The general public charging business is transferring in the direction of per-kilowatt-hour (versus time-based) billing, and producers will more and more be required to include licensed DC meters into their charging stations.

To satisfy this want, electrical measurement specialist LEM has launched the DCBM, a UL-listed bidirectional DC meter for quick EV chargers.

The DCBM “will allow makers of EV charging stations to speed up their certification for DC metering necessities following Licensed Check and Analysis Skilled/Nationwide Sort Analysis Program (CTEP/NTEP) certification,” says LEM. “The DCBM will simplify the method of the producers having to qualify their very own charging stations for UL certification and, for additional peace of thoughts, will bear a contemporary audit each quarter.”

The brand new meter is able to monitoring present, voltage, temperature and power utilization, and has been designed with knowledge safety and suppleness in thoughts. The DCBM 400/600 complies with the requirements UL 61010 and UL 810 within the FTRZ class for EV purposes. To attain this certification, the meter needed to cross strengthened insulation assessments, temperature testing of all its elements and sub-assemblies, testing for defense towards electrical shock, sturdiness of markings assessments, tools temperature restrict assessments and resistance to warmth/hearth threat assessments.

The DCBM is designed for DC chargers from 25 kW to 400 kW, and integrates the signed billing knowledge units based on the Open Cost Metering Format (OCMF) protocol. It may be retrofitted to current charging stations, and has a moveable measuring component to be used with any kind of charging station structure. It’s correct in temperatures of -40° to 185 °F, and has an IP20-rated casing.

Different options embody Ethernet assist and bidirectional power metering, which makes it suitable with V2G (vehicle-to-grid) and V2X (vehicle-to-everything) purposes.

“The US and Canadian markets for EVs are regularly increasing however this development may very well be held again by inadequate entry to fast DC charging stations,” mentioned Claude Champion, Normal Supervisor at LEM USA. “LEM understands precisely what the sector wants and has labored intently with EVCS producers and installers when creating options just like the DCBM 400/600.”

Supply: LEM USA