Load Balancing: The Unsung Hero of Smart EV Charging in Buildings

As electric vehicles (EVs) become a staple in our lives, the demand for charging infrastructure in multi-unit dwellings and workplaces skyrockets. But what happens when multiple EVs plug in at the same time? Without careful management, your building's electrical system could be in for a shock – literally.

This is where load balancing steps in as the critical technology, ensuring smooth, safe, and efficient EV charging for everyone.

Why Load Balancing Isn't Just a Good Idea, It's Often Mandatory

Imagine a building with twenty parking spaces, and ten residents decide to charge their EVs simultaneously after work. If each charger pulls maximum power, the collective demand could easily exceed the building's main electrical capacity, leading to tripped breakers, power outages, or even damage to the electrical infrastructure.

This is why load balancing is crucial. It's a smart system designed to prevent overloading and manage simultaneous charging efficiently.

The Mandate: Load balancing becomes mandatory when the total theoretical installed charging power (i.e., if every charger were running at its maximum potential simultaneously) exceeds the building’s contractual electrical capacity. Without it, you risk not meeting electrical codes and jeopardizing the building's power supply.

How Load Balancing Works: Smart Power Distribution

Load balancing acts like a traffic controller for electricity, ensuring that the total power drawn by all EV chargers never exceeds the available capacity. It intelligently distributes the available power among the connected vehicles.

Types of Load Balancing

Dynamic Load Balancing: The Smartest Choice

This is the most advanced and recommended method. Dynamic load balancing continuously monitors the building's real-time electricity consumption. It then dynamically adjusts the power allocated to each EV charger based on the currently available capacity.

Benefits: This means cars charge as fast as possible without ever tripping the main breaker. If the building's overall power consumption is low (e.g., in the middle of the night), chargers can draw more power. If consumption is high (e.g., during peak evening hours), charging speeds are slightly reduced to keep everything stable.