Departure based charging: The smart charging system of the future for real estate and logistics

Electric car charging is no longer an issue of the future. It's here, and it's growing fast. For property owners, condominium associations and logistics companies, this presents new opportunities, but also challenges in the form of runaway power costs and high load on the property's electrical system.

The solution is spelled Departure based charging. At ChargeNode, departure time is not just a technical finesse; it is the foundation for a sustainable and cost-effective charging system.

What does departure time mean in practice?

Departure time is the time when the driver plans to drive on the road and the vehicle needs to be fully loaded. Instead of all cars charging at full power at the same time as soon as they are plugged in, the driver enters in ChargeNodes app:

When the vehicle will be used next.
How much energy (kWh) is needed (optional).

Based on this, the system creates an intelligent charging queue. The cars are loaded in the correct order and pace -- based on real needs, not on a first-come, first-served basis.

Why isn't “regular” arrival-based charging enough?

Many systems rely on arrival-based charging. This means that charging starts instantly with the highest possible power. If 20 neighbours come home at 5pm, or an entire fleet of vehicles is parked after a shift, a huge one is created power peak.

The result of arrival-based charging:

Precious power charges on the power grid.
Unfair distribution (those who come last receive no electricity).
Unnecessary load on charging infrastructure.

3 Crucial Benefits of Departure Based Charging

1. Operational security and fair distribution

Whether it's living in a BRF, employees in a workplace or a fleet of transport trucks, reliance on the system is crucial. With outgo-based charging:

For BRF & Property owners: Creating a fair environment where no one has to “pax” a charging location. The scheme prioritises those who should go first, providing more satisfied tenants and members.
For Transport & Logistics: Ensure that mission-critical vehicles are fully charged for the next shift. The system works out exactly when charging needs to start so that the logistics chain never stops.
For the user: You don't have to worry about whether the car is charging or not. By specifying the time of departure, the system gives the system the conditions to deliver energy when it is most useful.

2. Reduced power charges and operating costs

Electricity network companies are increasingly charging for how much electricity you use simultaneously (effect). By spreading the charge over the entire parking time, the business can:

Avoid expensive hedging increases.
Keep down the monthly power charges.
Leverage existing electrical capacity to power more cars.

3. A more stable electricity system

By equalizing electricity consumption, your property contributes to a more stable national electricity grid. It is a central part of modern property management and a proactive sustainability work.

Departure based charging vs. Dynamic load balancing — what's the difference?

The concepts are often confused, but they serve different functions to protect your property's finances and electrical system:

Dynamic load balancing: This is the “sentry” of the property. It measures in real time how much electricity the entire building is using (such as when elevators are running or ventilation is going up in turns) and gives the remaining space to the cars. It protects the main fuse from going.
Departure based charging: This is the “conductor”. It takes the space provided by dynamic load balancing and intelligently distributes it between vehicles. It ensures that the car that is due to hit the road at 7am gets priority over the one that is supposed to be parked until the next day.

Conclusion: Dynamic load balancing protects the property from overload, while outgo-based charging ensures that energy is used where it benefits most at the moment.

ChargeNode makes smart charging easy

We have made departure time the heart of our service. It is integrated into everything from our app to our customer portal. It allows our customers to scale up their charging without rushing costs or compromising operational safety.

Want to know how much your business can save with smarter governance?

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