EV Glossary - Terminology
Terminology commonly used in Electrical Vehicle charging industry
| AC | Alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction. Power supply grid in Australia alternates current direction 50 times per second (50 Hz). In contrast – Direct Current (DC) flows only in one direction.In the context of EV charging, AC chargers provide power to the vehicle straight from the grid supply, all power conversion is done using the vehicles onboard AC/DC charging module. This is normally what limits the AC charging rate of a vehicle. |
| augmentation | expansion |
| battery | a device to store electrical energy. Battery energy storage capacity is typically specified in kWh (kiloWatt*hours). For example a battery that has energy storage capacity 100kWh can be used to generate 10 kW power for 10 hours (or 20 kW power for 5 hours) before it is fully discharged. |
| chargers | chargers are devices that transfer energy to battery in a safe and controlled way |
| charging app | smartphone app that controls access to charging stations and payments for charging services |
| Chargebay app | smartphone app that controls access to charging stations and payments for charging services |
| charger | charger is a device that transfers energy to battery in a safe and controlled way |
| charging | transferring energy to a battery |
| Charging infrastructure | Equipment for charging electric vehicles (EV), intended for use by the public |
| CRM | Customer Relations Management |
| DC | Direct Current (DC) is electrical current that does not reverse direction like AC current. A battery produces DC current and requires DC current for charging.In the context of EV charging, DC (Direct Current) chargers convert the grid AC supply into DC off-board the vehicle. This allows for a much faster charging rate than AC chargers as the power electronics are not limited by size like they are in a vehicle. |
| dynamic load management | DLM : optimal use of available electricity supply from the existing grid connection |
| EMMS | Energy Monitoring and Management System |
| e-mobility | Electro mobility (or e-Mobility) represents the concept of using electric power train technologies, in-vehicle information, communication technologies and connected infrastructures to enable the electric propulsion of vehicles and fleets. |
| energy | typically measured in kWh (kiloWatt*hours) energy is a measure how much power can be generated/used for how many hours. For example a battery that has energy storage capacity 100kWh can be used to generate 10 kW power for 10 hours (or 20 kW power for 5 hours) before it is fully discharged.In terms of electric vehicles (EVs), the kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy that represents the capacity of a vehicle’s battery, similar to how the amount of fuel in litres represents the capacity of a conventional vehicle’s fuel tank. |
| EV | EV = Electric Vehicle |
| EVSE | EVSE is a known industry term that stands for electric vehicle supply equipment. Most people commonly refer to EVSE as “EV charging station” or “charging point.” |
| grid | electricity supply network |
| kWh | kWh (amount of energy in kiloWatt*hours) is a measure how much power can be generated and for how many hours. For example a battery that has energy storage capacity 100kWh can be used to generate 10 kW power for 10 hours (or 20 kW power for 5 hours) before it is fully discharged. |
| kW | kiloWatt = 1000 Watt is a way to measure power: (energy used per unit time).In electric vehicle (EV) terms, kilowatt (kW) refers to the rate of energy transfer and is often used to indicate the power level of a vehicle’s motor or the charging speed of an EV charger. It’s akin to horsepower in a conventional combustion engine vehicle, where a higher kW generally translates to faster acceleration and, in the context of charging, faster recharge times. |
| MESM | MESM = Metrel Electric Supply Manager |
| Modbus | Modbus is a serial communication protocol for use with programmable logic controllers (PLCs). In simple terms, it is a method used for transmitting information over serial lines between electronic devices. |
| OCPP | Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an application protocol for communication between Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and a central management system, also known as a charging station network. |
| power | typically specified in kW (kiloWatts) power is the energy used in a unit of time, or a rate of energy use.In the context of electric vehicles (EVs), power, measured in kilowatts (kW), refers to the rate at which energy is used or transferred. It’s analogous to horsepower in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, indicating the vehicle’s capability to perform work, such as accelerating or climbing hills. In the context of EV charging, power represents the speed at which the battery can be recharged, with higher power values typically leading to faster charging times. |
| rate | charging rate is a measure how fast battery can be charged. 100kWh can be transferred to a battery with 1kW input for 100 hours or with 100kW input for 1 hour. Charging rate depends on the (grid or solar) power available for charging as well as specification of both the charger and a battery. |
| RCD | Residual Current Device – safety fuse switch that disconnects power when residual current leakage is detected |
| wallbox | EV charger installed on a wall |
| white label app | an app that can be branded with your brand |