the 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 homeowners 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 should not.
Many customers can be tempted by these CSMS supplier claims as a result of their low price and obvious simplicity–however they don’t seem to be with out potential pitfalls. Amongst them:
- Companion danger. What credentials and observe file does the answer supplier have? How lengthy have they been in enterprise, and might you make certain they are going to be there to help 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 attainable that you just will be unable emigrate once more. If a migration is unsuccessful, you may be left in a worse scenario than earlier than. Subsequently, select a companion that gives a assure or guarantee for his or her companies.
- Hidden price. Credible software-only distributors providing migration companies will most likely require onsite personnel to replace firmware for every charger in your community. This may contain electricians or technicians working billable hours. Make certain you perceive what’s concerned in migration, other than a brand new SaaS subscription, earlier than going this route.
- Stability. OCPP platform migration might lead to new quirks and undesirable behaviors. Your gear can be working experimental, probably unstable firmware, linked to a third-party server by way of Wi-Fi, with no official customer support obtainable.
2. Rip and Substitute
For some organizations, it might be well worth the time and expense of tearing out their Enel X gear and changing it fully–however take into account all prices first. Most gear suppliers available on the market cost greater than Enel X did for companies. This strategy is by far the costliest, requiring vital gear and labor expense along with a brand new service subscription.
3. {Hardware}-Primarily based Cost Station Administration Methods (CSMS)
The very best of each worlds may 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 pricey, 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 keep up 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 take a look at of time. For instance, Liberty Plugins has been in enterprise since 2009.
- Approachable price construction. Most hardware-based CSMS options are tailor-made to workplaces and multi-unit flats, the place customers want to regulate entry to chargers and invoice to be used, however don’t need or have to revenue from their charging.
- Versatile and upgradeable. Each EV charger has a lifespan, so when it’s time to switch a JuiceBox or every 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 think about the entire choices for a cheap, long-term plan for sustaining cost station operations. The cons are inclined to outweigh the professionals of migrating to cloud platforms, or fully changing programs, however retrofitting JuiceBox programs to a hardware-based CSMS permits higher management, flexibility and, above all, reliability.
The publish Deserted No Extra: 3 Choices for Enel X Means Cost Station Operators first appeared on Clear Fleet Report.
