A Simpler Approach to Managing EV Charging: Why EECA's Plan Falls Short

As New Zealand continues to embrace electric vehicles (EVs), the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has proposed a plan to gain operational control of EV chargers. The goal is to manage charging during times of extreme draw on the National Grid and local areas. While I understand the theory behind this plan, its real-time execution will be flawed and costly. In this blog, I'll outline my concerns and propose a simpler, more effective alternative.

The Problem with EECA's Plan:

EECA's plan involves installing OCPP-enabled chargers that can be controlled remotely, allowing them to dictate when EVs can charge. This approach has several drawbacks:

• High upfront costs: Installing OCPP-enabled  chargers will add hundreds of dollars to the cost of EV charging infrastructure.
• Complexity: Managing a network of OCPP-enabled chargers will require significant resources and infrastructure.
• Infringement on personal freedom: Many EV owners will be hesitant to surrender control over their charging habits to a government agency.

A Simpler Alternative:

Instead of EECA's plan, I propose a simple, cost-effective solution: mandating that EV chargers with a power delivery of over 20 amps be equipped with a voltage drop detection feature. When the grid experiences high demand, a slight voltage drop occurs. The charger can detect this drop and automatically turn off. Similar to the hot water cylinder.  To avoid all chargers starting up simultaneously when the grid recovers, the EV charger can be programmed to randomly restart within a 15-45 minute time frame. This approach:

• Saves hundreds of dollars per device
• Reduces the complexity of managing EV charging
• Respects EV owners' freedom to charge their vehicles as they see fit
• Avoids the grid problem of all chargers starting up at the same time
• With most modern cars being able to charge an additional  range of nearly 400 km overnight on a 32 amp wallcharger, a 15 to 45 minute downtime will not make a noticeable difference to charging a vehicle overnight.

By using a voltage drop detection feature, we can create a simple, decentralized, and cost-effective solution that achieves the same goal as EECA's plan without the need for OCPP enabled EV  chargers or remote control. This approach also allows EV owners to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours, reducing the strain on the grid during peak times. Most EV owners charge during off peak anyway

The Bigger Picture:

While I support home EV charging (probably more than anyone in the country), I believe that most people prefer less governmental interference at home. The current government's (and the one before it) focus on controlling EV charging rather than investing in infrastructure will likely hinder the adoption of EVs in New Zealand. With numerous power companies in our small country, it's time to consider consolidation and investment in infrastructure, rather than simply adding costs to consumers.

While EECA's plan may seem well-intentioned, its execution will be costly and complex. By adopting a simpler, more cost-effective approach, we can manage EV charging during times of high demand without infringing on personal freedom or adding unnecessary costs. It's time for our government and power companies to prioritize investment in infrastructure and support the growth of EV adoption in New Zealand

Best regards

Paul O’Connor