The ChargePoint Network is a necessary enabler for widespread adoption of electric vehicles, which have the potential to greatly decrease the world’s reliance on oil as a transportation fuel. Electricity can be derived from clean, renewable sources and help solve the vehicle emissions problem. The networking capability of the ChargePoint Network can also help taxing authorities recover revenue lost when gasoline taxes diminish due to a shift away from gasoline and diesel toward electricity as transportation fuel.
Host Benefits
- Allows hosts to cover costs of electricity, taxes, maintenance, and capital payback
- Provides host with revenue flow; similar to a vending machine model
- Eliminates energy theft (non-subscribers cannot use Smartlets)
- Greater public safety and reduced liability because Smartlet is de-energized until user is authenticated, and cord is plugged in
- Station owners have the ability to:
- View Google Map based location and status of charging stations
- Start/Stop charging sessions
- Reboot charging stations
- View Radio Groups
- Add Smartlets to Radio Group
- View inventory reports
- Set various alarms and notification methods (e.g. SMS, e-mail, etc.)
- View usage reports
Subscriber Benefits
- Inter-utility and Inter-service roaming gives drivers a global charging network
- Simple to use key fob/smart card system for authentication
- Eliminates cord theft because cord is locked into place until same subscriber unlocks it
- Integrates with navigation systems and Google maps so available stations can be found and routed to
Networking also allows for
- Implementation of grid friendly programs (Demand Response plans, Off-Peak plans, etc.)
- Remote Smartlet management (Firmware upgrades, remote GFCI resets, remote monitoring)
- Automatic configuration through wireless network – installers do not need IT skills
- New station viral networking – stations can be requested through the web portal and routed to the appropriate potential host
