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Electric vehicles (EVs) are key players in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions. As they gain mass market adoption, new data is beginning to show measurable health improvements from reduced air pollution levels. Right now, electrical demand from EVs is only about 1% of global electrical demand — about 130 TWh — but that number is growing. By 2025, the U.S. will need close to 700,000 Level 2 and 70,000 Level 3 chargers to meet the demands of an estimated 7.8 million EVs on the road. And, by 2030, EV charging infrastructure could require up to 860 terawatt-hours of electricity — equaling 2% of global demand.

Integrating accessible EV charging infrastructure controlled by Energy Management Systems (EMS) and connected power quality metering is a strategic move. It enhances operational efficiency and energy sustainability in commercial and industrial facilities—for employees, customers, and fleets. This integration brings a host of benefits to businesses – from improved customer satisfaction to cost savings – as well as a more sustainable operational approach.

Let’s look at how these technologies can help find new efficiencies in existing infrastructure to support EV charging.

Charging up the future of business

The growing transition to electric mobility (eMobility) has pushed commercial and industrial facilities to prioritize EV charging infrastructure. This move caters to a range of stakeholders:

• For customers, the availability of charging stations is quickly becoming a factor in their patronage. EV charging enhances customer satisfaction and positions a business as environmentally responsible and future ready.
• For employees, charging amenities are a workplace convenience and signal a company’s commitment to sustainable practices.
• For businesses that rely on transportation—such as logistics and delivery services—fleet charging is a critical operations element. These companies require robust and resilient power solutions to ensure their fleets are charged and ready for operation. It’s a vital part of maintaining efficiency and meeting delivery commitments. Integrating EV charging into these facilities shows a forward-thinking, sustainability-driven operational approach.

Consumers can also take advantage of the growing EV infrastructure by being proactive in their approach to EV charging. Mobile apps can locate nearby public chargers and provide access to convenient and reliable charging options. The use of an energy management system can ensure the bulk of charging happens during off-peak hours. And, by looking at other loads in the facility, consumers can balance charging to avoid peak demand increases.

Smart grids, smart EV charging infrastructure

Integrating EV charging infrastructure into an existing facility requires a deep understanding of current electrical capacity. Electrical metering inside a facility’s distribution network can give facility managers a clear picture of available electrical bandwidth. Tying historical usage data from metering to an EMS reveals how EV charging can be added to the facility within the current electrical infrastructure.

Conversely, if there is no available electrical bandwidth, the facility operator can confidently know they need a new electrical service or substation. These insights are crucial, considering that acquiring new utility services to increase capacity can be a protracted process. From initial consultation to design, permitting, procurement, and testing it, can often take more than a year to implement. Facilities can sidestep this lengthy wait time and the substantial costs of service upgrades by pinpointing where the current infrastructure can support EV charging stations.

Leveraging electrical metering for strategic EV charger placement optimizes existing resources and results in cost savings. This approach speeds up the deployment of EV charging stations by maximizing the potential of what is already in place. It also lays the groundwork for a more sustainable, economically sound build-out of EV infrastructure.

Charging smarter with EMS insights

Effectively managing EV charging operations requires more than relying on the simple metric of energy consumption per charger a Charge Management System (CMS) provides. It necessitates a comprehensive understanding of power dynamics throughout the facility. This task is better suited to an EMS.

Energy Management Systems provide more than consumption data. They can also diagnose power quality issues (such as harmonics or sags) that could shorten the life of EV chargers. The proper equipment will determine if the issues originated inside a facility or from the utility. The distinction here is crucial because utilities invest heavily in maintaining their network integrity. While Tier 1 chargers generally don’t cause significant power quality disturbances, an EMS, combined with a power quality meter, helps facilities validate their non-impact on the overall network. It’s great protection against any undeserved blame for grid disturbances.

An EMS offers several other benefits, such as insight into a facility’s green footprint. It also highlights the balance between EV energy consumption and energy sourced from renewable initiatives. And, it quantifies the contribution of EV charging to peak utility charges, an essential factor in cost management. For programs like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) (which stipulates a 97% uptime for chargers), the ability to monitor both the charger and the incoming utility that supplies the charger through an EMS becomes a critical metric.

Steering towards the eMobility future

Intelligent energy management systems and power quality metering are essential to meet the electrical demands of eMobility. Combined, they optimize electricity use, ensure power reliability, and give insight into the electrical capacity to add charger units. They also help ensure efficient energy consumption, integrate renewable sources, and future-proof infrastructure against growing demands. Investing in these technologies will help meet current challenges and lead the way to improved sustainability.

For more information

Learn more about how we can help you build and optimize your company’s EV charging for an efficient, resilient, and sustainable future. With expertise across all our divisions – Faith Technologies®, EnTech Solutions™ and Excellerate® – we are one connected company, bringing our partners’ visions to life to ensure a sustainable future.

EcoXperts are the enablers of net-zero buildings

The EcoXpert Partner Program is unique in its industry and made up of a best-in-class, global ecosystem of expertise. Trained and certified by Schneider Electric, EcoXpert partners digitize and electrify our world for a more sustainable future.

The path to net zero is about delivering solutions for sustainable, resilient, efficient, and people-centric buildings. For our EcoXpert partners, this unveils immense growth opportunities through the transition to end-to-end portfolio sales that will resolve our customers’ most critical needs. For our shared customers, this means that together with our EcoXpert partners, we will drive the building industry transformation and help our customers survive and thrive today – and tomorrow.

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