What Is a Solid-State Drive (SSD)?

 A solid-state drive (SSD) is a new generation of storage device used in computers. SSDs use flash-based memory, which is much faster than a traditional mechanical hard disk. Upgrading to an SSD is one of the best ways to speed up your computer. Learn how SSDs work and how to keep them optimized with a specialized performance-boosting tool.

What is a Solid-state Battery?

A lithium-ion battery is composed of cathode, anode, separator and electrolyte. A lithium-ion battery applied at smartphones, power tools and EVs uses liquid electrolyte solution. On the other hand, a solid-state battery uses solid electrolyte, not liquid.  

 

    

 

[ Structure of Li-ion battery(left) and solid-state battery(right) ]

    

If you look at the image above, the Li-ion battery, which is commercially used, has a separator that keeps cathode and anode apart, with liquid electrolyte solution. On the other hand, the solid-state battery uses solid electrolyte, not liquid electrolyte solution, and the solid electrolyte plays a role of a separator as well. 

    

What users most worry about a lithium-ion battery is safety. The current Li-ion battery has a risk of battery damage such as swelling caused by temperature change or leakage caused by external force since it uses liquid electrolyte solution. Therefore, we need devices or components that can improve safety. 

    

However, a solid-state battery with solid electrolyte shows improved stability with a solid structure, and increased safety since it maintains the form even if the electrolyte is damaged. 

    

    

Reasons to develop a solid-state battery

   

Then, why do we need a solid-state battery? It is to increase capacity of EV batteries.  

   

Market research companies expect that EVs will replace ICEVs(internal combustion engine vehicles), and become the mainstream in the auto industry. And to become the unarguable leader in the industry, EV should have the similar level of mileage as the current ICEV, and it is important to increase the battery capacity of an EV battery to do so.  

   

There are two ways to increase capacity. First is increasing the number of batteries. But in this case, the battery price goes up and batteries take up so much space in the vehicle. 

  

A solid-state battery has higher energy density than a Li-ion battery that uses liquid electrolyte solution. It doesn’t have a risk of explosion or fire, so there is no need to have components for safety, thus saving more space. Then we have more space to put more active materials which increase battery capacity in the battery. 

   

A solid-state battery can increase energy density per unit area since only a small number of batteries are needed. For that reason, a solid-state battery is perfect to make an EV battery system of module and pack, which needs high capacity. 

[A downsized solid-state battery(right) with the same capacity as the Li-ion battery(left)]

 

  

Market trend of a solid-state battery 

  

Samsung SDI is currently working on developing the solid-state battery. We are also jointly developing the battery with other institutes such as Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Samsung R&D Institute Japan and others.  

    

Samsung SDI has been presenting mid-to-long term solid-state battery technologies at the motor show or battery exhibitions since 2013. And we are currently at the element technology development phase for commercialization. We also said in the second quarter 2020 earnings conference call that "we have seen the possibility of developing a high-energy density and high-safety battery by combining tested materials technology and our new materials such as solid electrolyte."

  

In March, the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology showed the research result of a solid-state battery that can be charged/discharged over 1,000 times with 800km of mileage on a single charge. The study about the technology that increases life cycle and safety, and reduces the size of a solid-state battery in half was published in the ‘Nature Energy’, a global scientific journal. 

   

We must develop the solid-state battery to make the EV that goes farther and runs safely. There may be many obstacles ahead since we are at the early stage of development, but Samsung SDI will do our best to develop the ‘super-gap’ technology.

(Sources - https://www.samsungsdi.com/column/technology/detail/56462.html?listType=gallery)

EV Charging Management Software - Intelligent and Smart Charging System

 1. Tridens EV Charge

Manage an unlimited number of charging stations with remote commands and smart energy load balancing via a web browser or mobile app with ease and efficiency. Monitor your entire charging network, sessions and troubleshoot problems with Realtime Data Dashboard and Google maps. Tridens EV Drive software supports hardware flexibility through OCPP. Find and keep track of your customers via an intuitive user interface that support monetary and non-monetary balances of services and Billing and account receivable (AR) history. Manage upsell and cross-sell services, set notificaiton treshold and write off items. Manage charging session and various payment options, issue submission with Tridens EV Drive mobile app that supports local language and local currency.

2. SmartCharge Rewards

With just a few steps you can earn rewards for charging in a way that is better for the environment. Confirm your eligibility in a regional SmartCharge Rewards program and receive a free connected car device. Create a SmartCharge Rewards account and either install your connected car device or connect your vehicle’s on-board telematics system. Charge your EV during your program’s “off-peak” hours and do your part to reduce carbon emissions. Follow your program guidelines to receive monthly rewards! Log into your account to track EV driving efficiency, greenhouse gas savings, battery health and how much you have earned.

