Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations require proper maintenance to deal with the weather variation throughout the year, especially when considering the low temperatures, wind and rain that winter brings. In this article, we discuss the main attention points that any Charge Point Operator (CPO) should take into consideration when it comes to maintaining EV charging hubs in the cold months to come.
What is the impact of winter on charging infrastructure?
Whenever drivers use EV chargers to recharge the batteries of their vehicles, the temperature inside the charger increases, with some internal components reaching over 60 °C. The external temperatures of the cold months, however, slowly chill the chargers until the next customer comes to use them. This results in an increased cycle of heating and cooling that can damage the internal components, especially on busier days when the charger is utilised several times a day.
Temperature variation can stress mechanical components and create internal humidity in the chargers. If the amount of preventive maintenance scheduled is not enough, this can damage the charger and make it stop working.
Maintenance of EV charging hubs in the winter
CPOs should prepare a comprehensive maintenance check before temperatures start to drop considerably. Preventive actions ensure that the equipment is safe to use in the months to come and that it will endure the different climate conditions.
One example of a task that should be performed in the proactive maintenance is a complete revision of the busbar and cable tightening torque, to guarantee that all active parts stay in contact and will not disconnect with the weather variations.
The same principle applies to cooling units. EV charging hub owners that use cooling units to chill cables must verify the amount of cooling liquid inside the circuit. The lack of enough liquid can stress the system and cause the cooling unit to improperly work. This makes it also critical to have spare liquid available in case of a quick exchange.
CPOs also should make sure that the internal heating system and/or the internal anticondensation system is also properly working before winter.
In areas where there is an increase of rainfall, it is essential that connectors are kept dry and safe, and that all sockets are revised to make sure they can be correctly plugged. When not fully plugged, sockets end up exposed to bad weather conditions, which can jeopardise the electronic material of the charger and also of the vehicle.
Sensors must also be revised to ensure that all alarms are in place and functional to inform about operational issues or chargers’ overuse.
Another important point of attention is related to the chargers’ surroundings and aspect. CPOs should keep chargers clean to make a good impression on EV drivers and show that the chargers are available and ready to use. Keeping the casing clean and tidy is highly important as this is the part where drivers find information about the charger, pricing of the kWh, and where they use the RFID card or credit card to start the charging sessions. Moreover, as authorities use rock salt to melt the ice on the roads, it is essential to guarantee that the salt will not interfere with the charger and its appearance.
Snowy places reinforce the need for canopies over the chargers, as well as an anti-icing system in the parking, to provide a more comfortable environment for drivers when plugging their vehicles in and out of the EV charging infrastructure.
The added value of investing in canopies for EV hubs
CPOs are recommended to include a canopy over the EV charging infrastructure, which protects chargers all year long – from the hottest temperatures of summer to the coldest moments of winter. Such structure avoids or decreases rain and snow to get in direct contact with the charger, protects drivers and vehicles from the weather and can be further enhanced with the installation of solar panels for energy generation.
Special conditions require special maintenance on EV charging stations
With a network of over 600,000 chargers available throughout Europe, EV chargers are located in different settings and subject to many climate and weather conditions. While EV charging stations that are close to forests need to clean their surroundings from tree leaves, CPOs with charging hubs in certain locations need to think about the impact of ice and snow on the infrastructure.
To support them in this task and guarantee the best experience for their customers, relying on a single company that can holistically work on the charging station all across Europe is the best solution.
TSG can perform the maintenance of your EV charging station all year long
TSG is the European leader in technical services for responsible mobility solutions, with over 50 years of experience in designing, installing and maintaining mobility infrastructure. Our trained and certified technicians have the expertise to maintain EV charging hubs in Europe and Africa, advising on the frequency and type of tasks that need to be performed.
Recognised and fully habilitated by the main charger manufacturers across Europe – Alpitronic, Kempower, EVBox, Circontrol, Power Electronics, to mention a few –, TSG is your one-stop-shop partner to maintain the entire charging hub, providing an efficient, cost-effective and always-available service. From electrical and charger maintenance, including canopies, lighting, credit card equipment and CCTV systems, our teams support our customers on strategic plans to ensure that their charging infrastructure is operational and safe to use throughout the year.
Contact TSG Charge experts to learn how we can support your EV charging hub maintenance: tsg-solutions.com/contact-tsg-charge
