A US-based electric vehicle (EV) charging station manufacturer reduced its development timeline by approximately 50% after adopting a System on Module (SoM) platform from Variscite.
This case study highlights how a modular, pin-compatible SoM architecture, combined with ISO 27001-certified information security processes, long-term product availability commitments, and configurable hardware options, can help electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) providers accelerate development while mitigating supply chain risk.
The EVSE developer initially pursued a chip-down board design for its second-generation charging station but encountered component availability constraints during global silicon shortages. At the same time, the new design required industrial temperature operation from -40° to +85° C, support for Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, secure boot and over-the-air (OTA) update capability, and cost optimization for residential deployment.
Transitioning to a ready-to-integrate SoM platform enabled access to available computing hardware while maintaining required performance and security specifications.
Using Variscite’s VAR-SOM-6UL module, based on NXP’s i.MX 6UL processor, the manufacturer implemented two charger configurations: a commercial version with Ethernet connectivity for office parking installations and a residential version with Wi-Fi support. Both variants share a common carrier board and software framework, requiring only minor hardware adjustments. This approach reduced redesign effort and supported scalable production across multiple deployment scenarios.
The selected SoM is part of Variscite’s pin-compatible SoM family, allowing future migration to alternate modules without modifying the base hardware design.
This provides a pathway for lifecycle extension or performance upgrades as EV charging infrastructure requirements evolve.
“Variscite SoMs are designed to power critical EV charging infrastructure at scale, providing a rugged, cost-effective platform that gets developers to market faster,” said Ofer Austerlitz, VP of Business Development and Sales at Variscite.
“The EVSE market doesn’t allow for compromise,” he added. “Solutions have to handle extreme temperatures, deliver reliable connectivity, support edge AI, and still hit cost targets. Our SoMs are designed to handle that combination.”
The case study demonstrates how modular embedded computing platforms can support faster development cycles, secure update capability, and long-term supply continuity in EV charging infrastructure systems.
Filed Under: Technology News