Battery storage systems and electric vehicle (EV) charging units are increasingly being integrated into today’s infrastructure — and for good reason. It’s expected that 25% of all new passenger car registrations will be electric this year, exceeding 17 million units in sales globally.
EV charging stations require several engineered hardware access panels on charging kiosks and power substations to protect valuable electronics from theft, vandalism, and outdoor weather conditions.
A rise in EV charging stations are being installed in several public locations, including parking lots and garages. Renewable wind and solar power systems are also driving the growth of industrial-sized grid battery storage systems to capture excess energy and make it available during off-hours.
EV charging locations with multiple charging kiosks will have a separate substation that connects the chargers to the grid and helps manage power flow. These units contain a significant amount of valuable power electronics and digital control hardware. They’re housed and protected with hardened enclosures similar to the ones used by telecommunications and electric utility companies.
These enclosures have multiple access panels for technician servicing and maintenance activities. The combination of public location and valuable electronics creates a critical need to fully secure these systems against theft, vandalism, and the elements.
To secure charging enclosures, industrial designers can take advantage of new developments in multi-point, rotary, cam, and draw latches. In addition, a range of modular electronic latching and electronic access systems (EAS) can be used to remotely monitor and manage technician access, further improving the security and protection these vital new industry platforms require.
Securing EV charging station systems
EV charging kiosks and substations may have one or more access panels to allow fast, safe access to the enclosed equipment for maintenance and upgrades.
The high-voltage electrical equipment within these units (particularly the substations) poses major risks of injury (or worse) to thieves or vandals. To protect against this risk, enclosure designers need to secure access points with latches engineered to prevent break-ins.
New multi-point and rotary latch models offered by major access hardware manufacturers combine flush mounting and smaller dimensions with highly secure latching. They provide a secure and reliable latching option. Rotary latches are designed to be hidden, with no obvious latch point that can attract unwanted attention. Additionally, they provide the right level of compression to keep out rain, ice and snow. Multi-point latching systems also offer a flush option with a high strength compression force for outdoor applications.
Electronic locks are frequently used in publicly accessible telecommunications and electric utility enclosures, systems similar to energy storage systems. These locks replace mechanical keys with numeric code entry panels, electronic key fobs and proximity sensors that automatically lock or unlock an access panel when an authorized technician approaches.
There is a range of electronic access solutions (EAS) and electronic rotary locks that provide a high level of security for charging station access panels.
EAS platforms provide the most reliable way to secure these enclosures. Most EAS systems have three components: an access control or input device (typically, a Bluetooth reader), an electromechanical lock and a management system that monitors and controls virtual access keys.
Technicians who need to open the EV substation will have a smartphone app and use it to supply a virtual credential to unlock the panel and service the equipment. All these activities — providing the specific digital key and tracking its use — can be monitored and managed remotely via cloud-based platforms.
Access solutions for grid storage platforms
The security and access requirements for grid storage systems have similarities and differences when compared with EV charging platforms. Generally speaking, grid storage systems are larger than the EV charging substations — about the size of half a shipping container.
In many cases, these units are grouped together in securely controlled areas, so the risk of theft and vandalism, while present, is not as significant. However, battery enclosures need to be much sturdier and meet stringent fire safety and explosion protection regulations due to the sheer amount of power contained within.
Grid storage enclosures feature multiple access points and panels. They must be hardened against outside weather conditions, so the access panels need to securely and reliably latch when closed. In addition, some access panels are quite large to accommodate battery component installation and replacing.
Mechanical compression latches created specifically for outdoor applications provide an effective solution for such enclosures. Engineered to seal out dust, water and other contaminants, compression latches are easy to install and operate. To meet this need, some manufacturers offer adjustable compression options that can compensate for variations in access panel thickness and gasket set.
Multi-point latching systems offer these same benefits for larger access panels. A single handle actuates multiple latch points along large doors; so instead of requiring a technician to secure two or three latches before leaving, one actuator secures the whole panel. Multi-point latching systems can be combined with EAS and electronic locks for even more security.
Securing EV charging and grid battery systems can help operators expand the use of these game-changing technologies and contribute to efforts to combat climate change. Leading suppliers of access control technologies can help industrial designers ensure that they have the most secure and effective technologies to meet current and future needs.
Filed Under: Charging, FAQs