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Intelligent Operations: Global Public High-Power Charging Networks



Author(s)

Anke Freitag¹ and Prashan De Silva²

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2142/2025.01.001

1. Shell Deutschland GmbH, Hasloh 22335, Germany
2. Shell International Petroleum Company Limited, London, SE1 7NA, United Kingdom

The global public HPC (high-power charging) network for EVs (electric vehicles) is rapidly expanding. This growth is crucial for supporting the increasing adoption of EVs but highlights the industry’s early stage. Regional maturity varies, with China leading due to strong government support, followed by Europe and the United States. A significant challenge is the lack of industry standards, causing inconsistencies in charger types and payment systems. Efforts are underway, to ensure interoperability and reliability. Interoperability is crucial for the success of EV HPC infrastructure, ensuring seamless integration among charge points, management systems, and service providers. Despite the use of protocols like the OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol), variations in implementation create complexities. Ensuring uniform standards across the ecosystem is essential for reliability and efficiency. Vendor-specific error codes, which are more detailed than standardized codes, are vital for diagnosing issues but lack standardization, adding complexity. Addressing these challenges is key to supporting widespread EV adoption and enhancing user experience. To provide a compelling driver value proposition, EV charging services must be reliable and seamless. The operations and maintenance of the HPC network must be cost-effective and leverage the intelligence of the integrated ecosystem. The technical complexity of managing high-power DC charging, combined with diverse authentication and payment systems, results in numerous potential issues. Moving from reactive to predictive maintenance is essential for undisrupted operations and a smooth driver experience. Shell’s Intelligent Operations Technology Strategy incorporates GenAI elements in its advanced analytics and operational performance management tools. By ingesting big data from multiple sources across the EV ecosystem, Shell engineers can perform detailed pattern recognition and targeted troubleshooting. Monitoring, configurable alerting, and remote fixing based on auto-healing and targeted auto-allocation enhance charger availability and reduce downtime. This automation has evolved Shell’s maintenance and operations strategy from reactive to predictive, improving overall charger performance and user satisfaction. Key achievements include transitioning to prescriptive and preventive asset management approaches, significantly improving uptime and charging experience, and increasing commercial value through cost reduction and enhanced revenue. Future challenges include evolving OCPP, integrating data from non-OCPP systems, and ensuring interoperability across diverse systems. Standardization and cross-collaboration within the industry are essential for smooth interoperability, higher uptime, and increased CSR (charging success rate). Technological innovations will further shape the industry, promoting stabilization and efficiency as it matures.

e-Mobility, charging ecosystem, intelligent operations, predictive maintenance, GenAI.

Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering 13 (2025) 1-16

doi: 10.17265/2328-2142/2025.01.001