The Challenge of Monitoring Charging Stations
The number of public charging stations in France now exceeds 120,000, with a target of 400,000 by 2030. For operators (CPOs—Charge Point Operators), centralized monitoring has become essential: without it, an issue with a charging station remains undetected until a customer files a complaint, and corrective maintenance accounts for 80% of operating costs.
Public procurement specifications (ADVENIR, AME) now require an availability rate of more than 98%. This level can only be achieved through real-time monitoring combined with remote diagnostics and intervention capabilities.
Architecture of an EVSE Monitoring Solution
[Bornes de recharge EVSE]
AC 7/22 kW (Type 2)
DC 50/150/350 kW (CCS/CHAdeMO)
|
| OCPP 1.6 / 2.0.1
| (WebSocket TLS)
v
[Backend OCPP / CSMS]
Gestion des sessions
Autorisation RFID / app mobile
Smart charging profiles
Real-Time Alerts
|
v
[[Monitoring Platform]
Tableau de bord multi-sites
Availability/Consumption KPIs
Gestion des incidents
Regulatory Reporting
API vers ERP / facturation
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for EV Charging Stations
| KPI | Definition | Typical Target |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | % of time the charging station is operational | > 98% |
| MTTR | Mean Time to Repair | < 4 h |
| Success Rate | Sessions completed without error / total | > 97% |
| Energy Delivered | kWh per charging station per month | Monitored monthly |
| Average Charging Time | Average duration of a session | Monitored monthly |
| Network Availability Rate | % of time with an OCPP connection | > 99.5% |
Incident Management and Preventive Maintenance
EV charging station monitoring distinguishes between several levels of incidents:
- Software issue (40% of cases): resolved via remote reset without on-site visit.
- Connectivity issue (20% of cases): resolved via the backup 4G gateway or by restarting the built-in modem.
- Hardware issue (40% of cases): requires on-site service. The monitoring system locates the faulty terminal and identifies the part that needs to be replaced before dispatching a technician.
Preventive maintenance is driven by cycle counters (plugs connected/disconnected), internal temperatures, and OCPP error logs, enabling the system to anticipate failures before they impact service.
Use Case: Corporate Fleet
For a company that manages 50 electric vehicles and 30 charging stations across multiple sites, monitoring provides:
- Cost Allocation: consumption by HR badge, by vehicle, by site.
- Rate Optimization: shifting load to off-peak hours (HP/HC) or EDF Tempo signal.
- Contractual power management: automatic limitation of total power to prevent exceeding the contract limit.
- CO₂ report: emissions avoided compared to an equivalent internal combustion engine vehicle, for CSR reporting.