The transition to electric mobility represents a strategic opportunity for retailers, large-scale retailers, shopping centers, and parking lot operators. However, the idea of installing dozens of charging stations often raises a key concern among property managers: Will the building’s electrical system be able to handle the load without tripping the circuit breaker or requiring a costly increase in power capacity?
The solution to this problem lies in Smart Charging and, more specifically, in one of its key technologies: Dynamic Load Management (DLM).
1. Let’s clarify: What is Smart Charging, and what is DLM?
These two terms are often confused, but to understand how to optimize your parking space, it’s helpful to make a distinction:
- Smart Charging (the “brain”): This is the entire digital ecosystem that enables charging stations to connect to the internet and communicate in real time with each other, with the building’s infrastructure, with the power grid, and with users’ apps. A Smart Charging system enables various advanced features, such as remote monitoring, integration with solar power systems, and payment management.
- Dynamic Load Management (DLM) (the “operational arm”): This is the specific Smart Charging function dedicated exclusively to power management. Rather than supplying energy at a fixed maximum power level without distinction, the DLM system dynamically adjusts the power supplied to each vehicle based on the building’s actual energy availability at that precise moment.
In summary: Smart Charging transforms a charging infrastructure from a simple “power outlet” into a smart system; the DLM is the practical tool that, within this system, prevents consumption spikes and ensures maximum system efficiency without triggering the meter.
2. The issue of available power: Do you really need to upgrade the system?
Many operators believe that to install, for example, 8 or 10 22-kW charging stations, it is necessary to request an increase in the contracted power capacity of at least 176–220 kW from the grid operator.
However, with current technology, upgrading the network connection isn't always necessary. Requesting an increase in available bandwidth actually involves:
- High annual fixed costs associated with the power-of-use charges on the utility bill;
- Long bureaucratic and technical delays for the work to upgrade the cabin and network;
- Structural work that affects the building's electrical infrastructure.
Thanks to dynamic load balancing, it is possible to assess and make the best use of the residual electrical capacity already available in the building’s meter (POD), reducing the need for power increases when system conditions allow.
3. How Smart Charging Manages Loads: Static vs. Dynamic Balancing (DLM)
| Feature | Static Balancing | Dynamic Load Management (DLM) |
| Operation | It distributes a fixed, predefined maximum power among the active columns. | It monitors the energy consumption of the entire building in real time and allocates only the remaining power to the charging stations. |
| Efficiency | Average. It does not take advantage of periods of low demand for commercial activities. | Maximum. It makes use of every single kW that the building is not using at that exact moment. |
| Risk of Overload | Low if properly sized, but stiff and not very flexible. | It drastically reduces the risk of overload, protecting the system from consumption spikes. |
| Scalability | Limited. | High. This allows you to increase the number of charging points by making more efficient use of the available power, without necessarily changing your service contract. |
4. How It Works in Practice: A Practical Numerical Example
Let's imagine a shopping center with a contracted power capacity of 200 kW at the meter.
[ ELECTRIC GRID (200 kW Max) ]
|
|----> [ Building / Commercial Activities ]
| (variable consumption)
|
|----> [ DLM Smart Charging Control Unit ]
|
|----> Charging Station 1 (variable power)
|----> Charging Station 2 (variable power)
|----> Charging Station 3 (variable power)
|----> Charging Station 4 (variable power)
The Setting
- Maximum available power (POD): 200 kW
- Charging stations installed: 4 dual-outlet charging stations (total of 8 outlets at 22 kW each, theoretically = 176 kW of maximum potential power)
- Building energy consumption (lighting, HVAC, refrigerators): Varies between 100 kW and 180 kW.
Comparison Before and After Enabling Dynamic Load Management (DLM)
| Time of Day | Building Energy Consumption | Remaining power per charge | With standard charging | With smart charging (DLM) |
| 11:00 a.m. (top of the building) | 170 kW | 30 kW | Cars consume up to 120 kW → Risk of the meter being shut off / power outage | The cars receive a total of 30 kW, which is dynamically allocated, keeping power consumption within the available power limit. |
| 3:00 p.m. (reduced load) | 110 kW | 90 kW | Power output limited by default as a precautionary safety measure | Cars automatically receive up to 90 kW in total, speeding up the charging process. |
5. Operational Benefits for the Sales Organization
- System reliability: It reduces the risk of outages and helps prevent unnecessary power adjustments.
- Cost savings (CAPEX/OPEX): Reduces or can eliminate network upgrade costs when plant capacity allows.
- Maximum scalability: allows you to gradually expand your infrastructure while making the most of the available capacity.
6. Integration with the building’s systems and the photovoltaic system
Smart charging integrates seamlessly with renewable energy generation systems. If the commercial facility has a solar power system:
- The DLM system detects the excess power generated by the panels during the middle of the day.
- It directs excess solar energy directly to the charging stations.
- Maximize the property's self-consumption by reducing the amount of energy drawn from the grid and increasing self-consumption.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is an electrical system upgrade really necessary?
Upgrading the connection capacity becomes essential only when the building’s minimum residual capacity (during peak hours) is close to zero or insufficient to ensure adequate charging speeds given the average length of time customers stay.
Does smart charging slow down vehicle charging too much?
No. In commercial parking lots where the average parking duration ranges from 45 minutes to 2 hours, dynamic balancing ensures optimal charging without compromising the user experience by dynamically managing power distribution based on the infrastructure’s needs and the configured algorithms.
Why Choose a Specialized Service Provider?
Designing an efficient charging infrastructure requires specific technical expertise: from analyzing a building’s energy capacity to selecting the most suitable configuration, all the way through to installation and smart management using Smart Charging systems. Relying on an experienced provider like Powy allows you to manage every phase of the project with an integrated and scalable approach.
Would you like to install a charging infrastructure in your commercial parking lot? Request a consultation: we’ll analyze the site’s characteristics, the available power, and your facility’s needs to identify the best solution.
Methodological Note: The examples and values provided are for illustrative purposes only. The actual power available for charging depends on the characteristics of the electrical system, the building’s energy consumption patterns, the number and type of charging stations installed, and the site’s operating conditions. Each project requires a specific technical and energy feasibility analysis.
About Powy
Powy a company that owns, develops, and manages Italy's leading independent network of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Founded in Turin, Italy in 2018, Powy is at the center of the transition to more sustainable mobility, offering an innovative charging infrastructure that uses only 100 percent renewable energy.
Powy 's network includes quick, fast, and ultra-fast charging solutions strategically placed in public and private parking lots, supermarkets, shopping malls, and transportation hubs to ensure maximum convenience and accessibility for EV drivers. Each station is equipped with advanced technologies to provide a reliable and efficient charging experience.
Learn more: wpowy.energy