Schneider Electric announced three eMobility products on 3 April 2024 at its annual Innovation Summit: EVlink Pro DC, a fast charger for commercial and industrial buildings; Schneider Charge, a smart charging station for homes; and EcoStruxure for eMobility EV Advisor, a charging management platform1. The company said the products are intended to improve the reliability, speed and convenience of charging in homes, workplaces and on the move1.
EVlink Pro DC is scalable from 120kW to 180kW and uses dynamic power allocation, which balances the energy delivered to each vehicle according to need and reduces power loss across charging stations1. Schneider Electric states that the 180kW unit enables vehicles to reach 80% charge in 20 minutes, a figure it notes is dependent on battery size and vehicle specifications1. The unit is to be available throughout Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa, APAC and East Asia, by the end of the year1.
Schneider Charge is the domestic product. It can be operated remotely through the Wiser mobile app or other EV charging apps, allowing users to schedule, monitor and adapt charging times and to charge when electricity rates are lower under dynamic tariffs1. It also includes an anti-trip system that the company says allows charging without overloading or disrupting the power supply1. It is to be made available throughout Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia, by the end of the year1. No UK price or launch date for Schneider Charge appears in the announcement1.
EV Advisor is a software-as-a-service offer giving charge station operators real-time monitoring, analytics and remote management, covering performance, energy consumption and operational efficiency1. It is available in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with plans for further expansion1. Schneider Electric also announced the expansion of its North America partner Qmerit, which provides distributed workforce management for EV charging, into European markets, connecting customers with a network of professional installers1.
"Schneider Charge increases convenience for EV owners even further, bringing the full potential of EV charging to the home."
The announcement cites figures on charging behaviour: more than 60% of consumers globally cite concerns over charging infrastructure as a significant barrier to EV uptake, nearly 90% of EV charging is expected to take place in buildings, and only just over half (51%) of EV owners worldwide have a charger at home1.
| Product | Type | Availability stated |
|---|---|---|
| EVlink Pro DC | Commercial and industrial fast charging, 120kW to 180kW | Europe, Middle East, Africa, APAC, East Asia by end of year1 |
| Schneider Charge | Home smart charging station | Europe, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Asia by end of year1 |
| EV Advisor | Charging management software | UK, Ireland, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria1 |
Why it matters for households
The domestic element of the announcement is Schneider Charge, which adds another option in the home charging market. Its stated features address two practical points for a household: scheduling charging around cheaper rates, which affects running costs, and an anti-trip system intended to prevent charging from overloading the existing supply. The company's own figure that only just over half of EV owners worldwide have a charger at home indicates how many drivers currently depend on public charging, where VAT treatment differs from charging at home1. The commercial fast chargers and the management software concern public and fleet infrastructure rather than the home, though their stated aim of reducing station downtime bears on the reliability drivers encounter away from home. No pricing, warranty terms or UK specification for Schneider Charge has been reported.
What happens next
EVlink Pro DC and Schneider Charge are both stated for availability by the end of the year in the regions listed1. EV Advisor is already available in the UK and six other European countries, with further expansion planned1. No dates beyond the end of year have been given for the Qmerit expansion into Europe1.