The electrical vehicle charging market is exploding today, due to the ongoing development of the infrastructure network to support the growing requirement for EV charging stations everywhere. Not only do we need EV chargers along roads and highways around the world, but also in public venues, businesses, parking structures, apartment buildings and homes.
Watch this webinar, co-presented by experts from NXP Semiconductors and Digi, to learn about some of the latest technology — including the new Digi ConnectCore® 93 system-on-module, based on the NXP i.MX93 processor, which includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth support, as well as 802-15.4 connectivity, AI/ML support and more. This powerful SOM is part of the complete Digi ConnectCore ecosystem of SOMs, developer tools, software and services — providing an advanced, industrial-rated platform for EV charging development as well as complete lifecycle management of end devices.
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Follow-up Webinar Q&A
Thank you again for attending our session on Market Opportunities in the EV Charging Industry. Here are the questions that followed the presentation and their answers. If you have additional questions, be sure to reach out.
Moderator: Mitch Sinon, Digital Marketing Manager, Digi International
Presenters:
- Alex Dopplinger, Director, Product Marketing, Secure Connected Edge, Building & Energy, NXP
- Larry Stein, Senior Field Application Engineer, Digi International
- Bob Blumenscheid, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Digi International
Do you provide a solution for the implementation of the OCPP protocol?
Bob: That's a great question. We are working with a partner in the UK who has a solution specifically for OCPP. And it's an OCPP stack that runs on a Digi ConnectCore® module, and it talks to a smart controller board. And that's what we've integrated, where the ConnectCore provides that OCPP control, and then the hardware provides a smart charge controller. So, yes, we, working with partners, and we can provide that solution, in building blocks.
How do I learn more about the IOT to cloud connection services?
Would the Digi ConnectCore 93 be suitable for residential charging stations, class 1?
Bob: Alex, I'll let you answer that. My instinct is that it's very high volume, very low cost, but I'll let you talk about what NXP solutions there are for Level 1 charging.
Alex: Right. So, there's no reason not to use i.MX 93 for all levels. And I've seen examples of all levels. There are other devices. It really depends on what kind of features you need. So, if you need bigger displays, you might go up from there. If you want to do advertising on a big system, you might go up from there in a big commercial system. But if you're going into the very lowest end of residential systems, i.MX 93 is a very excellent option, if you want Linux. If you don't want Linux, then another possibility is i.MX RT series, which is real-time. And these are crossover processors. They contain Cortex-M cores only. They don't run Linux, but they're excellent for RTOSes, and we have examples of that as well on the website. So, yeah, you could go either way. Happy to have that discussion, and Digi too.
What about the high-voltage part of an AC EV charger? How is that implemented?
Bob: Yeah, and that's the part I mentioned with our partner. Essentially, there's a 120 or 240-volt portion, where you need a controller board, and then you end up with electrical contactors and things that are off-the-shelf electrical components. So, then you're looking at a circuit there, and to deliver the AC to the car, which, in most cases — well, in all cases — the car then converts it from AC to DC. Alex, I don't know the specific components, other peripherals and things that NXP offers in that space.
Alex: So, on the DC side of it, if you remember, there was a slide in the deck, and Larry referred to it as well. There's a whole DC charging layout possible, and if you click through to that screen, you'll be able to see that even on the DC, the power line side of it, that there are recommended parts. As far as does Digi design that side of it, I don't think so. Am I correct, Bob?
Bob: No, we do not.
Alex: Certainly, from NXP, we offer that part of the solution too.
What about wireless connectivity for EV chargers in rural locations?
Bob: That can be a little bit more of a challenge. You know, we've talked about Wi-Fi extensively. We see cellular connectivity a lot to chargers and to networking. It's either low-power, wide-area, like LTE-M or NB-IoT, and Cat 1 or Cat 4, all 4G. And it really depends on whether you have coverage in these IoT coverage, outside of dense, urban areas. As you really get out, where you might not have cellular coverage, I think then you're looking at satellite connectivity. And, you know, that's something Digi's looking at, to integrate into our wireless connectivity portfolio. It's amazing with all the private launches of CubeSats and things that are going up, is that there's really constellations of a lot of different satellites up there. And I think we'll see new, affordable satellite connectivity coming along in the near to mid future.