The installation location of charging piles needs to be flexibly planned according to the usage scenario. Private charging piles are centered on convenience, and give priority to self-owned garages, underground parking spaces or community open-air parking spaces, so as to achieve "charging after get off work and traveling with full power". Charging during the off-peak hours at night is more cost-effective. If conditions are limited, rain shelters can be installed in outdoor parking spaces to ensure safe charging. Public charging piles need to fit areas with dense pedestrian and vehicle traffic, such as shopping malls and office parking lots, to meet the needs of charging during shopping and commuting; around public facilities such as hospitals, schools, and parks, they can serve daily travel groups; transportation hubs and scenic parking lots can alleviate the mileage anxiety of long-distance travelers; parking spaces on non-main roads can also be piloted to alleviate the dual pressure of urban parking and charging. Regardless of the scenario, safety regulations must be strictly followed, combined with power supply, traffic planning and urban aesthetic requirements to create an efficient and convenient charging network.

Many new energy vehicle owners have misunderstandings about charging, which accelerates battery loss and even poses safety hazards! Common misunderstandings include: ❌ Waiting until the battery is exhausted before charging (correct approach: charge when there is 10%-20% remaining); ❌ Insisting on charging to 100% (it is recommended to keep 20%-80% to protect the battery); ❌ Pull out the charging gun immediately after charging (it is easy to damage the equipment, so it is necessary to operate according to the specifications); ❌ Charge immediately after use (the battery needs to be cooled to 20-30℃ before charging); ❌ No preheating in winter (low temperature affects performance, so you need to drive smoothly to let the battery adapt). Scientific charging can extend battery life and improve safety. Car owners must avoid these "minefields" and let their cars accompany every journey efficiently!

Different regions have distinct payment platforms with unique features and advantages. In Europe, SEPA facilitates simplified interbank transfers, PayPal is widely used like in the US, Revolut offers bank accounts and international payment services, Klarna is famous for its "buy now, pay later" model, and iDEAL is popular in the Netherlands. In Southeast Asia, GrabPay is provided by a famous taxi application covering several countries, Gojek (GoPay) is widely used in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries, PayMaya supports online payment and digital wallet services in the Philippines, Alipay has a high usage rate in China and some Southeast Asian countries, and WeChat Pay has seen increased adoption due to the growing number of Chinese tourists in the region.

Drive Innovations and Maruikel held a productive video conference to explore collaboration in the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector, focusing on establishing a DC charging station in Dubai. Maruikel presented a comprehensive technical solution integrating energy storage and transformers, with their liquid-cooled charging piles aligning closely with Dubai’s market demands. Both parties reached consensus on market promotion strategies, with Drive Innovations requesting quotations and product details from Maruikel to facilitate outreach efforts. The discussion also extended to after-sales service frameworks and intelligent management systems, where Maruikel committed to providing accessories, technical support, and integration with local platforms. Additionally, the feasibility of solar energy as a supplementary power source was explored, though grid electricity remains the primary focus currently. The meeting solidified a strong foundation for future cooperation, promising ongoing dialogue to uncover innovative opportunities in EV charging infrastructure.

This article delves into the latest advancements in charging module technology, highlighting ten key innovations reshaping the industry. Key upgrades include enhanced protection standards, with IP65 becoming the new norm for dustproof, waterproof, and fog-resistant modules, extending service life from 3-5 to 8-10 years. Power granularity has expanded to ≥60kW, offering finer-grained power options. Electrical energy conversion efficiency has surpassed 97.5% through the adoption of SiC MOSFET power devices and optimized circuit topologies. A coexistence of multiple technologies, including traditional direct ventilation, independent air duct, and liquid cooling, optimizes total cost of ownership (TCO) across various charging scenarios. Integrated bidirectional charging and discharging technology achieves over 95% efficiency, supporting vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-load (V2L), and vehicle-to-home (V2H) interactions. Other advancements include high-protection small-DC solutions for destination charging, an ultra-wide voltage output range (150V-1500V) to accommodate diverse vehicle types, and modular reconfigurable parallel technology enabling megawatt-level fast charging. The "all in one" concept integrates optical-storage charging and discharging, promoting green energy utilization and reducing electricity costs. Finally, intelligent drive and full digital control, featuring AI and DSP integration, enhance module intelligence, enabling real-time monitoring, life prediction, and intelligent maintenance.

