ICU facilitates easy and reliable electric driving. Charging facilities for electric vehicles

Transcription

1 ICU facilitates easy and reliable electric driving Charging facilities for electric vehicles

2 Contents Thinking one step ahead 3 ICU charging facilities 4 More than just a socket 5 Overview of ICU charging facilities Complete range of charging stations for every application 6 ICU Charge 7 ICU Connect 8 ICU Manage 9 ICU Go! 10 ICU Inside 11 ICU EVe 12 More about ICU and electric charging 15 Charging 16 The charging process 17 Sustainable solutions 18 Smart Grid 19 2

3 Thinking one step ahead ALFEN has been supplying products and services for the distribution of electric energy for many decades. These include transformer substations and switching equipment as well as complete electricity grids. As a specialist in high, middle and low voltage, ALFEN offers integrated solutions with a durable and highly innovative character, tested safety and optimum operating reliability. With all this, ALFEN makes an immensely important contribution to the Dutch energy network. In 2008, based on its strong electrotechnical background, ALFEN began developing charging stations for electric vehicles under the name ICU, which stands for Integrated Charging Unit. In a short time ALFEN accumulated a great deal of experience in developing, producing, installing and managing charging facilities. This has made ALFEN an international player and knowledge carrier of charging infrastructure with a complete range of charging solutions for a large number of applications. We always think one step ahead and this is appreciated. 3

4 In 2008 ALFEN began to develop the technology necessary for charging electric cars, including connecting to smart grids, based on its role as a supplier of solutions for energy distribution and electric infrastructure. This has impelled ALFEN to prepare the current electricity grid for the impact of large-scale electric transportation so that also in the future our electric infrastructure will continue to be the most reliable one in Europe. Overview of ICU charging facilities Thanks to its knowledge in energy technology, ALFEN is involved in the entire chain of energy distribution from high to low voltage. This enables ALFEN to not only supply charging stations, but also play an advisory role in completely integrated projects with charging infrastructure and future connections with smart grids. ALFEN is always prepared to think along with you about devising specific solutions for your situation and to offer a turnkey solution with a selection of diverse charging facilities and an extensive service package. Choosing ICU guarantees you complete, flexible and reliable charging solutions that free you of any worries. ICU Charge Charging stations ICU Connect Infra management platform ICU Manage Charging stations Management platform ICU Go! Charging stations Management platform Project management Installation and maintenance ICU Inside optional optional Components Technical support Assembly 4

5 More than just a socket Upon first glance, a charging station looks like an ordinary socket in a separate housing. Of course they both deliver power, but a charging system compared to an ordinary socket offers a number of essential advantages in the area of safety and functionality. A charging station communicates with the vehicle in order to check safety, among other things. This is very important due to the high power being charged into an electric car. In ordinary sockets, the power is limited to 16A, but in charging stations it is also possible to charge with more power. This allows you to charge faster. The charging station can be constructed including a communication module. This allows you to operate the charging facility wireless and remotely. This makes it possible to forward transaction data automatically and to monitor the status of the charging station at any time, so that you can be assisted quickly in unexpected failure situations. Mode 3 All ICU AC-chargers are built in accordance with the Mode 3 protocol (IEC ) and ensure a safe connection between the charging station and the car, so that you can charge without any worries and the process will run smoothly. The following items are checked (among others): Is the cable connected properly? The maximum power that can be charged. Is the earthing in good order? Only after the charging system has established that the connection is safe, the charging process is switched on. At the same time, the cable at the side of the charging station is locked, preventing anyone from removing it while charging. The Mode 3 protocol is a worldwide standard for communication between electric cars and charging stations. This allows drivers to charge any electric car in which Mode 3 is implemented at ICU charging facilities. Proven safe and reliable The initiatives of ALFEN to apply the international standards consistently to its charging stations and to strive continuously towards improvements has resulted in its recognition by various car brands and inspection agencies. All the charging systems have undergone a type test by KEMA and ALFEN is the first manufacturer in the world to receive the prestigious DEKRA Seal for charging stations for its ICU Twin. This proves that ALFEN not only complies with the requirements set by the inspection agency for the safety of charging facilities, but also meets all the standards in the area of software and communication. In addition to recognition by DEKRA, ICU charging stations have also been validated by Nissan and have received the Electric Vehicle (EV) or Zero Emission (ZE) label from Renault. Choosing ICU therefore guarantees you a recognized, safe and reliable charging facility. 5

