Wallbox Sharing App
Magnhild Mongolo
In a static power sharing system, a group of wallboxes shares a predetermined amount of power, which remains constant over time. Each wallbox is designated as master or slave. The master wallbox communicates with the slave wallboxes to distribute the available power. However, this distribution does not change in response to variations in power availability or demand, leading to inefficiencies and potential overloads.
Dynamic Power Sharing, on the other hand, introduces a real-time element into the power distribution process. This approach allows the master wallbox to continuously monitor and adjust the power allocated to each slave wallbox based on the current availability of electrical power and the demands of other domestic or external electrical loads. This ensures that the charging process is efficient and flexible, adapting to changes in power availability and usage.
There are several considerations when it comes to the electrical service used for EV charging, particularly if more than one charger is installed. Prior to the installation, the size (measured in amperage) and load (usage) of the service should first be determined. This information is necessary to understand whether one or more Wallbox chargers can be installed using the existing electrical service. There are a number of online tools (example 1, example 2) available that can help calculate the service size needed. The examples are residential calculators, but the methodology is the same for commercial applications. Your electrician will also be able to help determine if your current service will handle the number of chargers being installed. In general, the service will need to handle the typical property load plus the output capacity of the charger (ie: 40 amps). The total cannot exceed 80% of the rated main service (ie: 160 amps for a 200 amp service). In addition, the service panel must have the needed space for the circuit breaker(s) (ie: 50 amp) used for the charger(s). If either of these factors are deficient, upgraded service may be required. Before considering upgrading the service, see the next Special Wallbox Power Sharing Features section.
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus includes some very useful, cost saving features, particularly when it comes to power management. These features allow the charger(s) to be installed without needing the expensive service upgrades mentioned in the previous section. There are two power sharing features that enable this: one is called Power Sharing, the other is called Dynamic Power Sharing. Both require special communication cabling (Cat 5e) between each of the chargers and in the case of Dynamic Power Sharing, back to the service panel. The downside to power sharing is that, although more than one vehicle can charge at the same time, it will be at reduced energy output, thus charging will take longer.
AmpedUp! Networks offers Power Sharing Pre-Configuration Services whereby the Pulsar Plus chargers will be configured for power sharing specific to your electrical service situation prior to shipment. This relieves your electrician from needing to learn how to configure chargers for power sharing saving time and expense. Please ask about this service when ordering your chargers.
In some cases, WiFi connectivity, which the Wallbox Pulsar Plus requires for Internet connectivity, may not be available where the charger is installed. If this is the case, for a one-time cost and monthly cellular service fee, a cellular/WiFi router (IG-4GLTEWIFI-01) can be incorporated. AmpedUp! Networks can advise on the proper equipment and setup of this device. Please contact us for more information.
The new Mercedes-Benz Wallbox is now widely available across the United States, providing customers with another connected and intelligent charging option at home. With up to 90% of charging taking place at home, the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox is an essential tool to help customers charge quickly and easily. Mercedes-Benz customers can conveniently charge their electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid overnight, depending on the battery size and state of charge. The sleek design of the wallbox matches the design language of Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles, so customers can enjoy both form and function.
The new Mercedes-Benz Wallbox, which was supplied by global charging solutions provider EVBox, is a demonstration of innovative technology, eye-catching design and outstanding practicality. The housing follows the design principles of the Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle aesthetics, making it a stylish addition to any garage. The wallbox controls the charging process and delivers up to 11.5 kW on a 240V split-phase circuit4. This makes charging with the Wallbox about 8x faster than using a conventional household outlet. Multi-colored LED lights on the wallbox indicate the status of the charging process. When installed correctly, the integrated safety components of the wallbox provide additional protection against fault currents for the vehicle, home and wallbox when actively charging.
To maximize versatility, the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox has a 23-foot charging cable to accommodate different garage parking configurations. The Mercedes-Benz Wallbox charges all Mercedes-Benz electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as EVs from other manufacturers that use the SAE J1772 charging inlet.
The Mercedes-Benz Wallbox is available through Mercedes-Benz dealers. The wallbox requires installation by a certified electrician. Customers can contact Mercedes-Benz USA partner Qmerit to receive a free installation quote from a qualified electrician in less than 10 minutes at qmerit.com/ev/Mercedes-Benz/.
The wallbox is the latest offering within a comprehensive Mercedes-Benz charging ecosystem. With access to nearly 100,000 public charging points nationwide, Mercedes me Charge is already one of the largest integrated charging networks in the U.S., and Mercedes-Benz is working to improve customer availability and convenience even further.
In November 2023, the first Mercedes-Benz Charging Hub in North America opened, the first step in Mercedes-Benz's commitment to invest more than $1 billion in a joint venture with MN8 Energy, to deliver 2,500 high-power, branded chargers within at least 400 charging hubs across North America by the end of the decade. The company also announced the integration of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in its electric vehicle line-up starting in 2025, with access to the Tesla Supercharger network beginning in 2024. And in February 2024, the IONNA joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and six other automakers received approval from regulatory agencies, paving the way for a minimum of 30,000 additional high-powered chargers across North America.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 18 model lines ranging from the sporty GLA SUV to the flagship S-Class and the dynamic all-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbvans.com.
Right now, the majority of electric-car owners are likely to be using a home wallbox installed on a driveway or private parking space to top up their EV overnight. But installing one may not be an option if you rent, don't have off-street parking or because you live in an apartment complex and your parking space is not next to or part of your property.
And it seems like more people are getting onboard with the idea. Vauxhall encourages owners of its EVs who do have a home charger to join the JustCharge community charging network (operated by JustPark) and allow their chargers to be rented out by other drivers, with the hopes of improving charging-point access.
Joel Teague, CEO of Co Charger, explained his app, saying: In practice it means a motorist living in a flat can have an arrangement with a nearby neighbour with a driveway to charge at theirs once or twice a week, ideally overnight. The host can earn some extra income from renting out their charger, whilst the 'chargee' gets the nearest possible experience to home charging.
If your total annual income from charger sharing is more than 1,000 per year, you should inform HMRC, as you may need to fill in a tax return. You may also be eligible to use the Trading Income Allowance if your receipts from charger sharing exceed 1,000 per year."
However, like any rental service, if there's limited selection in your area, you may face times when no chargers are available. You'll also need to book in advance, unlike a public charger where you can just rock up and plug in. But with Co Charger you can set up regular charging slots, to ensure your car is ready to go for you.
While this may not be the ultimate solution to charging provision, and not suitable for every electric-car driver or wallbox owner, sharing a charger, either as a host or a 'chargee' will help to increase the availability of chargers in the UK and remove a potential barrier to electric-car ownership for some people.
I've got a solar panel on my roof and a Tesla to charge.
I'm monitoring the power generation and consumption since a while with node-red.
Just discovered the node-red-contrib-tesla node. This was the start for quite a long trip. And I'm not at the end yet.
The project made progress, therefore I was happy.
Until I had a closer look at the energy usage before and after my tinkering with the charge logic. But see for yourself.
This is the energy usage pattern from two days ago:
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Yellow is the energy produced by the solar panels. Red and green is the energy used by the household (hot water starting at 10 o'clock, and Tesla charging at noon)
Quite nice.
Now here is the chart a day later (after my tinkering):
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To my dismay I see the red spikes during the night. This is the Tesla recharging. The Tesla computer is quite powerful. Keeping the Tesla computer awake by polling it all five minutes for internal status data uses an enormous amount of energy. Therefore it recharges about every 2 hours or so.