One of the first questions asked by a business, owners corporation or property manager considering EV charging is: does the site have enough electrical capacity?

It is an important question, but the answer is rarely as simple as reading the rating of the main switch or multiplying the number of chargers by their maximum output. A site’s existing loads change throughout the day, vehicles arrive with different charging needs, and cars are often parked for much longer than they need to charge at full power.

The right starting point is to understand the site, how the chargers will be used and how much power can safely be allocated to them. If required, a load management system can allow charging demand to be controlled within the site’s available capacity.

Nameplate capacity is not the whole story

A 22 kW AC charger can draw approximately 32 A per phase when operating at full output (though most current electric vehicles have a maximum AC charge rate of 11kW or 16A per phase). Installing several chargers does not automatically mean every charger needs to receive 22 kW at the same time.

For example, workplace vehicles may remain parked for eight hours, apartment residents may charge overnight, and fleet vehicles may have known departure times. In these situations, the available energy can be distributed across the parking period instead of every vehicle drawing maximum power as soon as it is connected.

This distinction matters. Designing around the theoretical maximum demand of every charger can lead to an unnecessarily large electrical allowance. Designing without any control, however, can overload the site’s supply or create new peak demand. The goal is a controlled system based on actual site requirements.

What is EV load management?

EV load management controls how much power is made available to a group of charging stations. Rather than allowing every charger to operate independently at full output, the system distributes a defined amount of available power between active charging sessions.

There are two broad approaches:

Static load management sets a fixed limit for the EV charging installation. The chargers share that allocation regardless of what the rest of the building is using.

Dynamic load management responds to changing building demand. When the building is using more power, the charging allocation can be reduced. When building demand falls, more power can be made available for charging.

The appropriate approach depends on the site’s electrical architecture, available capacity and operational requirements. A site with a dedicated and guaranteed allowance for EV charging may only need static control. A building with variable demand may benefit significantly from dynamic load management.

How Schneider Electric’s EV Charging Expert works

EcoStruxure EV Charging Expert is Schneider Electric’s load management, access management and supervision solution for EV charging infrastructure.

In a dynamic configuration, a compatible power meter provides information about the electrical demand within the relevant zone. EV Charging Expert uses the available capacity and the configured limits to control the power allocated to connected charging stations. As building demand changes, the charging setpoints can change with it.

This means EV charging can be managed as part of the site’s overall electrical demand rather than treated as an uncontrolled additional load.

Depending on the project design and selected configuration, EV Charging Expert can also provide functions such as:

• monitoring the status of charging points and active charging sessions;
• organising chargers into electrical zones and sub-zones;
• setting charging priorities and time-of-use rules;
• managing RFID authentication and user access;
• connecting with a charge point operator platform or building management system; and
• supporting a staged expansion as additional charging points are installed.

The system is designed to work with compatible Schneider Electric charging equipment, including commercial AC and DC charging solutions. The exact architecture, licensing and compatible equipment should be confirmed for each project.

Can load management avoid a supply upgrade?

In many cases, load management can remove the need for a major electrical supply upgrade. It allows the available power to be used more intelligently instead of designing the installation around an unlikely worst-case demand.

It is not a substitute for proper electrical design. Some sites may still require upgraded switchboards, submains, protection, distribution equipment or incoming supply capacity. Charger numbers, minimum acceptable charging rates, vehicle dwell times and future expansion all affect the result.

The honest answer is that every site is different. Load management provides more options, but those options need to be established through an assessment rather than assumed.

What should a site assessment consider?

A useful EV charging assessment should go beyond checking the rating of the main switch. It should consider:

• the site’s electrical supply and existing distribution equipment;
• measured or recorded peak demand;
• the number and type of vehicles expected to charge;
• how long vehicles are normally parked;
• required energy or driving range before departure;
• current and future charger numbers;
• cable routes, switchboard space and communications infrastructure;
• access control, billing and reporting requirements; and
• whether charging must be integrated with a charge point operator or building management system.

Taking the time to understand these factors at the outset produces a more practical result. It can prevent the site from paying for capacity it does not need, while also avoiding a system that cannot meet the users’ charging requirements.

Start with the site, not the charger

The best EV charging solution is not necessarily the one with the highest charger rating or the largest number of charging points. It is the solution that provides the required energy, works within the site’s constraints and can be expanded sensibly as demand grows.

At Charging EVolution, we assess your charging requirements and electrical capacity before recommending a solution. As suppliers and installers of Schneider Electric EV charging infrastructure, we can design a managed charging system around the way your site actually operates.