6 Complete range of charging stations for every application ALFEN s ICU Charge is a complete range of charging stations for charging electric vehicles. The four models are appropriate for virtually every application (home-use, business premises, car parks and garages) and also in public and semi-public areas. ICU Compact Mini Suitable for ICU Compact Suitable for ICU EVe Suitable for ICU Twin Suitable for ICU Tube Suitable for 1 user 1 user 1 or 2 users 1 or 2 users 2 users 6

7 ICU Charge Reliable, safe and simple: these are the features that are highly valued in ICU. ICU stands for easy and carefree electric charging and for this purpose it provides the most complete charging solutions for a wide range of situations. Each ICU model has its own specific features and the various models come in different designs and charging capacities. You will always find a suitable model that meets your charging needs. ALFEN always strives to stay updated about the latest international standards, as well as to apply these. As a result of this, ALFEN was the first manufacturer to receive the prestigious DEKRA Seal for charging stations. In addition, all the charging facilities have undergone a type test by KEMA and the charging stations installed in public areas have a KEMA certificate. In short, choosing ICU means choosing for safety. Individual look-and-feel ICU charging stations are standard delivered with a neutral housing, making them fit into every environment. However, if you want your charging facility to stand out, ALFEN is able to equip it with a conspicuous design that corresponds with your wishes or your corporate identity. ICU Charge Type Home Business Car parks and garages ICU Compact Mini ICU Compact Charging stations Public and semi-public areas ICU EVe ICU Twin ICU Tube 7

8 Multifunctional infrastructure management platform As a result of its vast experience with management systems, ALFEN had developed its own platform: ICU Connect. ALFEN s management system is the link between the infrastructure component and functionalities such as payment systems and user websites. With this, ICU Connect enables a simple and precise transfer of the dynamic and static status information of charging stations and charging transactions, for example. ICU Connect ICU Connect consists of three different components, namely: The infra component: This component collects all the status information about ALFEN charging stations from the various environments. Within the infra component are various client environments that consist of a group of charging facilities. The management component: In this component, the administrator or the client can monitor and manage the charging stations that fall under its group. The user component: Here the EV drivers have an insight into their own data and can locate their charging systems, etc. The system is kept as simple as possible for both user and infrastructure manager, yet without compromising the required functionalities necessary for good management of the charging stations. In addition, ICU Connect is an innovative solution thanks to its open standards and open communication protocols. The great advantage of this is that various parties can work with the system and can add their own innovations to it. Due to its webbased environment, ICU Connect is easily accessed from anywhere and at all time. The infra management system offers the following functionalities: Management, adding and monitoring the charging infrastructure To obtain a clear overview, management is set up according to a pool system. Convenient incident analyses of the management infrastructure Total transaction overviews Connection to various systems, such as CIR for national and international roaming Periodic reports ICU Connect Infra management platform 8

9 ICU Manage Infrastructure management and client management are two physically separate systems. Therefore, different people, companies and actors can manage their own parts. This prevents improper access to data. Designing the management system for the charging infrastructure entails specialised and customised work. ALFEN has the knowledge to ensure that the various management systems connect smoothly with your existing systems. For example, ICU Connect can be connected to your own administration or payment system in order to smoothly integrate the registration of the consumed electricity into your own environment. It is even possible to apply your own corporate identity in ICU Connect. ALFEN s ICU Manage offers a complete solution for the management of charging stations. With its ICU charging facilities, communication and management platform, ALFEN has a perfect solution for every situation by using up-to-date charging infrastructure. Communication between ICU charging systems and the back office system occurs through the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), which by now has developed into a worldwide standard. ALFEN was closely involved in the development of this standard. The result is that the company has a vast amount of knowledge about the protocol and how to implement it in various back office systems. OCPP is an SOAP based communication between charging stations and a central system. Due to the emergence of various charging station providers, management systems and therefore protocols, an open standard was set up which can be used freely by everyone. OCPP is designed for independent communication so that providers of charging posts are not dependent on the suppliers of back office systems and vice versa. ALFEN s ICU Manage enables the connection to an existing management or payment system, resulting in the smooth integration of the user data from the charging facilities into existing systems. ICU Manage Charging stations Management platform 9

