Maintenance of charging stations
The importance of regular maintenance
Regular maintenance of charging stations is essential to ensure their smooth operation, durability and safety. In the workplace, where charging stations are often used intensively, regular maintenance helps to avoid numerous technical problems and ensure optimum use. Regular maintenance is crucial for a number of reasons:
- enables small anomalies (wear, problems, errors) to be detected and corrected before they become major problems,
- ensures that all electrical components are in good condition, minimizing the risk of overheating, short circuits or other dangerous incidents,
- enables rapid intervention in the event of breakdown, reducing downtime,
- also ensures that charging stations remain compliant with standard NF C 15-100 standard,
- provides significant long-term savings compared with the cost of major repairs or replacement of faulty terminals.
Investing in a preventive maintenance program is therefore a wise choice for any company wishing to optimize its electricvehicle fleet and ensure user satisfaction.
Routine maintenance procedures
1. Visual inspection
Step 1: Check exterior condition
- Objective: Identify any visible damage to the terminal, such as cracks, discoloration or signs of corrosion.
- Action: Examine the physical integrity of the terminal, including cables, connectors and shields. Check for debris or foreign objects around the terminal.
Step 2: Inspecting traffic signs
- Objective: To ensure that all signs and directions are legible and in good condition.
- Action: Clean panels and replace damaged or illegible ones.
2. Functional testing
Step 1: Load test
- Objective: To ensure that the terminal is capable of charging an electric vehicle correctly.
- Action: Connect an electric vehicle to the terminal and monitor the charging process to detect any malfunctions or anomalies.
Step 2: Check connectors
- Objective: Ensure that connectors are in good condition to avoid bad contacts.
- Action: Inspect connectors for signs of wear or damage, and replace defective connectors if necessary.
3. Software maintenance
Step 1: Software update
- Objective: To ensure that the kiosk uses the latest version of software to enhance performance and safety.
- Action: Download and install the software updates provided by the terminal manufacturer.
Step 2: Check configuration parameters
- Objective: Ensure that all configuration parameters are correct and optimized for terminal use.
Action: Access the terminal configuration menu and check all parameters, adjusting if necessary.
4. Preventive maintenance
Step 1: Cleaning internal components
- Purpose: Prevent malfunctions caused by accumulated dust or dirt.
- Action: Open the terminal (if access is authorized and secured) and clean the internal components using compressed air and antistatic cloths.
Step 2: Checking safety systems
- Objective: To ensure that all safety devices function correctly.
- Action: Test circuit breakers, fuses and other protection systems to ensure they react correctly in the event of an overload or short circuit.
5. Documentation and reporting
Step 1: Recording inspections and interventions
- Objective: Maintain a detailed history of maintenance actions for efficient management.
- Action: Document each inspection, test and repair in a maintenance log, including observations and actions taken.
Step 2: Periodic status report
- Objective: To provide company management with an overview of the status of terminals.
- Action: Draw up periodic reports summarizing the results of inspections and interventions, and recommend further action if necessary.
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Installation and standards for corporate charging stations
Installation standards for electric vehicle charging stations
| Standards/Regulations | Description | Objective |
|---|---|---|
|
NF C 15-100 |
French standard for low-voltage electrical installations
|
Ensuring the safety and performance of electrical installations |
|
IRVE( Electric VehicleCharging Infrastructure ) |
Certification for installers |
Guaranteeing the competence of installers |
|
EN IEC 61851 |
International standard for conductive charging systems |
Define safety and performance requirements for charging stations |
|
Decree no. 2017-26 of January 12, 2017 |
French charging infrastructure regulations |
Regulate terminal installation and maintenance |
|
Guide UTE C 15-722 / C 17-722 |
Practical guide to recharging systems |
Provide practical guidelines for installations |
|
Mobility Orientation Law (LOM) |
French legislation on sustainable mobility |
Increasing access to recharging infrastructure |
Please note that NF C 15-100 applies to charging station installations, guaranteeing adequate protection against electrical risks. Installers must be IRVE-certified to install charging stations with a power rating greater than 3.7 kW. In addition, EN IEC 61851 includes technical specifications for charging stations, including communication between the vehicle and the station. The Decree no. 2017-26 of January 12, 2017 requires infrastructures to comply with safety standards and be installed by certified professionals. Finally, the guide UTE C 15-722 / C 17-722 contains detailed recommendations on the installation of bollards in residential and tertiary environments.