3. eDRV

Launch your charging network in 24 hours! Use eDRV's white-labeled starter apps for EV drivers. Administer your network via eDRV admin dashboard, and deploy from a wide range of pre-tested equipment for AC and DC charging. Manage the business addresses and charging stations on your network. Set charging station available for public or private use. Get real-time visibility into the financial performance of your network. View ongoing transactions and track revenue growth. Manage the users accessing your network to identify your top customers. Offer customized discounts and promotions, as well as drive usage growth. Set charging rates based on kWh usage, time charged, or by charging session. Add flexibility via complex rate for time-of-use plans or for overstaying customers. With webhooks and Zapier integrations, the possibilities of customization are limitless. Build the functionality you need and make eDRV 

4. vCharM

With the growing number of electric vehicles (EV) and charge points, the available power for charging sessions must be coordinated in an intelligent way. Once a charging station has been connected to vCharM, each charge point can be conveniently configured, monitored and controlled. Our scalable feature-based software can be tailored depending on your application while staying completely independent from charging station manufacturers by supporting all current OCPP versions. Manage the infrastructure for your EV fleets and ensure that your electric buses, pool cars or other vehicles are always up and running on time. Avoid costly load peaks and connection expansion: With vCharM, you can easily set up and manage charging infrastructure for customers, guests and employees. Manage the charging infrastructure for multiple customers with one reliable system to ensure an up-to-date OCPP implementation and the high availability of your charging stations.

5. AMPECO

Launch, scale, and optimize your EV charging business with AMPECO’s white-label and hardware agnostic EV charging platform, while-label EV-driver apps, and personalized service to help your business grow. Getting your charging network off the ground is a complex process. Let us take care of the hard parts. From setting up your network to branding your app, to processing payments, we’re here to help every step of the way. All our end-users services are white labelled, allowing you to wow your clients with a branded and customized experience designed to meet their needs. When it comes to getting started in the EV charging market, timing is everything. With the AMPECO EV Charging platform onboarding and API integrations, you’ll save months of planning. Our expert knowledge and custom-made solutions can get your business launched in as little as 2-4 weeks.

6. EVBox

EVBox charging management software lets you track, manage, and optimize electric vehicle charging and earn additional revenue. From accessing advanced insights via our Business Portal to managing charging on-the-go via our EVBox Charge app, going electric has never been easier. Manage an unlimited number of charging stations, transactions, and users from a single interface with ease and efficiency. Monitor your entire charging network conveniently via a web browser or start and stop charging sessions in the palm of your hand with the EVBox Charge app. Automate the invoicing and reimbursement of charging costs with multiple stakeholders and generate hassle-free income by setting fees for your charging station users. You can also publish your charging stations online to ensure all EV drivers can find your stations easily on EV charging maps. Monitor, optimize, and report on all aspects of your fleet and EV infrastructure from our new, easy-to-use business portal.

7. ChargeLab

Through software, we bring the industry's most flexible EV infrastructure solutions. Manage any OCPP charger, charge any electric car, and accept every major payment method. We help buildings pick the right hardware, install their chargers, and maintain an EV charging operation of any size. ChargeLab supports 30+ OCPP chargers from over a dozen manufacturers. On average, we integrate a new charger every 2 weeks. We release hundreds of features and improvements each year to help you stay ahead of the rapidly evolving EV industry. ChargeLab's roadmap ranges from optimizing autonomous EV fleets to enabling vehicle-to-grid marketplaces. EV charging doesn't have to be complicated. ChargeLab is your end-to-end EV infrastructure solution.

8. GreenFlux

The GreenFlux platform supports customers every step of the way as they scale their charging business. With our software, they can manage all their charging operations in one place, while leveraging advanced features like smart charging and roaming. CPOs and EMSPs on our platform enjoy maximum flexibility in the design of their network, as all OCPP-compliant chargers can be connected. Customers from the automotive and energy industries use our portal and white-label app to build their brand and offer a personalized driver experience.

9. OpConnect

OpConnect has an open-standards, cloud-based software platform that manages, monetizes and leverages EV charging stations so that they can provide the maximum benefit on the electric grid and low costs to EV drivers. Our platform is designed to manage a variety of chargers made by a number of hardware providers, giving electric utilities and other enterprise charging operators a single source for their charging station management needs. Our vision is an EV charging ecosystem where utilities are in direct control of the energy delivery to the EVs, own the relationship with the ratepayer through utility branded web portals and mobile apps and do not have charging networks between them and their customers. The platform includes maps with real-time status, a reservation system, revenue management, and a service ticketing system. The platform also provides application interfaces that allow utilities to integrate EV charging into their own web portals or mobile apps.

