How IoT is Revolutionizing EV Charging: Insights & WebbyLab’s Cases

As electric vehicles (EVs) go mainstream, the need for efficient ways to keep them charged has never been greater. That’s where IoT for EV charging comes into play.

But first, what makes EV charging stations so essential?

The main value lies in the charging stations, their hardware implementation, and the software running on the devices. This is because, in any case, charging occurs through direct interaction between the car and the charger.

Kostiantyn Oliynyk

Head of IoT at Webbylab

Now, imagine improving this process with IoT. The results? Remarkable improvements in EV charging station management with IoT, lower maintenance costs, and a smoother experience for everyone involved — whether charging network operators, EV drivers, or fleet managers.

Having built custom IoT solutions for EV infrastructure like MyBox, we’re excited to share the role the Internet of Things plays in EV charging and who benefits most from it. We’ll also discuss the most common use cases and program solutions for IoT-enabled EV charging platforms.

Highlights:

• Real-time tracking, less hassle. IoT for EV charging lets you monitor stations, spot issues, and even update software remotely!
• Looking for a universal IoT platform for EV charging? Check out MyBox.
• What makes IoT-enabled EV charging platforms complete? Hardware, firmware, software, and suitable communication protocols.

An IoT-enabled EV charging platform, MyBox

What Role Does IoT Play in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure?

Using IoT for EV charging has never been more promising. And here’s why:

• Growing market. The global IoT market for EV charging will jump from $15.91 billion in 2024 to $120 billion by 2032 — meaning more IoT-enabled EV charging platforms are to come.
• Evolving scaling needs. Scalable IoT solutions for electric vehicle charging demand powerful management tools, but there’s still room for improvement. In a recent BICS survey, 57% of respondents said they were only somewhat satisfied with their current IoT provider.
• Real-time data and remote monitoring demands. Reliable connectivity — possible with IoT — is a must for real-time data exchange and remote monitoring. In fact, 28% of BICS survey respondents ranked it as their top factor when choosing an IoT provider.

But what is exactly the role of IoT in EV charging infrastructure? Adding this tech to charging station solutions offers lots of benefits:

• Real-time monitoring. Operators can track charging station status, energy consumption, and equipment health in real time. IoT platforms also support remote firmware updates, reducing maintenance costs.
• Energy optimization. Using IoT for optimizing EV charging stations is possible by integrating with power distribution networks, which helps balance grid loads, optimize energy use, and reduce costs.
• Improved user experience. IoT allows EV drivers to find stations easily, reserve charging slots, track progress, and access detailed reports via mobile apps — delivering smart charging solutions for electric vehicles that focus on convenience.
• Data-driven insights. IoT systems collect vast amounts of data, allowing operators to generate efficiency reports, issue invoices, and improve decision-making.
• Renewable energy integration. IoT helps integrate charging stations with solar panels or wind turbines, optimizing the use of green energy sources.

You may also be interested in our guide to parking system development via IoT.

The charging station itself is a set of hardware that provides car charging and a controller to manage the process, integration with other devices, and the cloud. Often, solar panels or wind generators and additional controllers for integration with them or other alternative energy sources are used.

Yehor Fedorov

IoT Project Team Lead at WebbyLab

Who Benefits the Most from IoT Solutions for EV Charging?

The impact of IoT for EV charging extends to a wide range of stakeholders: charging network operators, EV drivers, fleet managers, utility providers, and software developers. Let’s see who gains the most from these advancements and how.

Let’s now look at how IoT solutions for EV charging work in practice. Here are two examples from our experience.

Our client, MyBox, a manufacturer and supplier of EV charging stations, needed a comprehensive charging station management solution:

• A backend cloud infrastructure for operators and support teams.
• A mobile app for end users.

To deliver such a universal IoT platform for EV charging management, we used our proprietary software, 2Smart Cloud, and built custom features on top of it.

A MyBox mobile app for EV charging station management

But we didn’t stop there. Two years passed, and we started a new iteration of our collaboration with MyBox. Our client expanded its product line, and we, in turn, improved firmware functionality, implemented a dynamic load management system, built a white-label instance of 2Smart Cloud for MyBox, and developed a business platform for enterprise clients.

