Takaoka Toko and Ubiden Release "WeCharge HUB"-To Solve the Problem of Electric Vehicle Charging Billing

Controlling the charging outlet with the backbone

First, I will quote the press release from Takaoka Toko regarding "WeCharge HUB".

WeCharge HUB is a network controller equipped with a wide variety of energy measurement functions, made by Toko Takaoka. A type of charging authentication billing controller. WeCharge HUB can solve various charging management and charging billing issues in parking lots where EV charging facilities are installed by linking remote switches and various sensors.

Those who can read and fully understand it are at the level of experts in electric vehicles and power equipment. I couldn't understand it well, so I called Takaoka Toko and Ubiden and they taught me various things. Based on the system diagram attached to the release, I will explain it in an easy-to-understand manner.

Mechanism of “WeCharge HUB”

First of all, WeCharge HUB is not a "charger". It is mainly a "solution" for controlling the power supplied to electric vehicle charging outlets, chargers with cables, etc.

Takaoka Toko's "Eco.Web5" introduced in the release is a "compact controller that implements a wide variety of energy measurement functions". .

This product can be used as a controller for "WeCharge HUB" by setting it to "Ubiden's WeCharge electric vehicle charging service and cloud collaboration".

Ubiden's IoT control called "WeCharge" can solve various problems that were difficult with conventional devices.

Features of “WeCharge HUB” Up to 8 outlets and EV chargers can be used per WeCharge HUB (controller). ●Realizes remote control of outlets and EV chargers, charging management, and authentication billing. ●The number of vehicles that can be charged simultaneously is controlled in consideration of the amount of power available for EV charging. ● Charging starts by reading the QR code with a smartphone (WeCharge app). ●The charging power supply can be set to be energized only at the time of authentication. ● Reasonable authentication and billing are possible with the “WeCharge” mechanism.

Achieving reasonable billing for housing complexes and lodging facilities

Ubiden Co., Ltd. was the first in 2011 with SoftBank Corp.'s in-house entrepreneurship system "SoftBank InnoVenture". It is a venture company that was born as a result of winning the Established in April 2019. We started the pre-service in August 2020 and aimed to start this service, but in collaboration with Takaoka Toko, we will finally start the full-scale service.

When I checked the official website of "WeCharge" again, a "price plan" was announced for the launch of this service. Charging facilities that have installed "WeCharge HUB" basically perform authentication and billing using this system. In other words, the user will use it at this rate.

In the case of the "Basic" plan, which is charged as you go, the monthly basic charge is free, and the charging fee is "55 yen / 1 kWh equivalent". There is an annotation that ``WeCharge charging service's `` kWh equivalent '' is different from `` kWh '' that actually measures the amount of power using a meter at the outlet or charger, but it is highly convincing for users. , we have introduced de facto pay-as-you-go billing (we are currently confirming with Yubiden whether we can call it that).

In the case of guest charging on the eMP network, the usage fee for each normal charging is "8 yen / minute", so if the output is 3 kWh, the charging time for 1 kWh is 20 minutes. You can charge the battery for about /3. Just to be sure, 160 yen for 20 minutes is just a "guest" fee. The charge for using a normal charger linked to the eMP network with a charging card from each car manufacturer is "free ~ 2.5 yen/minute", so even if it is 2.5 yen/minute, it will be 50 yen for 20 minutes (equivalent to 1 kWh). .

Installation cost is being confirmed

What is the price of WeCharge HUB? I tried to contact both companies, but the official catalog is still being created and has not been announced yet (Takatake Toko). In the first place, even if the price of the controller is fixed, in order to introduce WeCharge HUB as a solution, it is necessary to install outlets and chargers, and construction work according to the contracted electric capacity depending on the situation of the facility. In general, it can be said that it is not a service with the nature of “how much is the list price”.

We have continued to ask Ubiden, "If you know the cost of introduction as a guideline, please let us know."

● Click here for inquiries about WeCharge.

By the way, Ubiden also sells green power certificates derived from Miyako Island's solar power generation. So it is possible to use 100% renewable energy for the charging facilities of WeCharge HUB.

Anyway, the emergence of a service with charge management functions such as power consumption (demand) control, which is probably more affordable than the conventional "normal charger with authentication billing function" in a wide range of facilities, is the spread of electric vehicles in Japan. Good news for I would like to interview and report again on how Ubiden is trying to expand WeCharge.