10 ICU Go! The turnkey total solution ICU Go! is a total solution for installing and managing charging stations for electric vehicles. ICU Go! offers suitable solutions for grid administrators, municipalities, governmental / semigovernmental bodies and businesses as well as housing corporations and private individuals. Choosing ICU guarantees you complete and reliable charging solutions that free you of any worries. Also for managing and maintaining your infrastructure, ALFEN offers various options for a complete worry-free operation. Should your charging station face an unforeseen situation that prevents it from charging, then ALFEN is there to assist you with a professional service division. ALFEN offers EV service providers the freedom of using ICU charging stations, but with own services, such as charge cards, fault-clearing service or payment service. ALFEN assists you in connecting your systems and offers special training for providing your installers with the correct know-how. In addition, ALFEN can provide spare-part management in order to supply your organisation with certified components for maintenance and repair. ALFEN offers various plans for the management and maintenance of charging stations. You can choose the type of service that best meets your requirements, such as: Applying for permits Site survey Mechanical digging/excavating and registration (after a request) Earthing Installing Putting into operation The services of ALFEN ICU guarantee you: Maximum reliability of your charging facility Specialised knowledge and advice A fault-clearing service and technical helpdesk ICU Go! Charging stations Management platform Project management Installation and maintenance 10

11 ICU Inside The ICU Inside is the core of every charging system: from Basic to Twin. The Inside is equipped with the latest electronics and offers a sophisticated charging facility with optimal safety, security and reliability. The ICU Inside has a modular and universal structure, therefore it can be deployed flexibly and it is compatible for many applications. With ICU Inside, you are not bound to a fixed casing. You can design a charging station casing nearly any way you want, as long as it complies with the applicable requirements. A charging station need not necessarily be a pole type of structure. It can also be cleverly built into street furniture, for example. You can design your own charging facility using the advanced technology available in tested ICU charging stations. ALFEN provides the knowledge so that you don t have to invest in the advanced technology required for charging electric vehicles. ALFEN not only supplies the components necessary for technical support, but it also takes into account the applicable international standards and regulations regarding safety. Manufacturers that do not have the precise in-house knowledge of components for building their own casing in compliance with the standards and requirements can rely on ALFEN for the entire development, manufacturing, assembly, installation and service of the charging stations. The ALFEN ICU Inside concept offers: Your own charging station with proven ICU technology as a core element Complete customised assistance from formulating the installation instructions to thinking along with you during the design phase Project management Assembly and production Implementation of a back office system Installation, service and maintenance ICU Inside optional optional Components Technical support Assembly 11

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13 ICU EVe The ICU EVe is the first charging station in the completely new series of ALFEN charging systems. The new series is the culmination of the extensive experience that ALFEN has accumulated during recent years in the area of charging facilities. The various models in this series combine all the knowledge about charging, user-friendliness and grid integration in charging systems for home-use, businesses, parking garages and public areas. The EVe is suitable for two users and can be mounted on a wall or on a pole. In spite of its highly technical specifications, the charging station is very compact and easy to operate. international standards. This guarantees a safe and reliable charging station that works smoothly with all electric cars. Thanks to the modular structure of the ICU EVe, the charging station is also very maintenance friendly. With the optional communication module, the ICU EVe can communicate through a large variety of channels, including GPRS and UMTS, so that the status of the user data in the charging stations can be read wireless and remotely. All ICU models, including the ICU EVe support various back office systems. You have the option of choosing the management platform that will perfectly match your specific requirements. The use of a very strong composite material makes the latest ICU suitable for placing in both private and public areas. In addition, the material has a very long lifespan and is colourfast. This means that the housing will not discolour even after many years of use. The use of a touch screen, a smart card (RFID) reader or a push button makes the charging facility very user-friendly and the charging process can be initiated or terminated in a number of simple steps. The ICU EVe is available with various charging outputs and types of plugs, which makes it compatible for every type of application. Also the latest ICU is built according to the Mode 3 protocol and DEKRA Seal guidelines and it complies with all relevant Housing ICU s latest charging station has a very modern design, but yet a very neutral look that allows it to fit nicely into any environment. The housing of the latest ICU series is made from Sheet Mould Compound (SMC), a very strong composite material based on polyester and reinforced with fiberglass. This makes the EVe casing very sturdy and thermally resistant, yet very light. 13