Also read → What are the certifications and deadlines for installing a recharging point in a company?
Installation process and infrastructure
Needs assessment
Start by assessing your company's specific recharging needs. This includes determining the number of charging stations needed, their ideal location, and the types of vehicles to be charged (company cars, delivery vehicles, etc.).
Feasibility study
Call on an IRVE-certified installer (decree no. 2021-546 of May 4, 2021) for a technical inspection of the site. This step enables us to identify technical constraints, such as existing electrical capacity and any necessary adaptations.
Specifications and planning
Based on the inspection, the installer will provide a detailed estimate covering the cost of equipment, labor and any additional work (such as earthworks). This estimate also includes potential subsidies, such as the ADVENIR program program, which can cover up to 50% of installation costs. We recommend that you draw up a schedule for the work, taking into account the installer's availability and the company's operational constraints.
Earthworks
If necessary, earthworks will be carried out to prepare the foundations for the charging stations. This may include creating trenches for cable routing and installing concrete bases for free-standing charging stations.
Electrical installation
Charging stations are installed either on walls (wall-mounted) or on bases (free-standing). Electrical cables are drawn and connected to the company's main switchboard. Installation must comply with NF C 15-100 standards and be carried out by an IRVE-certified professional.
Configuration and testing
Once the charging stations have been installed, they need to be configured to work properly. This includes updating software and programming charging parameters. Charge tests are carried out to ensure that the charging stations are working properly and are ready for use. This involves connecting an electric vehicle and checking that charging runs smoothly.
Staff training
Training employees in the use of charging stations is crucial. This training covers basic procedures for using the charging stations, safety instructions, and the steps to take in the event of a malfunction.
Follow-up and maintenance
After installation, we recommend that you take out a maintenance contract to ensure the longevity and smooth operation of the bollards. This contract includes regular inspections, software updates, and rapid intervention in the event of breakdown.
Also read → What are the best practices for installing charging infrastructure in commercial buildings?
Management and training for charging stations
Efficient management of charging stations
Effective management of charging stations in the workplace is crucial to maximizing infrastructure utilization and guaranteeing an optimal user experience. To achieve this, it is essential to implement appropriate management and supervision tools. Using management software (ChargePoint, EVBox), you can :
- monitor terminals in real time,
- manage recharge sessions,
- generate detailed reports on energy consumption and terminal status.
Remote supervision is another key aspect, enabling early detection of malfunctions and intervention before they become critical. This includes software updates and remote fault diagnosis, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. Optimizing the use of charging stations also involves efficient scheduling of charging sessions. Management software makes it possible to reserve charging slots, thus avoiding overloading the charging stations and ensuring balanced use throughout the day. In addition, pricing strategies, such as reduced off-peak rates, can encourage more regular and distributed use of available infrastructure.
Training and awareness-raising
Training charging station users is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, proper training ensures that employees understand how to use the charging stations correctly, avoiding common mistakes that could damage equipment or lead to energy inefficiencies.
Training sessions include :
- practical demonstrations on how to use the terminals,
- safety instructions,
- procedures to follow in the event of a malfunction.
It is also essential to cover topics such as recharge session management, the importance of regular maintenanceand best practices for optimizing the use of charging stations.. Resources such as manuals, tutorial videos and FAQs are very useful to complement training and serve as an ongoing reference for users.
In addition to technical training, it is important to raise employee awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles and charging stations (long-term cost savings, environmental benefits and sustainable development initiatives). Effective awareness-raising encourages employees to adopt electric vehicles, thereby increasing the use of installed charging stations.
A good training program should also include ongoing support for users. This means setting up a dedicated helpdesk, able to respond quickly to questions and resolve any problems. Regular updates on new kiosk features and best practices can also help maintain a high level of competence among users.
Also read → Electric car driver training for employees, what's it like in 2024?
Conclusion
The upkeep and management of charging stations are crucial to their performance and longevity. Regular maintenance, appropriate user training and the use of management software optimize infrastructure efficiency. Investing in these areas not only supports the energy transition, but also improves employee satisfaction and operational performance.
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