EO Charging has filed a patent for a new technology which it says will transform the smart charging of electric vehicle fleets.

The company says its new ISO 15118-compliant chargers and software will allow EO to perform smart AC-charging on legacy fleet vehicles that are not compliant with the 15118 standard.

This will provide both public and private fleets of cars, vans, trucks and buses with a more secure and cost effective charging solution, it adds.

The new technology works by permitting a two-way exchange of information between EV and AC charging unit, removing the need for third-party telematics providers and reducing the hassle of large-scale fleet electrification, said EO Charging.

The EV charger automatically authenticates a vehicle’s ID, allowing the built-in software to assess state of charge and regulate the charge session based on the vehicle’s operational requirements and the depot’s real time energy profile.

Charlie Jardine, CEO and founder of EO Charging, said: “Plug&Charge has had a hugely positive impact in the public charging space, creating a seamless and efficient charging experience for drivers.

“However, it was exclusive to DC charging stations and therefore financially prohibitive for many users.

“EO can now bring this technology to fleet operators, harnessing its benefits for our customers around the world and across multiple charging systems.

“We’re the first to introduce an integrated AC Plug&Charge charging solution for fleets, another step in our journey to becoming the global leader in powering electric car, van, truck and bus fleets.”

A live trial of the new technology is scheduled with EO’s largest fleet customer in early 2022, for which EO has installed and manages more than 4,400 chargers in almost 70 depots, across seven countries in Europe.

Richard Earl, R&D director at EO Charging, added: “Our patented technology not only brings significant benefits to fleet operators today, but also lays the groundwork for true V2G charging for the future across both AC and DC solutions.

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