Belgian customers visited Maruikel's Shenzhen factory and spoke highly of the efficient charging technology, safety performance and innovative design.

In an era when electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, the profitability of 120kW fast charging piles as important infrastructure is affected by multiple factors such as construction costs, operating expenses and sources of income. It can be highly profitable when the site is reasonably selected and the operation is proper, otherwise the profitability will be impaired. Taking a medium-sized city as an example, if the construction cost is about 40,000 yuan, the daily charging volume is 500kWh, and the service fee is 0.3 yuan/kWh, the annual net profit is about 15,000 yuan, and the income from advertising and value-added services will be higher. The operating cost is relatively low, and individual or small-scale installations can basically pay back within one year, and the proceeds are pure profit after that.

High-Power Charging: Overview and Insights
High-power charging (HPC) represents a critical advancement in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, addressing key challenges like charging speed and efficiency. By delivering significantly higher power output—often exceeding 350kW—HPC slashes charging times, enabling electric heavy trucks to recharge 60% in 15 minutes and passenger EVs to reach 80% capacity in the same timeframe. This technology leverages liquid-cooling systems, 800V+ high-voltage architectures, and intelligent battery management systems (BMS) to optimize energy transfer while preventing overheating.

HPC's applications span public stations (e.g., highway service areas) and logistics, where rapid turnaround boosts operational efficiency. However, challenges persist, including thermal management (mitigated via liquid cooling), grid stability (due to power surges), and noise control. Emerging trends prioritize interoperability across vehicle brands, integration with renewable energy sources, and smart IoT-driven management for dynamic load balancing. As HPC becomes standardized, it is poised to alleviate "range anxiety," enhance grid resilience, and drive sustainable mobility globally.

The construction of charging stations needs to go through six core links: preliminary preparation → project filing → land review → planning approval → power application → acceptance and operation. In the early stage, it is necessary to select open venues such as urban main roads and transportation hubs, sign a cooperation agreement with the venue, and clarify the construction scale and budget. After completing the filing, the land legality must be verified by the land department, and the Planning Bureau confirms that there is no recent government planning conflict. The power application link is the most complicated, and detailed application materials must be submitted. After on-site investigation, design review, construction supervision and multiple rounds of acceptance by the power supply company, the power supply contract will be signed. During the acceptance stage, fire protection, signage and other tests must be passed, and a charging pile test report must be issued by a third-party agency. During the operation period, it is recommended to combine data analysis to optimize the strategy, and supporting facilities such as rest and dining, self-service car washes, etc. can be provided to enhance the user experience. Attention should be paid to policy differences in various places, and it is recommended to investigate local regulations in advance.

This paper discusses various ways to achieve profitability through energy storage systems, including peak-valley arbitrage, grid-connected new energy, expansion of distribution capacity, capacity management to reduce electricity costs, market-based demand-side response, and power trading. The article analyzes in detail how energy storage revenue is calculated, pointing out that the peak-valley electricity price difference and the dischargeable capacity during peak hours are the core variables that affect energy storage revenue. Taking a 200kWh small-scale commercial and industrial energy storage power station as an example, the paper estimates its construction cost and daily and annual revenues under a specific peak-valley electricity price difference, and predicts the payback period.

With the surge in sales of new energy vehicles and the explosion in demand for supercharging, the addition of supercharging equipment to traditional charging stations has had an impact on the power grid, and it is difficult to increase capacity and the cost is high. The low power factor, harmonics and other power quality problems of traditional charging stations have made charging stations equipped with storage the first choice. Energy storage charging stations integrate photovoltaic power generation, energy storage systems and electric vehicle charging piles, and have the advantages of multi-energy complementarity, energy saving and environmental protection, and peak shaving and valley filling. They can reduce operating costs through peak-valley electricity price arbitrage and participation in grid demand-side response, thereby maximizing economic and social benefits.

With the popularity of electric vehicles, the large-scale construction and transformation of charging stations has brought a heavy burden to the existing power grid. At the same time, the expansion of charging stations is burdensome, resulting in high investment costs, and there are uncertainties, such as low power, harmonics and other power quality problems that occur during traditional charging operations. Therefore, configuring energy storage systems in charging stations has become a preferred option.