Customizing layouts in MyBox

IoT Use Cases and Program Solutions for EV Charging

From an implementation perspective, a universal IoT platform for EV charging consists of the following hardware and software solutions:

Hardware Solutions

A charging station itself is a hardware system that provides vehicle charging. It includes a controller for managing the charging process, integrating with other IoT devices, and connecting to the cloud.

• Charging stations: AC stations for slow charging, DC stations for fast charging, and bi-directional stations supporting V2G.
• Integrated communication modules: LTE/5G modems, Wi-Fi or Ethernet modules, and IoT protocols like LoRa and Zigbee.
• Charging controllers: Controllers for power management, security, and cloud connectivity.
• Sensors: Energy meters, temperature sensors, and RFID access sensors.
• Payment modules: NFC/RFID card terminals and QR code scanners.
• Energy solutions: Smart energy IoT systems use cases like integration with solar panels and batteries as well as inverters for V2G.

Software Solutions

Software that powers smart charging solutions for electric vehicles may include:

• Charging station management systems (CMS): Charging session management, real-time monitoring, remote management, and diagnostics.
• IoT cloud platforms: Data storage and processing, charging analytics and forecasting, support for OCPP, ISO 15118, and MQTT.
• Mobile applications for end users: Station search, booking, payment, and charging progress tracking.
• Billing software: Tariff calculation and integration with payment platforms.
• Communication protocols: OCPP, ISO 15118, MQTT, OCPI, and REST API for custom integrations.
• Tools for energy companies: Load management and smart grid integration.
• IoT analytics and optimization: Data collection and analysis (learn more in our IoT data collection guide) and ML for demand forecasting.
• Platforms for fleet operators: Charging schedule optimization, cost and energy efficiency control.

Read also: IaaS vs. PaaS vs. SaaS for IoT.

Accepted Communication Protocols for EV Charging

Using IoT for EV charging is possible through specific communication protocols. Here are the widely adopted ones:

Dynamic Load Management (DLM) and Its Significance

DLM, short for dynamic load management, is frequently implemented to optimize the distribution of available electrical power across EV charging stations.

DLM analyzes the network’s overall load in real time to ensure efficient charging without overloading the power grid. It automatically adjusts the power supplied to each station, taking into account the number of connected vehicles, charging priorities, and other devices’ power consumption.

Such a system eliminates the need for costly infrastructure upgrades, reduces energy expenses, ensures uninterrupted operation (even during peak periods!), and integrates with smart grids for flexible resource management. It’s a cornerstone technology for scaling advanced IoT systems for EV charging networks in apartment complexes, corporate fleets, and public charging stations.

MyBox: Our Universal IoT Solution for EV Charging Management

MyBox, a WebbyLabs ecosystem for managing and maintaining EV charging stations, is a decent example of an IoT-powered EV charging solution. While we’ve briefly talked about it earlier, let’s discuss it in greater detail.

Our cooperation with the client began at the inception of their product, and we’ve played a critical role in its development ever since.

Our primary goal was to develop a cloud platform and mobile application, enabling real-time remote monitoring and management of charging stations for both end users and service managers. Over time, we’ve improved this universal IoT platform for EV charging significantly, making it compatible with various hardware products.

A reports section in MyBox

Currently, the MyBox IoT ecosystem includes a line of devices for both B2C and B2B markets, where we participate in firmware development. All devices communicate with the cloud via MQTT, and the software is device-agnostic. This allows for the launch of new hardware products, making it easy to expand the MyBox portfolio.

One of the EV charging devices from MyBox’s line

MyBox IoT for EV charging also features advanced dynamic load management technology with two implementations:

• Standalone DLM module: Designed for large infrastructures.
• Integrated DLM module: Built into self-charging devices for home or small-scale infrastructures.

Additionally, our custom IoT solutions for EV infrastructure integrate with solar panels and third-party charging stations that operate on the OCPP protocol.

Integrating solar panels with MyBox

Embrace the Future of IoT for EV Charging Development

Electric vehicles are already ubiquitous, and IoT makes them smarter. By adopting IoT for EV charging, you’re tackling challenges like high maintenance costs and inefficient energy usage. You also scale your systems easily and offer a hassle-free experience for all your users — EV drivers, fleet managers, charging network operators, utility providers, and even software developers.

If you’re ready to build scalable IoT solutions for electric vehicle charging, contact WebbyLab. Count on our hands-on background with MyBox and 5+ years of experience in IoT development to help you with overcoming IoT challenges case studies.