How to Make EV Charging Operations and Maintenance Easy

For electric vehicle (EV) charging owners and operators, management of EV charging stations is a key aspect. For many stakeholders that manage EV charging for fleets, business, government or other uses, running the day-to-day operations and management of EV charging can be very challenging, for a wide variety of reasons.

Managing EV charging is a complex endeavor, influenced by a combination of technical, logistical, and user-centric challenges. One significant issue is the inconsistency of charger standards, with different connector systems like CCS, CHAdeMO, and Tesla’s NACS standard making universal access difficult.

Infrastructure reliability also poses a challenge, as non-functional chargers lead to user dissatisfaction and deter EV adoption. High rates of charging station malfunctions are common, due to poor maintenance, software issues, and hardware failures.

A study from Harvard Business School highlighted that U.S. EV charging stations have an average reliability score of 78%. Furthermore, many EV network providers overstate their reported uptime. While they often claim an uptime of 84.6%, a ChargerHelp analysis found that the actual uptime is closer to 73.7%.

To mitigate this, several high-level measures are essential to address EV charging infrastructure reliability. These include ensuring interoperability across diverse systems, enabling seamless communication through standardized protocols, and developing and implementing industry-wide standards. Additionally, deploying dedicated technologies and services to support operation and maintenance activities is critical for sustained performance. Such an approach helps create a cohesive ecosystem that supports proactive monitoring, efficient fault resolution, and enhanced overall reliability.

EV charging stations are advanced systems that require specialized knowledge to repair and maintain. From hardware components like connectors and cables to software systems managing power flow and billing, these chargers need highly skilled and specially trained technicians capable of addressing both mechanical and digital issues. Unfortunately, qualified repair technicians can be hard to find.

User experience is another critical aspect, particularly in billing and payments. Drivers often encounter cumbersome or unreliable payment systems, which can be resolved through streamlined options such as contactless payments, mobile apps, and transparent pricing. Moreover, maintaining and repairing a widespread network of chargers is logistically challenging, but centralized management software and modular charger designs can simplify these efforts.

Ultimately, delivering a smooth and intuitive experience for EV drivers requires thoughtful design, real-time notifications, and accessible customer support.

All of these factors make managing EV charging very challenging. Luckily, a comprehensive solution is now available.

ReliON: Comprehensive O&M Platform for EV Charging Infrastructure

ReliON delivers the first comprehensive end-to-end Operation & Maintenance (O&M) platform for EV charging infrastructure. It offers complete visibility and control over a network’s operational status and issue resolution, optimizing uptime and reducing operational complexity. The platform features proactive charger monitoring, diagnostics, issue management workflows, and equipment lifecycle management, ensuring efficient and streamlined operations. Seamlessly integrating with the supply chain, it facilitates efficient field interventions and parts logistics, delivering a cohesive experience from problem detection to resolution.

ReliON’s agnostic platform is compatible with all charger types and applications, providing unparalleled flexibility and scalability for any charging network.

A Holistic Approach to Reliability

ReliON believes improving EV charging infrastructure reliability requires more than software features and AI. Its approach to an ‘end-to-end solution’ ensures that issues are fully resolved, leaving no gaps. Built on a foundation of high-tech innovation, strategic partnerships, subject matter expertise, and user-centered design, ReliON addresses the complex challenges of EV charging infrastructure.

Tailored Solutions for Diverse Stakeholders

The platform caters to charge point operators, fleet managers, OEMs, and service providers, helping optimize uptime and performance. With its dual approach—offering both SaaS and managed O&M services—ReliON meets the needs of customers with internal technical teams as well as those requiring full-service support.

Platform Features

Visibility & Control: ReliON provides a comprehensive view of a charging network’s operational status with real-time updates on issue management. Information is prioritized based on each stakeholder’s role, ensuring focus on critical business matters.

In-Depth Monitoring: The platform monitors charging stations and components, ensuring hardware readiness. A charger health score summarizes system status, while granular data tools support deep-dive diagnostics to identify risks and failures in real-time.

Effective Resolution: Charger owners, operators, manufacturers, and service technicians can collaborate seamlessly on incident resolution. End-to-end workflows enable automatic detection, reporting, and dispatching, ensuring timely and efficient resolutions.

Field interventions

For customers opting to use ReliON’s managed O&M services, the company offers fast and efficient field interventions when you need them the most. By partnering with a network of workforce and logistics suppliers, the company ensures efficient truck rolls and seamless parts availability across Canada and the US. If a charge point operator already has preferred partners or service providers, ReliON is committed to working with them to optimize existing operations and ensure the highest possible uptime.

Contact the Friendly Team

Not convinced yet or looking for a quick conversation with one of the team? Schedule an appointment with ReliON at your convenience. Simply choose the time that works best for you, and the friendly ReliON team will be ready to assist you.

EVinfo.net Recommends ReliON

EVinfo.net is a thought-leading EV industry publication delivering information and news about electric vehicles (EVs) to encourage EV adoption. We recommend ReliON’s managed EV charging services, filling an important need for the industry.