Electric Miles and Charge-M8 Integrate Load Management With Grid Trading for Commercial EV Charging

Hardware manufacturer Charge-M8 has integrated its Libra dynamic load balancing device with software provider Electric Miles’ emPACT charge point management system (CPMS). The integration, which is now available to emPACT customers, enables multi-charger commercial sites to earn recurring revenue by trading charging flexibility with the grid.

At commercial sites, the power available for EV charging varies with building demand. As the companies explain, in the absence of real-time data, operators may cap chargers at a fixed limit, leaving capacity unused, or exceed their agreed supply capacity, risking excess capacity charges.

Libra measures building demand in real time and sends the data to emPACT over OCPP. emPACT calculates how much power is available and continuously adjusts the output of every connected charger.

So far, this describes a load management system, which every commercial EV charging site uses (or should use). But here’s the twist: The live real-time data can also enable a site operator to make the charging load available for grid trading.

Electric Miles’ SmartFlex platform can shift or reduce charging when the grid needs flexibility and pay the site for participating. SmartFlex is integrated with all six UK distribution system operators (DSOs) and the National Energy System Operator (NESO). It also trades in wholesale markets and has delivered more than 40,000 grid flexibility events.

“Grid capacity is now one of the biggest limits on commercial charging,” said Arun Anand, founder and CEO of Electric Miles. “Too many sites are told the only way to add chargers is an expensive upgrade. Pairing Libra’s live site data with emPACT’s load management lets operators use the capacity they already have, safely and automatically. Then, through SmartFlex, that same flexibility can be traded with the grid, so charging becomes a recurring revenue stream, not just a cost.”

“Integrating Libra with emPACT gives operators live site load data alongside software that acts on it, both on site and with the grid,” said Julian Smith, founder and Managing Director of Charge-M8. “It is a practical way to make better use of existing capacity while protecting the wider electrical installation.”

Source: Electric Miles