Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is a technology that enables electric vehicles (EVs) to not only consume energy but also to send excess energy back to the electricity grid when they are not in use. V2G systems facilitate bidirectional energy flow between the vehicle's battery and the electricity grid, allowing EV owners to earn money from the surplus energy generated by their vehicle.

With V2G systems, electric vehicles can act as distributed energy storage systems, with their batteries providing a source of energy during peak demand periods, such as hot summer afternoons when air conditioning usage is high. V2G technology also enables EV owners to use their vehicle's battery as a backup power source during power outages or other emergencies.

V2G systems have the potential to offer many benefits, including increasing grid reliability, reducing the need for additional grid infrastructure, and lowering overall electricity costs for consumers. V2G technology is still in the early stages of development, but many automakers and utility companies are investing in research and development to make it more accessible and practical for everyday use.

In general, there are several ways to pay for charging at a charging station, including:

1. Charging card or app: Many charging station operators offer their own charging card or app with which you can pay for charging. You link this charging card or app to your bank account number and use it to pay.

2. Credit card: Some charging stations accept credit card payments. You enter your credit card details at the charging station and are then charged for charging.

3. SMS payment: Payment by SMS is possible at some charging stations. You send a message with the charging station numbers and the number of kWh you want to charge and then receive a confirmation and invoice by SMS.

4. Payment via QR codes: It is possible to pay via a QR code (direct payment) at all charging stations that we install. This way you can always charge, even if you do not have a charging card or credit card available.

5. No payment: There are also charging stations that are free, for example at supermarkets or parking garages. Please note any parking costs.

A RFID reader at a charging station is a device that utilizes RFID technology to verify the identity of a user before granting access to the charging session.

To initiate the charging session, the user presents an RFID card (charging card) or key fob (charging tag) to the sensor, which reads the information on the card and verifies it with the security data in the system. If the information matches, the charging session is initiated, and the user can charge their vehicle.

This type of security helps prevent unauthorized access to the charging station and ensures that only authorized users have access to the charging sessions and associated costs.

A Charge Point Operator (CPO) is a company that operates and maintains charging stations for electric vehicles. The goal of a CPO is to ensure that charging electric vehicles is easy, reliable, and safe for users, and to make the benefits of electric driving accessible to more people.

The capacity tariff is a new electricity tariff structure introduced in Belgium in 2023. The current tariff is based on electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The capacity tariff, on the other hand, takes into account the maximum electricity demand of a household.

Under the capacity tariff, a household pays a fixed amount for the quantity of electricity it can consume. This amount is determined by the electrical charging capacity of the house and the size of the fuse. Households with higher capacity pay more than households with lower capacity. Therefore, it's about how much electricity is consumed simultaneously at maximum, rather than how much is consumed annually.

The idea behind the capacity tariff is to relieve the electricity grid and encourage households to use their energy more efficiently. This creates more room on the grid and allows the network to better utilize renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy.

In practice, this means that households need to consider reducing their peak demand. This is the case, for example, when multiple devices are on simultaneously, such as cooking with an induction cooktop and using other electrical appliances. At that moment, a relatively large amount of electricity is requested, and the capacity limit may be exceeded. A penalty must then be paid in proportion to how long the threshold is exceeded.

Therefore, the capacity tariff is a way to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. In the long term, it can also ensure a better distribution of energy and that the network is suitable for future challenges.

We are a brand-independent installation partner and can ALWAYS install the brand of your choice.

If you have absolutely no idea which brand suits your needs, don't worry, we listen to your story and are happy to advise you in your search for the charging solution that fits YOUR needs.

So, it may be that we suggest a different brand to install at your employees' homes than the charging stations in your company parking lot.

We also have experience installing fast chargers in company parking lots and commercial sites, and here too, the proposed charging solution depends on the charging needs of our customers.

Some A-brands we install: Alfen, Smappee, Etrel, Wallbox, Blitzpower, Easee, Evonity, Hypercharger.

DC leakage current detection of 6 mA in a charging station means that the charging station is capable of detecting and preventing an electric leakage current of at least 6 mA.
This is an important feature for user safety and ensures that no unwanted electric current leaks from the wallbox or charging station.
When a leakage current is detected, the charging station will automatically shut down to prevent further risks.

When this feature is integrated into the charging station, it automatically reduces installation costs because it is already present in the charging station and does not need to be separately provided in the fuse box.

