New DC energy meter provides kWh-based charging experience for DC wallboxes

LEM will use PCIM 2023 to provide the global e-mobility market advance notice of its new DC energy meter for DC wallbox chargers of EVs. The DCBM 100 energy meter will be launched in the EU market in Q3 this year, offering compliance with the latest metrology regulations.

With the continued rapid growth of the e-mobility sector, the new DC energy meter is anticipated to be of special interest to manufacturers of EV chargers to allow kWh-based billing when charging in public or semi-public areas. To permit kWh-based billing of charging sessions, energy metering solutions must be incorporated into destination DC chargers, following calibration laws. kWh-based payment is increasingly demanded and enforced because it facilitates accessibility, fairness, and transparency of prices for all users throughout the charging process of EVs.

EVs have the option of being charged employing either AC or DC power. DC charging via a wallbox presents several advantages over AC charging because it overcomes the power limitation of the onboard charger used in AC charging. This results in shorter charging times and allows easier access to services like V2G.

With destination charging applications, where the charging time is commonly between one to two hours, an average charging power in DC in the range of 30kW is often adequate to recharge most EVs. To fulfil this demand, DC wallboxes are a vital component of the charging infrastructure and provide reasonable charging times at an acceptable cost for charging point operators.

With its powerful bi-directional energy metering enabling V2G, the DCBM 100 DC energy meter is developed to ensure full transparency and allow end-users to have trust in the fairness of their kWh-based charging experience. The future-ready solution has been developed particularly for 11kW to 30kW DC wallbox applications, supplying Class B accuracy and 1000V DC and 80A rating in temperatures from -40C to +80C. Charging cables can be directly connected to the new meter.

Also, the solution offers extra real-time data (voltage, current, power, temperature) that will be crucial to developing the predictive maintenance tools required to minimise EV charger downtime. As part of the company's larger family of direct current billing meters, the meter also ensures easy software integration and secure data handling by utilising the latest Open Charge Metering Format.

Florent Balboni, LEM Global product manager for energy metering solutions, says: "Rapid deployment of new products and technologies is crucial to meet the diverse demands of EV charging applications. Ensuring fairness and transparency for all users, kWh-based billing is essential for technology acceptance. DC meters must therefore be tailored to EV charging applications such as DC wallboxes which will play a significant role in charging infrastructure and the development of advanced V2G services."