14 As an experienced organization, ALFEN offers you a total service package including installation, management and maintenance. You are guaranteed a charging unit that you can rely on. 14

15 More about ICU and electric charging With ICU Charge, Connect, Manage, Go!, and Inside, ALFEN offers a complete product line for charging electric vehicles. ICU s proven technology is applied to all charging stations at home, businesses, car parks and in public areas. 15

16 Charging Charging electric vehicles at an ICU charging station is simple and safe. All ICU charging facilities comply with international safety standards and are equipped with the latest technology to make electric charging a most safe and reliable process Safe charging To guarantee personal safety, ALFEN has adopted a number of important safety measures: The socket is absolutely dead until the connection between the charging station and the car is switched on. Once the charging action is initiated, the plug in the charging station is locked and it can only be removed after the person, who has initiated the charging action, has signed out and the socket becomes dead. Only the user who has initiated the charging process can terminate the process using the same card. This way, the charging action cannot be terminated just like that by another user and the cable cannot be taken by another person. Universal connection To make sure that every electric car can use any random charging system, a type 2 plug was developed according to the international IEC standard. The standard for the plug is used by all European market parties, including car manufacturers and suppliers of charging stations. All ICU charging systems are equipped with sockets for type 2 plugs. The type 2 plug is 7-polar and has Mode 3 communication in order to determine whether the connection between the charging station and the car is safe. This always guarantees personal safety and the safety of the electro-technical aspects. Many car brands also use a type 1 plug at the side of the car. This connection has a different shape but uses the same communication ports as the type 2 plug. Therefore, vehicles with a type 1 plug can also charge at any ICU charging stations without any problems. If a car is not supplied with the correct cable, ALFEN can provide certified charging cables. 16

17 The charging process Charging with an ICU charging system is very easy and the charging process can be initiated and terminated in just a few simple steps. Charging Instructions START 1 Insert plug 1 2 LED turns green 2 Swipe card (3 sec.) LED turns light blue 3 Charging process starts LED turns blue STOP 1 Swipe card (3 sec.) LED turns green 2 Remove plug LED is off Please contact your provider. You may now drive off Have a safe journey! 1 2 Different types of charging options Charging time depends on the charging output of the charging station and the type of charging technology used in the car. ICU charging facilities come in various models, with different maximum charging outputs. There is always a suitable solution that corresponds to your car or technical installation. A charging output of 3.6 kw (230V-AC) is a 1-phase alternate current and 3 matches the standard used output in residential houses. This output is very appropriate for charging at home. Charging outputs of 11 kw and 22 kw (both 400V-AC) are 3-phase alternate current and are the standard used outputs in large houses, offices, businesses and in public areas. A charging output of 50 kw (600V-DC) is direct current and can also be called fast charging. AC charging An electric car has a charger comparable to a charger for rechargeable batteries. In this case, we refer to AC-charging in which the charging station provides the car with alternating current, which is converted into direct current in the car. ALFEN supplies AC chargers with various outputs and these can be easily applied in the existing electric installation. The speed of the charging process depends on the output and can be accelerated by using a higher current (Volt) or current intensity (Ampère). This depends on the type of charger that the car manufacturer builds in and what type of electricity facility is available. Cars with chargers that can be connected to 400V (power current) can be charged up to 32A. This provides a charge output of 22 kw, which means that the average battery used in electric cars can be charged in hours. DC-laden In addition to AC chargers, which are mainly used by households, business or in public places, there are also DC charges. The big difference in DC chargers direct current chargers is that the inverter is not situated in the car but in the charging station. This is necessary because of the large dimensions and heavy weight of most inverters. DC chargers make it possible to deliver higher outputs and therefore, this is often called fast charging. In principle, fast-charging stations deliver outputs of minimum 50kW, which ensures that the battery in an average electric car is 80% full in approximately 30 minutes. Therefore, a fast-charging station is ideal for charging a number of kilometres while on the road. Fast chargers are usually more taxing on the battery, which is why it is advisable to recharge the charger with AC or normal charger on a daily basis. 17

