Yes, you read that right: Public EV charging is far from perfect. A study conducted last year pinpointed connectivity as the main culprit behind charging stations failing to kick off a charge.
Unlike gas stations, charging networks don’t rake in much profit from selling electricity, so they’re extra vigilant about ensuring they can accurately bill customers for the energy they dispense.
But fret not because Xeal might just be the knight in shining armor for this dilemma. Launched in California back in 2019, Xeal specializes in installing level-two EV chargers primarily for multi-family apartment or condo complexes, university residence halls, and other mostly private spaces.
While their focus has traditionally been on private installations, they’re now eyeing retail environments, with The Grove in Los Angeles set to receive a cluster of public Xeal chargers.
Enter Apollo, Xeal’s groundbreaking distributed-ledger technology, introduced in 2021. Here’s the lowdown: When a user downloads the Xeal app and sets up their profile, they receive a cryptographic token on their smartphone. This token acts as the key to initiate and terminate charging sessions.
All the user needs to do is tap their phone to the charger, and voila! Charging begins. Once done, another tap ends the session. But here’s the kicker:
The charging data is stored in a distributed ledger on the phone and transmitted to Xeal the next time the device connects to the internet. This allows Xeal to bill the user accordingly without requiring constant internet connectivity at the charger itself.
While Xeal’s technology shares some similarities with blockchain, it operates on a more private and individual level. The chargers themselves don’t need WiFi or cellular connections; they simply communicate with the user’s phone via near-field communication, making them both reliable and cost-effective to operate.
Now, you might wonder if Xeal’s tech is limited to level-two charging. Not at all! While they’ve mainly catered to residential charging setups, there’s immense potential for Apollo to revolutionize DC fast charging as well.
With its ability to eliminate connectivity issues, Xeal’s technology could be a game-changer for the entire EV charging industry.
Also read: Jaguar’s Electric Evolution: Transitioning From Combustion To Clean Power
