May brought major progress in EV optimization and wallbox control. EV HEMS has been substantially rebuilt and is now live in production for eligible households. Podero has also launched its own OCPP wallbox integration, adding a second way to steer charging sessions alongside existing vehicle API integrations.
EV HEMS: a more robust solar self-consumption experience
EV HEMS is back in a significantly improved form and is now live in production for eligible households.
The goal remains the same: use surplus solar energy for EV charging instead of feeding that energy back into the grid. What changed in May is the system behind it. The EV HEMS flow was reworked to improve how charging decisions are made and how the system transitions between solar-driven charging and other charging modes.
A committed charge window helps reduce rapid start-stop behaviour when conditions change. The implementation also supports configurable tolerance thresholds that influence when HEMS starts and when it stops if grid import rises above the allowed level.
When both HEMS and spot-price optimization are enabled, HEMS runs first. Boost charging can also override the normal charging flow.
What’s coming next for EV HEMS:
– Power modulation for compatible wallboxes
– Support for additional home energy setups
– Standalone wallbox HEMS for compatible chargers without an integrated vehicle connection
OCPP wallbox integration: steering charging through the charger, not just the car
Podero has shipped its own OCPP Central System – the backend that EV chargers communicate with – and it is live in production.
This adds a second steering path for EV charging sessions: directly through the wallbox, alongside the existing vehicle API route. The two approaches complement each other. From the vehicle side, Podero can use information such as location and state of charge. From the wallbox side, it can issue charging commands such as start, stop, and charging-rate control.
The strategic value is broader interoperability through a single open protocol. EV manufacturer APIs vary significantly in reliability and capabilities, while OCPP provides a standard integration path for compatible chargers.
Every steering command sent through the OCPP control path is designed to fail open: if the control loop goes quiet, the charger returns to its default local behaviour rather than remaining stuck in a stale controlled state.
Utilities use Podero to steer EVs, heat pumps, and batteries, and trade their flexibility on the energy markets. If you’re exploring how to turn your device portfolio into a revenue stream, get in touch.
