Siemens introduces Sicharge D — a smart EV charger that scales according to needs

By CARSIFU | 20 June 2021


SINGAPORE: Siemens has launched Sicharge D, a new public fast charging and high-powered compact electric vehicle charger, in the Asia Pacific region.

The Sicharge D boasts one of the highest peak efficiencies on the market. It has scalable charging power and dynamic power sharing and is designed for highway and urban charging stations, city parking as well as shopping malls.

The sleek and compact Sicharge D has a scalable charging power from 160kW up to 300kW, either from the start or through plug-and-play upgrades.

The charger supports voltages between 150 and 1,000 volts (V) and currents of up to 1,000 amperes (A) across all DC outlets.

This enables full power loads for future vehicles as well as the lower voltage charging rates demanded by today’s mainstream vehicles. Additionally, Sicharge D can be configured with either a CCS2 (Combined Charging System) or a CHAdeMO connector cable with varying capacities of up to 400A or a 500A liquid-cooled system.

With a constant efficiency of above 95.5 percent and a peak efficiency of 96 percent, the new Sicharge D ensures that almost all the generated electricity reaches the car to be charged.

The charger allows an easy upgrade of charging power to meet future technological developments: Even if the charging capacities of most electric vehicles are still limited today, they will be able to accept higher charging power in the future and demand higher voltage ranges.

With Sicharge D, charging service providers and electric vehicle users will be able to time their investments according to market demands as the option to expand the charger with up to two external dispensers to charge up to five cars in parallel will be possible in the future. The standard configuration will have two DC and one AC outlet housed in a compact design to optimise parking spaces.



The new charger combines all these features with dynamic parallel charging. That means, it accounts for the individual power demand of each connected car and automatically adapts the charging process to the electric vehicle's battery technology and charging status. This optimizes charging time as the connected cars get the maximum power they need without any additional manual intervention.

In response to StarCarSifu queries, Siemens said a number of potential Malaysian customers have expressed interest in Sicharge D, and that it intends to roll out the chargers in late 2021. It said it would begin installations in Singapore by September.

According to Siemens, the installation costs vary and depend on site condition,  number of chargers required, distance from the power source/switch room and cabling length.

It said an installation could vary from one unit to as many as 50 for a charging depot.
Siddhant.
Siddhant.

To ensure maximum uptime and highest availability of the charger, digital connected services is included in individual service contracts with customers. These services range from preventive and corrective maintenance, remote firmware updates, spare parts, support, and consulting as well as training.

“Public fast charging networks are an essential factor in driving a sustainable future in eMobility in Asia Pacific," said Siddhant Gupta, Head of Future Grid for Siemens in Asia Pacific.

"By ensuring that charging is as effortless and as fast as people need it to be, we’re making electric vehicles a viable option for more people. In addition, the Sicharge D’s upgradeable and scalable fast charging technologies allows e-charging service providers and electric vehicle users to expand their investments step by step.”

The smart charger was the winner of the iF DESIGN Award 2021 in the categories of User Interface (UI) and Service Design. For an improved user experience, an integrated 24-inch adjustable display allows Sicharge D to be operated and opens new opportunities for customers to use this flexible screen for tasks beyond interfacing with the charging process such as digital menu boards, information kiosks or outdoor advertising.

 

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