IoT for EV chargers
The EV charging market is exploding. Housing associations, businesses, and public operators (Charge Point Operators) are rolling out infrastructure at record speed. Hardware keeps improving and cars charge faster than ever. But there is one weak link that is often overlooked in the business case: connectivity.
A charging unit today is an advanced IoT device. It must handle user authentication, load balancing with the property, and most importantly payment transactions. If connectivity fails, the entire business comes to a halt.
When connectivity becomes business critical
For an EV charging operator, uptime equals revenue. A charger that is offline cannot charge customers. It also creates frustration for the EV driver who arrives with 5% battery and an app that cannot connect. That damages the brand faster than anything else.
Relying on local Wi-Fi or basic prepaid SIM solutions is not sustainable for a professional operator. Wi-Fi is unstable and difficult to support remotely. Basic SIM cards provide no visibility into what is happening when the technology misbehaves.
Full control with the Cisco platform
Advisera provides an infrastructure built for scale. With Cisco IoT Control Center, you get the tools to manage thousands of charging points from a single interface. We democratize the technology used by the biggest players.
- World class diagnostics: If a charger goes offline, you can instantly see in the portal whether the issue is in the network or the hardware. View signal strength, connection attempts, and network status in real time.
- Automation: If a charging unit starts consuming unusually high data (for example due to a bug in a software update), the system can automatically alert you and limit traffic before costs escalate.
- Roaming for maximum coverage: Our IoT SIMs are not locked to a single operator. They continuously search for the best available network. This is crucial for chargers that are often installed in garages or rural areas.
Secure load balancing
Load balancing is essential to avoid overloading a building’s electrical system when everyone comes home and plugs in their car at 17:00. This requires lightning fast communication between the chargers and the property’s energy meter. With our optimized IoT solutions, we ensure this data is prioritized and delivered without delay.
We provide the infrastructure so you can focus on expanding your network rather than troubleshooting connectivity.
Frequently asked questions about connected EV chargers (FAQ)
Why should I not use Wi-Fi for my chargers?
Wi-Fi is sensitive to interference, password changes, and range limitations. If the building router is replaced, all chargers can lose connectivity. A dedicated IoT SIM makes each charger independent of local IT infrastructure and ensures higher uptime.
What is OCPP and why does it require reliable connectivity?
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is the language the charger uses to communicate with your central system. It is used to start charging, send meter readings, and handle payments. Stable connectivity is required for OCPP to work reliably.
Can I use your SIM cards in any charger?
Yes. Our SIM cards follow standard M2M formats and work in practice with most modern chargers on the market that have a SIM slot, including brands such as Easee, Zaptec, Charge Amps, and CTEK.
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