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Bristlecone Offices –
EV Charging Case Study
EV Charging Case Study
Epic Charging restored Bristlecone’s off-grid EV charging after the Enel X exit, delivering an open, future-proof solution without a costly rip-and-replace
Introduction
Concerns about climate change and the environment have not only driven a steady increase in EV sales, but also a demand for more renewable, off-grid charging sources such as wind and solar. According to IDTechX, an independent researcher of emerging technologies, the global off-grid charging market will hit $16.6 billion by 2034, benefitting from a compound annual growth rate of 47.1% over the preceding decade. Positive environmental benefits combined with improved financial viability is the prime impetus for the increase. Off-grid renewable charging has been shown to reduce CO2 emissions to less than one-tenth that of gas-powered vehicles, while payback periods for site hosts have dropped to under 10 years with an average internal rate of return of almost 5%.
Background
The Bristlecone Building, a shared office facility in Tahoe City, California, was an early pioneer of off-grid EV charging. They had installed two JuiceBox EV chargers powered by Beam Global’s EV ARC, a versatile, solar-powered energy infrastructure product that bills itself as “the only 100% renewable, transportable, off-grid EV charging option on the market.” EV ARC tracks the sun to efficiently capture and store all its own electricity, delivering it directly to the chargers, and requires no construction or utility costs. The network provider Bristlecone originally used for infrastructure operation and power management was Enel X Way, which employed a proprietary, closed-protocol software system that precluded switching providers without a total hardware replacement.
Challenges
In October of 2024, Italy-based Enel Group, parent company of Enel X, announced it was terminating all North American operations (including networking support) with just nine days’ notice. The result was hundreds of customers being left with inoperable EV charging hardware. In Bristlecone’s case, the JuiceBoxes stopped communicating with their power source, EV ARC, making charging impossible, and Beam Global could not offer a solution. This stark lesson in the limitations of closed-protocol software left Bristlecone with a less-than-palatable choice: engage in a costly, time-consuming rip-and-replace to restore functionality between the chargers and EV ARC or cease offering this environmentally-friendly amenity altogether, resulting in a loss of investment.
Solution
We helped migrate more than 3,000 Juicebox EV chargers in the wake of the Enel exit by creating a protocol translator that simplified the process of transitioning to a new OCPP-compliant charge point management system (CPMS). The focus on a technically superior, scalable software system with dedicated customer support – one that prevented vendor lock-in while increasing customer control – quickly gained us a following among disgruntled former Enel X customers, including Bristlecone. The Epic Charging team was able to provide Bristlecone with two new Autel AC chargers while also developing a unique custom adapter that ensured compatibility with EV ARC, thereby re-enabling operation of the charging station without requiring a full rip-and-replace or elimination of their off-grid charging source.
Impact
The ability to respond quickly to Bristlecone’s dilemma with a novel, cost-friendly solution, especially when others could not, further cemented our status as an innovator in the world EV charging infrastructure and support. Bristlecone was able to continue offering solar-powered charging without interruption to a community that prizes environmental stewardship while simultaneously protecting its investment. Bristlecone’s Managing Director, Mark Spohr, was more than pleased with the results, acknowledging the superiority of the Epic platform over its predecessor. “When the JuiceBoxes attached to my Beam Solar PV charging station lost support, I was happy to find Epic Charging,” said Spohr. “They provided me with state-of-the-art charging stations and also very capable software for managing the stations. I've been impressed that people using the stations have had absolutely no problems activating charging. I also appreciate the detail and control that the Epic software provides.”
Key Highlights
- InnovationWe were able to create a wholly unique, customized solution when others could not.
- SpeedWe were able to solve the customer’s issue quickly to limit service interruption.
- FlexibilityWe were able to work with the property’s existing infrastructure.
- ProfitabilityOur solution resulted in enormous cost savings by helping the customer avoid a major retrofit.
- Future-ProofingOur OCPP-compliant firmware will allow the customer to grow and adapt seamlessly as EV charging technology improves.
- SustainabilityOur solution kept intact the charging station’s 100% renewable energy source.
Conclusion
Existing EV charging infrastructure will need to scale and adapt as renewable, off-grid energy sources become more prevalent over the next decade. Customers will continue to seek out innovators who can ensure operability from power source to plug regardless of hardware manufacturer or source type, all while safeguarding their original investment. We fully understand these needs, which is why we provide thoughtful, cost-effective solutions that eschew unnecessary infrastructure replacement and avoid waste by keeping usable hardware out of landfills. As a result, our customers are able to ensure a cleaner, greener future while maximizing operational control and profitability.
Contact us today for more information on how we can provide innovative EV charging solutions for your property.
Contact us today for more information on how we can provide innovative EV charging solutions for your property.
