Integrated charge hubs

11 November 2021

Stories on the blog mentioning electric vehicles have shown the importance of providing an adequate national charging structure. But as well as focusing on where EVs can be charged, how it takes place is just as significant in terms of cost and efficiency. 

Whether plugging in at home or at work, drivers and owners need to do so cost-effectively and this has been much to the fore recently with energy prices spikes and fuel shortages. 

ZPN Energy offers software and associated hardware for charging vehicles, primarily at the workplace, and CEO Ian Stillie told me that interest is booming. 

“Large fleet owners, big companies who feel threatened by the apparent energy crisis, councils and services like vehicle recovery operators are looking for solutions. 

“We can create an all-tech rapid charging and energy management infrastructure that can effectively pay for itself, using renewable sources and battery storage.” 

So how can a system recoup the costs? Essentially, it revolves around the margin you can make between producing and storing the electricity, and then selling it back at optimum periods. 

“We can install a network for battery operated rapid charging that harvests electricity 24/7 and then discharges it rapidly,” said Ian. “Instead of having to use slow power generation, it can be much quicker because of the higher storage capacity of the batteries. Scale that up and moving forward you could power an entire business that way. 

“Batteries can also be recharged from renewable sources. Depending on your location that could be solar, small-scale wind or, even, hydroelectric in an off-grid system.” 

Coventry-based ZPN Energy has developed software that manages the charging process. It also manufactures the chargers and sources the other hardware required. 

The company’s portfolio includes HEMS and BEMS, which are respectively energy management systems for homes and businesses. These act as hubs handling power distribution to EVs and any other connected equipment including, say, electric machinery and cordless tools. 

Ian says that interest is growing rapidly both in the UK and overseas. “Eighteen months ago I was requesting meetings with financiers and businesses and it was like asking for an audience with The Queen. Now they’re requesting audiences with me.” 

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