Could ChargePoint's Level 2 Chargers Stabilise the Grid?
The evolution of electric vehicle (EV) charging technology is gaining momentum with ChargePoint’s introduction of its AC Level 2 architecture.
This innovation enhances the EV charging landscape by offering bidirectional charging, faster power delivery and efficient energy management capabilities.
ChargePoint’s technology is crafted to cater to residential, commercial and fleet environments, presenting a shift towards integrating electric vehicles more deeply into broader energy systems.
This could not only help to reduce emissions from vehicles, but also to stabilise grids with the use of intermittent renewable energy sources.
“ChargePoint’s next generation of EV chargers will be revolutionary, not evolutionary,” says Hossein Kazemi, Chief Technical Officer, Hardware at ChargePoint.
“The architecture underpinning them enables highly anticipated technologies which will deliver a significantly better experience for station owners and the EV drivers who charge with them.”
Meet ChargePoint
ChargePoint, headquartered in California, is recognised for operating the world’s most extensive online network of independently owned EV charging stations across 14 countries.
Since its inception in 2007, ChargePoint has developed a comprehensive range of charging products, such as the ChargePoint Home, CT4000 and CPE 200 models.
As of January 2024, the company has more than 286,000 charging spots.
Chargepoint designs, develops and manufactures hardware and software solutions for electric vehicles.
“Our commitment to EV charging — and only EV charging — enables us to offer the best electric fueling experience across every vertical,” the company says on its website.
ChargePoint’s bidirectional maximum-speed charging
ChargePoint’s new architecture will underpin models sold across North America and Europe.
Variants for commercial, residential and fleet applications are already being designed.
- Vehicle-to-everything capability, enabling an EV to deliver energy as a zero-emissions generator for a home, a commercial building or to transfer energy back to the grid
- Ultra-fast charging at the maximum speed possible for AC current (80 amp/19.2kw), charging a typical EV battery from zero to 100% in about four hours
- Dynamic load balancing, which automatically accelerates the charging speed when power is not needed elsewhere in the building
- Smart home compatibilities to integrate with solar charging, home batteries and smart energy management systems
- Series-wiring capability, enabling a fleet depot, a multifamily housing garage or even a single-family home with two EVs to maximise charging without costly service upgrades
- ChargePoint Omni Port enables charging North American EVs with any of the most common connector types from a single charging station
Will this tech take over?
ChargePoint’s dominance in the US public AC charging market, holding a 61% share, positions this technology as a potential industry benchmark.
The system adheres to key standards, including ENERGY STAR in the US and MID/Eichrecht in Europe, ensuring reliability and safety.
The first models to be built on the platform will arrive in Europe in Summer 2025 and in North America at the end of 2025.
This innovation, described as a “generational leap” by ChargePoint, could help to reduce reliance on fossil fuels not just in vehicles, but in stabilising the grid.
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