Cisco Systems and ECOtality are partnering to make electric cars part of a home energy-management system.
ECOtality’s Blink Network charger interface will now be accessible through the Cisco Home Energy Controller (HEC), where Blink EV Home Charging Station owners can access information about their EVs and optimize their charging and energy usage.
Cisco’s HEMS technology will be deployed as part of The EV Project, the largest rollout of EV infrastructure to date, of which ECOtality is the project manager.
The Cisco Home Energy Controller (HEC) helps residential customers monitor and control their energy use in the home. An optional set of Cisco compatible, tested peripherals can be wirelessly connected to the HEC in order to provide monitoring and control of energy loads such as HVAC systems, pool pumps, water heaters, appliances, and other devices. The Cisco HEC can be easily controlled from an intuitive touch-screen display. From this controller, Blink Home Charging Station owners will now be able to control and monitor their EV charging.
The Blink Home Charging Station is classified as a Level 2 (240 volt AC input) charging station. The smart charger is equipped with intelligent cost-saving features that allow consumers to easily charge their EVs safely and securely. The Blink Home Charging Station is equipped with an easy-to-use 7-inch touch screen display where users can control the Blink Network charger interface. With the Cisco HEC, consumers will be able to access the charger interface remotely.
The Blink Network charger interface is the hub where users can receive information about their EV and Blink Home Charging Station including charge status, statistics and history. The Blink interface will also determine which charging times are most cost-effective and promote responsible power consumption. The charger can be programmed to start and stop at any time. Where supported, the charging station’s built-in energy meter will support energy usage data evaluation to further aid with the power management of the charging station, and the user’s home.