10. ETREL

OCEAN is a scalable EV charging management solution that supports fast business growth while covering numerous business cases. Our vision is to fully support a growing array of e-mobility business models, connected to EV charging in all stages of growth; from a few charges on a single location to a cross-border EV charging network. OCEAN was built with the power grid in mind; therefore, it offers a perfect base for the smart grid infrastructure. Power management and demand response can be easily integrated into e-mobility business models. OCEAN is open for connection on all levels, from charging station integrations to Roaming. Managing a diverse portfolio of charging stations in multiple locations as well as staff management and advertising platform. Comfortable and safe charging on the go with an option to manage a home charger from a single app. Reducing the burden of EV charging on the power grid can be achieved by demand-response enabling features.

11. EvGateway

We offer solutions for business owners to operate on our secure EV Charging Network. EvGateway Electric Vehicle Central Intelligence (EVCI) monitors the health of the charging station equipment, activates and terminates charging events, initiates pay-as-you-go transactions and collects usage data from charging stations. Department stores and retailers like Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Kohls etc. have been increasingly investing in EV charging stations due to the fact that the benefits of the same are worth more than the cost of installation. Customers are more likely to spend more time navigating or shopping the stores and buying something while their cars are charging than when they have no charging options. For convenience stores that have gas stations, electric vehicle chargers could add considerable time to a customer’s experience. Moreover, the presence of EV chargers showcases a green brand image and gives the stores more goodwill and profits.

12. ChargePoint

With the broadest and deepest feature set in the industry, ChargePoint® cloud plans make it simple for EV charging station owners to operate and customize charging stations to meet their specific requirements. No matter what your business, there’s a cloud plan that will make your charging solution deployment successful. Set the price that drivers pay to use charging stations based on energy cost, duration, time of use, session length or driver group. Funds collected from drivers are electronically transferred to a designated bank account. Advanced access controls manage which drivers can access stations and when. Power Management software reduces station installation costs, lowers ongoing electricity costs and lets you charge more vehicles. More than 35 charts and analytics, available with a click, summarize important trends for planning and management reporting. Integration with fleet fuel cards, telematics and asset management systems simplifies EV charging for fleets.

13. EV-Solve

A truly open and interoperable EV charging management platform. Connect, monetize, and control charging stations on any OCPP-compliant station purchased anywhere. Adopt an open management platform that provides flexibility and expandability. We highly encourage you when seeking a quote from any EV Charging provider, to ask them about your obligation and freedom with the software. As more and more companies are developing software solutions for EV Charging it is important to protect your charging system with the freedom to use any network with your charging system. You want to always make sure get the most cost-effective option and not be restricted to only using one network. Our aim as your service provider is to deliver a service you are happy with and stay competitive in a rapidly moving market, in return we hope to get your business, but we will always give you the option to use any network you wish.

14. Fortum

Our electric vehicle charging network is operated on a cloud-based SaaS platform and can be licensed for commercial use worldwide. The Fortum Charge & Drive platform already handles hundreds of thousands of charging sessions per month, from thousands of connected chargers. We offer our software, white-label consumer apps, and a personal commitment to help grow your charging business. The most advanced EV charging business solution on the market. Our purpose is to drive the change for a cleaner world. We are securing a fast and reliable transition to a carbon-neutral economy by providing customers and societies with clean energy and sustainable solutions. Create & edit user profiles, add & remove payment methods, add prepaid balance to end-user accounts, charging history, and deactivate user accounts. Change configuration settings, energy consumption per charger, transactions per charger, multiple pricing alternatives.

15.SWARCO

SWARCO has many years of experience in the field of modern traffic management and helps cities & communities around the world to make their transport systems more efficient, reduce emissions and improve the overall quality of life for citizens. Modern traffic management is not limited to the improvement of traffic flow and traffic safety but takes a holistic view of mobility. With the increasing use of digital technologies and real-time traffic data analysis, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift. Since the beginning of traffic management almost 300 years ago, two main problems have always had to be overcome, congestion and road safety. They remain to be an issue to this day. Modern traffic management solutions monitor and control different types of traffic using digital technology. Traffic management systems are not only intended to increase traffic flow and safety, but also to solve other problems such as air pollution, noise, environmental impact, etc.

