Electric vehicle (EV) charging station company Car Charged UK has selected KORE as its internet of things (IoT) partner of choice.
The partnership is aimed at solving the issue of reliable connectivity for charging stations, with the companies giving the example of dense, urban areas such as London, where it is difficult for cellular signals to penetrate the places where EV owners are parking and charging their cars such as underground carparks and basements typically built with thick cement and steel.
A quality cellular signal is critical to EV charging stations, the companies said, as it’s how data is read, captured and transported back to EV charging companies. This data is then used for customer support, billing and predictive maintenance.
The KORE approach is providing a solution that includes hardware such as routers and antenna that drive high reliability ‘smart roaming’ technology and multi-network, resilient connectivity to provide best possible coverage in all locations.
It has the ability to connect to 2G, 3G and 4G across all network operators, meaning there is a higher chance of a connection even in the most inclement radio network conditions.
“IoT is playing a critical role in building out the infrastructure that can speed up more electrical vehicles rolling on the road,” KORE president and CEO Romil Bahl said.
Car Charged UK is also in the proof-of-concept stage for deploying wireless charging stations in London, with Bahl stating that the “wireless race is on”.
Other companies involved in wireless charging in the UK include Connected Kerb, which embarked on a rollout of wireless charging technology in London, the Midlands and Scotland in 2020, and Sprint Power, which is developing a series of wireless charging models for a government-backed trial in Nottingham.
Meanwhile, BP Ventures announced in June its plans to integrate IoT EV charging firm IoTecha’s products into its EV infrastructure following a US$7 million (£5 million) investment.