18 Sustainable solutions One of the most important objectives of electric transportation is sustainability, because an electric car does not emit harmful substances. In this respect ALFEN contributes to this goal by producing environment-friendly charging stations and by using recyclable, sustainable materials. ALFEN not only offers charging systems made of stainless steel, durable composite and plastic, it is also active in developing charging stations in alternative housing, such as wood. Suppliers of sustainable solutions can opt to have ALFEN affix housing made of natural materials using the sophisticated technology of ICU charging facilities. This way the charging station is not only produced with sustainable materials, but it also has a natural look. Alongside alternative housing, environmentally-friendly materials are also used for the production of ICU charging stations. For example, the housing of ICU Twin can be manufactured from a natural composite made of natural fibres. This means that the housing has all the characteristics of a sturdy composite material, but yet produced in a clean manner. ALFEN does not attach value solely to the use of sustainable materials, but also to environmentally-friendly business operations. That is why ALFEN actively uses the CO 2 performance ladder, which means that at all levels the company takes initiatives to run its business operations as efficiently and clean as possible. 18

19 Smart Grid The energy sector is currently in full motion. New developments, such as electric driving, are being launched and these have to be incorporated into the current electric infrastructure. The smart grid is the solution for this problem. The smart grid is an electricity network that uses intelligent processes to integrate and manage all the activities of all the users connected to the grid with the electricity generators. Thanks to its knowledge in electricity infrastructure, ALFEN not only integrates the software in charging stations, but also in the energy distribution network, which creates an intelligent network with a wide range of possibilities. A plausible idea is load management and in the future, energy storage by means of electric vehicles. With the rise of electric transportation, the average load on the energy grid decreases, but the peaks might be higher and then the current grid will not be able to deliver the required output at all random times. Load management, for example, regulates the demand by using various rates for electricity at different periods of the day. Just like the current situation with day and night rates. With load management, the time periods become smaller and the variation between the rates becomes greater. By using these incentives, it is expected that car charging will be better spread over the day. The network of intelligent charging systems can regulate the following issues: Supplying energy to cars Updating consumption data for monitoring and balancing the energy network. Facilitating transactions and processing the data of the supplied and consumed energy. Etc. In addition, in the nearby future, more and more energy will be generated centrally using sustainable sources such as solar panels. This means that energy is not only consumed, but also supplied back to the grid. Within the smart grid, the electric car can be used as a temporary storage means for locally generated energy, so if there is excess electricity being generated, it is not lost. At a later time, the energy stored in the electric car can be used if there is demand for it. This way, the peaks that result from large-scale charging of electric vehicles are manageable and electricity in general is used far more efficiently. ALFEN obviously applies its knowledge - gained through years of experience - to the production of charging stations as well as transformer stations and other products for the electric infrastructure. The purpose of this is to be able to make connections between the high-voltage grid, the transformer stations and charging stations in order to ensure an even load on the electricity grid. This way, the Dutch grid remains one of the most reliable grids in Europe - also in the future. 19

20 More information For more information, you can contact: ALFEN bv Hefbrugweg 28 P.O. Box 1042, 1300 BA Almere twitter.com/elektrischladen tel: +31 (0) facebook.com/chargingstations fax: +31 (0) linkedin.com/in/icuelektrischladen Copyright ALFEN Any modifications and/or printing errors are explicitly reserved. UK-0XP