The charging speed of a charger is indicated in kW.

A public or home charging station typically has a power output of 11 or 22 kW in alternating current (AC). If it can deliver at least 43 kW (direct) current, we refer to it as a fast charger, and its capacity can even go up to 375 kW.

However, please note that the car must be capable of handling this high charging power.

Semipublic charging stations are charging stations that are accessible to the public but are not located in public spaces. For example, they may be situated in the parking lot of a supermarket. In other words, these semipublic charging stations may not be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TAX SUPPORT FOR CHARGING STATIONS

For companies:

If your charging infrastructure is freely accessible to third parties and is powered by "green energy", then as a company you are entitled to an increased cost deduction. Until March 31, 2023, the installation of charging points is 200% deductible for companies.* After that, the deduction percentage drops to 150% (until August 31, 2024).

Which costs are eligible?
All costs of installation, assembly, connection to energy sources and cabling, ... up to the costs of studies and expertise. The costs related to the purchase and installation of an electrical cabin(s) required for the operation of the charging stations are also eligible.

Tax relief for private individuals:

• 45% for those who invest in the period from September 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023;
• 30% for those who invest in the period from April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023;
• 15% for those who invest in the period from January 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024.

The amount is limited to €1,750 per charging station and per taxpayer.

From January 1, 2023, this limitation will be increased to €8,000 per charging station and per taxpayer when it comes to the installation of a bidirectional charging station.

*if certain conditions are met. We are happy to advise you in detail about these support measures for the installation of charging stations.

It prevents power outages and overloading of the electrical network in the first place.  

The module will continuously measure the consumption in the building and compare it with the total available power. The remaining power will be directed to the charging stations.

The big advantage of this? The module ensures that the combined consumption of the charging station and the building does not exceed the maximum capacity. This avoids high peaks and thus adapts to the capacity tariff, which has been applicable since 01/2023.

Charging station customized to your budget and charging needs

We cannot give a fixed price for a charging station "like this". Too many factors play a role for that. We would be happy to visit you to develop a customized proposal for your company.

Our wallboxes are fully connected to the electricity installation via a load balancing module. Using this technology, they take other (large) consumers in the building into account and adjust the charging capacity. For example, household appliances are given priority.
Such an intelligent charging installation ensures that you do not unnecessarily charge at too high a power.
With the introduction of the capacity rate from January 1, 2023, it will become a must to charge “smartly” and thus smooth out the peaks in your power consumption.

But don't worry, we ONLY install smart charging stations and are happy to give you some tips after the installation to optimize the use of the charging station. This way you consume less, which is good for your wallet.

This is a charging station that can charge the electric vehicle and also divert excess electricity from the electric vehicle to the charging station for use in other purposes.

Starting from January 1st, 2023, there is a tax reduction for individuals up to €8,000 per charging station and per taxpayer.

Be sure to ask us about these possibilities!

When charging their EV, many people wonder about the power they charge in their car. Does all the power that comes from the charging station end up properly in the battery or is power still lost?

We are happy to explain!

Our power network consists of alternating current (AC), while the current we store in our battery must be direct current (DC). To make the power suitable for your EV's battery, it must undergo a true transformation. We call this transformation 'reshaping'

EV drivers with solar panels may already be familiar with this term, because most solar power systems also involve an inverter. Such a solar panel inverter changes the direct current (DC) generated on the roof into alternating current (AC) suitable for the power network. The inverters developed for charging EVs work exactly the other way around. They convert the alternating current (AC) from the power network into direct current (DC), which can be stored in the battery of the EV.

With a DC charger, this conversion process takes place in the charging station, so that the current supplied by the charging station is suitable for charging directly into the battery. With an AC charger, this conversion process takes place in an inverter built into the car. This is also the reason why charging with an AC charger takes longer: after all, the current must first undergo a transformation before it can be stored in the battery.

This transformation process sounds complicated and if you think about it, it is. The stream is really undergoing quite a metamorphosis! It is therefore not surprising that 10 to 20 percent of the charged current must be used for the conversion process to be successful. The current that does not reach the battery is therefore used, among other things, to drive the inverter, but also to heat or cool the battery during the charging session. This is to ensure that it deteriorates less quickly. The so-called 'lost' power does indeed benefit you and your EV, but is just less visible.

Now you know exactly where that extra power goes!