Exicom Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

AC: Alternating current (AC) is an electrical current that periodically reverses direction. This means the flow of electrons constantly changes direction, typically oscillating in a sinusoidal pattern.
AC Charging : Charging an EV using alternating current, common for Level 1 and Level 2 home chargers.
AC Grid: This is a connection from the grid for power supply.
AC2DC and DC2DC Rectifier: Transforms AC to DC and ensures that DC current going to the batteries and charging stations is of the right Voltage/Amperage. Each rectifier is connected to one or more battery systems.
Auxiliary Systems: Systems used for control and safety of the container and associated electrical components.

B

Battery Management System (BMS): A system that manages the batteries in the storage unit, monitoring their health and charge.
Battery System: A set of batteries assembled is called a module, and multiple modules connected together is called a rack. These racks stacked together with management and control systems are housed in a box, which is called a battery system.
BESS (Battery Energy Storage System): A system that stores electrical energy in batteries, often combining renewable sources like solar or wind with the grid, to provide stable, on-demand power for EV charging and grid support.
Bi-Directional (BIDI): BIDI is the module responsible for the two-way flow of electricity—receiving electricity from the grid and supplying excess energy back when needed. .
BBEC (Battery-Boosted EV Charger): An EV charging system enhanced with integrated battery storage to deliver fast, reliable charging while reducing grid strain and enabling better energy management.

c

Capex: Capex is an acronym for capital expenditure. It refers to a company's long-term investments in fixed assets (like property, plants, and equipment) to facilitate future growth and operations.
CATL Shenxing Battery : A next-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery developed by CATL, capable of ultra-fast charging at 12C rates and delivering up to 1.3 MW peak power.
Charge Point Operator (CPO): An entity that operates and manages EV charging stations.
Charging Dispenser: The charging dispenser is the unit with the cable that directly plugs into the EV. for control and safety of the container and associatedelectrical components.
Charging Point : The physical outlet or interface where an electric vehicle is plugged in to receive electricity.
Charging Speed (kW): The rate at which energy is delivered to an EV battery; Harmony Direct 2.0 supports up to 240kW for rapid charging.
Charging Profile: A set of predefined rules and parameters (power limits, time windows, priorities) that govern how an EV charger delivers power to a vehicle. Modern chargers can support multiple profiles running concurrently.

D

DC: Direct current (DC) is an electrical current that flows in one constant direction.
DC Fast Charging: High-speed charging using direct current, enabling rapid EV battery replenishment.
DLM (Dynamic Load Management): Technology that balances charging power among multiple EVs to avoid exceeding electrical limits.
Dynamic Load Sharing (DLS): A smart power management feature that dynamically allocates available charging power between connectors or vehicles.
Dynamic Charging : Charging an EV while it is in motion, such as via electrified roads embedded with charging infrastructure.
Distributed Charging System: A network of geographically dispersed EV charging stations connected via cloud platforms and standardized protocols, enabling coordinated management and seamless scalability.

E

EMS (Energy Management System): Software that manages energy sources and storage for optimal performance and cost savings.
EV (Electric Vehicle): A vehicle powered by one or more electric motors, usingenergy stored in rechargeable batteries.

G

Gateway (IoT gateway): A network of powerlines and equipment that delivers electricity from power plants to consumers.
Grid/Power Grid: A network of powerlines and equipment that delivers electricity from power plants to consumers.

H

Harmony Connect RMS: Exicom’s remote monitoring and management platform for diagnostics, troubleshooting, and interface control.

I

Ingress Protection (IP): A rating system that measures how well an enclosure protects against dust, liquids, and other objects.
Inductive (wireless) charging : Charging EVs without cables, using electromagnetic fields through coils embedded in driveways or parking spots.
Intelligent Power Switch Matrix: Supplies electricity to charging stations based on their requirements.
Interoperability: The ability of different EVs and chargers to work seamlessly together.
IP54 / IK10 Enclosure: Weatherproof and vandal-resistant housing standards for reliable outdoor operation.
ISO 15118: International standard for secure communication between EV and charger, enabling Plug & Charge and V2G.
Intelligent Load Management (ILM): A dynamic system that allocates available electrical power among multiple EVs charging simultaneously, optimizing grid usage and preventing overloads.

K

kWh: A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy representing the use of 1,000 watts over one hour.

L

Level 1 Charger: Basic EV charger operating at 120–240V, typically ≤3.7 kW, suitable for overnight charging.
Level 2 Charger: More powerful charger operating at 240V, delivering 3.3 kW to 22 kW for faster charging.
LFP Battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate) : A type of lithium-ion battery chemistry known for safety, longevity, and thermal stability, used in CATL’s Shenxing battery.
Load Balancing Grid (LBG): Ensures that electricity generation meets demand and prevents outages.
Load Control Grid (LCG): This is a key component, which uses intelligent technologies tomonitor and control electricity consumption.

M

Maximum Power Point Tracking Voltage (MPPT) System: This system/controllerensures that the solar panel operates at its peak efficiency regardless ofchanging
Megawatt Charging : Ultra-fast DC charging technology delivering charging power of 1 megawatt (MW) or more, significantly reducing charging times.

O

OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol): Open standard for charger-management system communication.
OCPP 1.6J (Open Charge Point Protocol): Ensures interoperability and backend integration between chargers and management systems.
Opex: Operating expenses—costs a business incurs to run daily operations.

P

PCS (Power Conversion System): Converts electricity between AC and DC to match battery and grid needs.
Predictive Charging : Using AI/ML algorithms to schedule EV charging at optimal times to reduce costs and grid load.
Public Charging Infrastructure : Networks of publicly accessible charging stations and points that allow EV users to recharge their vehicles outside the home.
Predictive Maintenance: Using AI or sensors to anticipate and prevent equipment failures.
PV Modules: Solar panels that convert energy from the sun to power the battery system.
Photovoltaic (PV) Cells: Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Q

Quality of Service: A holistic measure of user experience at a chargingstation, including reliability, availability, ease of payment, clearinstructions, and customer support.

R

Renewable Energy: Energy from naturally replenished sources like solar, wind, and geothermal.
Reliability (of EV Charger): The percentage of successful charging sessions outof total attempts, reflecting the charger’s ability to deliver energy whenevera user initiates a session.
Remote Monitoring System (RMS): A technology platform that provides real-timediagnostics, predictive maintenance alerts, and usage analytics for EV chargers.

S

Smart EV Charger App: Mobile application that allows users to monitor and control charging remotely.
Scalability: The ability of EV charging infrastructure to expand, adapt, and upgrade efficiently as demand grows or technology evolves.

T

Thermal Management System (TMS): Controls battery temperature to maintain safe and efficient operation.

U

User Interface: A platform for CPOs or users to view data and interact with the system.
Ultra-fast charging : High-power DC charging that can replenish an EV battery to 80% in under 20 minutes.
Uptime: The percentage of time a charger is powered on,connected to the network, and ‘ready to charge’, regardless of whether chargingsessions are successful.
Utilization Rate: The percentage of time a charger is actively used(delivering a charge) out of total available time.

V

Vehicle to Grid (V2G): Technology that allows EVs to send electricity back to the power grid.
Vehicle to Home (V2H): Using an EV’s battery to power a home during peak demand or outages.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) : Sharing energy between EVs directly.
Volt (V): Unit measuring electrical potential difference or the pressure that drives electric current.

W

Wireless Charging : Technology allowing EVs to charge without physical cables, typically through electromagnetic induction from charging pads or embedded roadways.