EVSE Group Commissioning via Parent WLAN Auto-Enrollment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for commissioning Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) are tedious and inefficient, especially when multiple chargers need to be installed in the same location, as they require manual configuration and can be hindered by lack of cellular coverage or proximity issues between chargers belonging to different entities.
Innovation Solution
An automated group commissioning system that pre-configures EVSEs with a default Wi-Fi SSID and password combination, allowing them to connect via a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) created by a parent charger, enabling zero-effort connectivity and automatic association with a company account once the first charger is commissioned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual commissioning of each EV charger is performed individually, then each charger can be precisely configured and associated with the platform, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring EV chargers with default network settings (Wi-Fi SSID and password) during manufacturing. This allows chargers to automatically connect to the network without requiring manual configuration during commissioning, thus reducing commissioning time while maintaining configuration accuracy through subsequent automated association processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The commissioning process enables self-service by allowing EV chargers to automatically associate with the platform and company accounts through automated detection and configuration. The system uses automated commissioning based on location data to identify and register chargers without human intervention, eliminating the tedious manual association process while ensuring accurate platform integration.
2Ease of operation
If automated commissioning based on location is used, then the commissioning process is simplified, but it requires configuring each EV charger and uses location as a proxy which does not work in every situation
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces Wi-Fi network connection as an intermediary mechanism to establish charger association. Instead of relying solely on location data, the patent uses the pre-configured Wi-Fi SSID and password as a mediator that enables chargers to automatically connect to the network and associate with the platform. This intermediary approach works in areas with cellular coverage and can be supplemented by other methods when location determination fails.
3Ease of operation
If EV chargers are pre-configured with default Wi-Fi credentials, then zero-effort connectivity is achieved, but network security may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary network configuration with default Wi-Fi credentials during manufacturing, enabling chargers to automatically connect without user input. This preliminary action achieves zero-effort connectivity while maintaining security through automated subsequent steps where the system securely associates chargers with the platform and company accounts through authenticated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The commissioning process implements feedback mechanisms where the system monitors the association status of chargers and automatically updates configurations. After initial connection using default credentials, the system verifies successful association and can update network credentials or security parameters through automated feedback loops, ensuring both ease of connection and maintained security standards.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated EVSE group commissioning system comprises a centralized system to supply a series of known valid SSID and password credential combinations to a group of EVSEs. The centralized system to assist in a group pre-connectivity configuration in that if the group of EVSEs is in a same area, they default to connect to each other via a WLAN created by a parent EVSE, to which each child EVSE connects. A first EVSE comprises instructions to commission the first EVSE in the group of EVSEs that is interconnected. Every subsequent EVSE in that local network connectivity group is automatically commissioned such that for every group of EVSEs, the only activity that needs to be performed is a single EVSE commissioning and the system does not require subsequent EVSEs of the group of EVSEs to be network configured for them to be added to the certain company account.