16. ev.energy

Smart charging your electric vehicle with ev.energy is the easy way to lower carbon and save money off your home energy bill. Set your ready by time; we'll communicate with your car and take care of the rest. Save money and CO2 by automatically charging when greener, cheaper energy is more readily available. Keep track of the cost, energy and carbon of your charging sessions, at home and away. We'll manage your charging and automatically charge your vehicle during your energy supplier's off-peak period. Rest easy! Our platform communicates with your EV battery to make sure your car is ready to go when you need it. Our app provides visibility on the cost, energy and carbon impact of your charging sessions, at home and on the go. Use our app to complete smart charges of at least 10kWh each, earn reward points and use them to redeem rewards. Connect your home solar power for a greener, cheaper charge.

17. Synop

The Synop platform works across all commercial EV types. From helping with the transition to electrification, to tracking sustainability, to maximizing productivity, to even enabling Vehicle-to-Grid functionality with utilities, our tools and services are designed to put your EV business operations on autopilot. Managing every trip & every vehicle just got easier. Whether it is monitoring vehicles, depots, scheduling, or charging stations, the Synop platform provides both the data and the insights needed to improve your productivity. Through telematics integrations with leading OEMs & third party devices, the platform is loaded with functionality designed around operationalizing your EV operations, from reporting, and sustainability, to route planning. Interoperability across all major charging hardware providers enables our charging data tools and services to help monitor your depots & chargers in real-time, optimizing your site utilization, scheduling, and V2G services.

18. Driivz

We enable our customers to accelerate market leadership by growing their charging infrastructure and delivering an exceptional charging experience, while optimizing operations, reducing TCO, speeding time-to-market and maximizing revenues. Ensure EV charging operation excellence, reduce total cost of ownership and monetize your chargers with innovative energy management tools. Connect with EV charging networks, manage drivers, create bespoke billing packages and offer a branded portal and app for end-users. Integrate your charging operation and e-mobility digital services with the Driivz end-to-end EV charging management solution, for a robust and interconnected network. Balance demand throughout the day, overcome local grid capacity and integrate batteries and renewables.

19. EV Connect

Comprehensive EV charging management software to manage access, pricing, and performance of your charging stations. Our Network solution is ideal for multi-unit dwellings, workplaces, municipalities, education, retail, hotels, and hospitals. Enjoy the benefits of best-in-class EV charging software that powers networks from startups to some of the largest in the world. Our White Label solution is ideal for charge point operators who want scalable, branded solutions with maximum station reliability and visibility. Ensure your EV charging project is deployed by experts who have deployed over 7,000 stations. Our Project Management Team makes the process simple and cost-effective whether you are looking for a full turnkey solution or facilitation with your own installation.

20. Last Mile Solutions

Our EV charging & energy management platform gives you the most complete operating system there is to run your smart charging business. It’s intelligent, cloud-based and offers a full suite of billing and payment options, advanced station management tooling, smart charging solutions and bespoke reporting services.

Our platform packages are continuously evolving. They’re also cloud-based and built on open protocols like OCPP and OCPI, which means you’ll always have access to the latest features and solutions. When your business needs to adapt, whether it’s offering your customers V2G charging, multi-currency support or renewable load balancing, we’ve got you covered.

21. Samin TekMindz

TekMindz has developed an electrical vehicle charging (a Green IT domain) management platform for EVSE in US. It facilitates not only site hosts (where EVs are hosted) but also network providers (usually electricity providers) to manage their end to end needs including real time reports.

The EV Platform provides integrated solution with renewable energy sources (e.g. PV with Battery Storage) using which we are able to reduce “Demand Charge” of a site significantly by managing peak/off-peak energy consumption from grid. This not only result into cost saving to site hosts but also helps utility providers in avoiding expensive infrastructure scale up , which otherwise will be required to manage increasing peaks energy demand.

The IPR of the solution we develop for our customers belongs to them. We deliver the source code, mockups, design to them.

22. Shell Recharge Solutions

End-to-end electric vehicle charging station network management, EV charging optimization and grid integration platform.

EV Network Management: Delivering real-time visibility into the status of all your charging stations, flexible retail pricing to set charging rates and advanced analytics for future planning and maintenance strategies.

EV Charging Optimization: Site optimization of charging can reduce energy costs by setting pricing to incentivize charging during specified periods, automatically adjusting the rate and speed of charging and prioritizing charging load based on available power supply.

Grid Integration Services: Our software transforms EV charging assets into a flexible grid resource enabling: Seamless integration with utility sponsored Demand Response programs, aggregation and control EV load for enhanced grid reliability and leverage local power sources such as solar or energy storage.