5 Types of Metrics To Analyze EV Charging Performance
In order to maximize the potential of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs), it is critical to stay up to date with various station performance metrics. EV Connect’s sophisticated software and Charging Networks Operation Center (C-NOC) empowers station owners and managers to analyze a variety of helpful data. The access to metrics such as sustainability reporting, revenue, utilization and more helps improve existing charging stations and plan new stations. This article will highlight the different types of metrics, what they measure and why they're important to look at.
EV Connect Performance Dashboard
Before launching into specifics, let’s take a look at what charging station metrics are. EV Connect provides a suite of information through your charging station’s Performance Dashboard. Powered by our leading software and C-NOC, charging station owners and managers are provided with a variety of figures and charts in one convenient location. These metrics reveal valuable information about the status, efficiency and reach of any given station. C-NOC also monitors station health, enabling proactive maintenance to increase station uptime. Essentially, EV charging station metrics are collections of data that can be used for the benefit of station uptime, revenue and environmental impact.
Metrics To Analyze Station Performance
Now we can dive deeper into particular data that is useful for analyzing EV charging station performance. From sustainability reporting to a station’s revenue, station owners have the tools to benefit everyone from drivers to themselves. Let’s take a look at five EVCS metrics for analyzing performance.
1.) Utilization
Station utilization is one of the most important data sets to consider for EVCS. This metric is useful whether you are running a single station or a network. Utilization shows you when and how frequently drivers are charging at a particular station. This data is crucial to help station managers and owners decide whether to expand. Fast charging uses 20% utilization as a threshold; if the site is utilized at a rate greater than 20%, it might be worth considering an expansion or adding another nearby station. Ideally, to avoid long lines and maintain steady use, your EVCS is achieving targeted utilization.
2.) Charge Sessions
Another metric to consider next to utilization is a station’s charge sessions. This data builds off of how frequently a station is utilized and provides other insight. You can view the daily number of charge sessions as well as a breakdown of each charge session duration. Additionally, the Performance Dashboard shows time spent charging versus time spent simply plugged in. These figures reveal which days see most charging, which helps owners schedule maintenance and achieve maximum uptime. Owners can also try to reduce plugged-in time that is not charging time.
3.) Sustainability
At some point station owners have to consider what EV infrastructure is all for. One of the coolest data sets EV Connect provides is found in the Performance Dashboard’s “Sustainability” tab. There you can find tangible (and positive) impacts that are a direct result of your charging station network, such as a decrease in your carbon footprint. From industry metrics like Greenhouse Gas Prevented to unique figures like the station benefit to trees, sustainability data allows EVCS owners and managers to visualize the change they are helping create.
4.) Station Health
No other type of metric matters if a charging station is not up and running. From the quick “Connector Status” panel to the more robust “Station Health” tab, EV Connect’s C-NOC system provides cumulative and predictive information about the status of your station or network. With auto-flagged issues and customizable notification intervals, C-NOC ensures optimum station uptime. And strong station health paired with the other metrics leads to our final data set worth focusing on: revenue.
5.) Revenue
Last but certainly not least, station owners and managers want to generate revenue. This simple, valuable set of metrics helps you continue to push your charging network in the right direction. Beyond the daily station revenue, you can view the cumulative revenue over periods of 7 or 30 days. Also, it is easy to view the station’s gross revenue alongside revenue per charge session and revenue per customer. Considering these figures together allows owners to decipher how, where and when they are making money.
Measure Your Charging Station Performance
Without metrics for analyzing EV charging stations, individual stations and networks would struggle to remain running, get over- or under-utilized and potentially lose money. EV Connect provides owners with the sophisticated Charging Networks Operation Center system to monitor a variety of metrics. From this convenient dashboard you can be proactive rather than reactive, which leads to increased uptime and revenue, as well as a net positive impact on the world.
Sources
PwC - Electric Vehicles and the Charging Infrastructure: A New Mindset?
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Trends From the Alternative Fueling Station Locator: First Quarter 2020
UCAR Center for Science Education - How Do We Reduce Greenhouse Gases?