Reference design adds Wi-Fi capability to electric vehicle charging stations

Texas Instruments have introduced a reference design that adds Wi-Fi connectivity to an electric vehicle (EV) charging station. This design is claimed to be an industry first. EV owners will now be able to remotely monitor and control the charging of their vehicles from just about anywhere with Wi-Fi, presenting dozens of potential use cases from home automation to checking the availability of nearby public charge points. Battery technology advancements and government regulations have resulted in a growing number of new electric vehicles around the world. But EV makers still need more charging stations to make it easier for drivers to charge their vehicles. The new reference design uses the company’s SimpleLink Wi-Fi wireless MCU technology that allows design engineers to create stations that intelligently charge at non-peak times or detect and communicate when a charging station is available. One barrier to widespread EV charging station adoption is the amount of time it takes to charge a vehicle. The reference design supports Level 1 charging, which is compatible with household outlets, as well as Level 2 EV charging, which helps vehicle owners tap into higher current (15A to 30A and higher) connections available in commercial office buildings. Level 2 chargers typically take up to eight hours to fully charge the vehicle if the owner wants to plug it in while at work.