Charging infrastructure Join forces

Source: according to documents from Advantech | Translated by AI 4 min Reading Time

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The Germany-based company Technagon has specialized in the development and production of charging stations for electric vehicles since 2009. The provider, awarded the Red Dot Design Awards 2023, combines technology with user-friendly design in its charging stations. Partnerships, for instance with Advantech, also contribute to this.

Shaping mobility and securing the future—this is what Technagon and partner Advantech are working on.(Image: freely licensed according to Pixabay)
Shaping mobility and securing the future—this is what Technagon and partner Advantech are working on.
(Image: freely licensed according to Pixabay)

Technagon aims to build its charging stations not only from high-quality materials but also to design them aesthetically appealing. The reason for this focus on quality and design is that many of the target customers wish to use charging stations in high-quality environments. To meet these requirements, there are enormous demands on the design and materials used. Simultaneously, Technagon expects its technology partners to develop solutions that meet the same high standards. Through collaboration between Advantech and Technagon, all technical challenges could be identified and resolved quickly, resulting in shorter development cycles and a faster market introduction of new products. At the same time, on-site warehouses solve supply chain issues, so that shorter delivery times help reduce production outages. This is a decisive competitive advantage in such a booming and fast-paced market as electromobility, which is why warehouses always maintain sufficient stock to remain deliverable even during times of high demand or unexpected shortages.

Technagon develops high-end charging solutions at a total of three locations in Bavaria.(Image: Technagon)
Technagon develops high-end charging solutions at a total of three locations in Bavaria.
(Image: Technagon)

A core element in Technagon's new charging solutions is the SMARC Computer-on-Module/COM ROM-5721 developed by Advantech. Advantech has development centers in Germany, and this proximity has enabled both companies to collaborate more effectively than if they were based in different countries. The advantages include a simpler design-in process of the modules into Technagon's infrastructure, while Advantech can provide direct on-site technical support when needed.

SMARC-COM ROM-5721 for charge controller

The SMARC-COM ROM-5721 is based on the energy-efficient i.MX-8M-Mini processor from NXP with up to four ARM Cortex-A53 cores. In addition, it features an ARM Cortex-M4 core, integrated LPDDR4 memory with up to 4 GB, and an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC). It also includes a 4-lane MIPI-CSI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface—Camera Serial Interface) as well as 2-channel LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signaling) or Display Port.

In addition, there are 4× USB 2.0, 1× USB 2.0 OTG, 4× UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter), 4× I2C, 12 GPIOs (General-Purpose Input/Output), a PCIe 2.0 high-speed interface, and a Gigabit LAN port. The energy-saving module supports OpenGL ES 2.0/1.1 through hardware accelerators as well as Linux and Android BSPs (Board Support Package).

A core element in Technagon's new charging solutions is the SMARC Computer-on-Module/COM ROM-5721 developed by Advantech.(Image: Advantech)
A core element in Technagon's new charging solutions is the SMARC Computer-on-Module/COM ROM-5721 developed by Advantech.
(Image: Advantech)

The ROM-5721 is designed for robust performance with AI/ML features (artificial intelligence and machine learning) as well as multimedia processing. It is suitable for IoT, automation, and edge computing applications. With its small form factor and low power consumption, it is specifically intended for use in space-constrained and energy-efficient designs.

The module was selected as a key component of Technagon's charging controller after careful evaluation. In line with the requirements in the field of electromobility, a solution was sought that is reliable, powerful, and flexible. Because the SMARC module supports numerous interfaces and communication protocols, it facilitates integration into different systems. This versatility is crucial for the charging station provider, as their charging stations are used in a variety of environments.

Security is also crucial here. The module enables the precise control of a charging station and ensures that all safety and performance requirements are met. Together with the software and hardware for the charging controller developed by Technagon, the module meets all relevant safety standards and provides the protection mechanisms essential for the safe operation of charging stations. These include user safety, protection against electrical overload, as well as data integrity and security.

The collaboration with Advantech enables Technagon to integrate IoT technology into its charging stations and offer new services to end users: IoT connectivity optimizes the operation of the charging stations. By utilizing Advantech's existing infrastructure, Technagon's charging stations can now be integrated into a comprehensive fleet management system. This allows the status and performance of each charging station to be monitored and managed in real-time. By analyzing the collected data, optimization potentials are identified, and the efficiency of the entire charging system increases.

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Predictive maintenance

Equally promising is predictive maintenance. Through continuous monitoring of charging stations and analysis of operational data, potential issues can be identified and resolved early before they lead to failures. This increases the availability and reliability of charging stations while simultaneously minimizing maintenance costs.

Collaboration as the key

Cooperations such as the one between Technagon and Advantech make a significant contribution to further developing the urgently needed infrastructure for electric vehicles. Both companies are convinced that through their collaboration, they are setting new standards in the EV charging station market by offering solutions that are functional, technically advanced, and visually appealing. This also gives Technagon the opportunity to expand its offerings in this area with additional hardware components like screens and the development of new software. This improves the operation and management of EV charging stations. (se)