Understanding Network Speed Needs for EV Manufacturers and Charging Facilities

­Every manufacturer and charging facility want to optimize its environment for all users. In today’s digital world, this means providing the best WiFi network possible. While everyone agrees this is a priority, several misconceptions abound when it comes to accurately determining the network speed needed by each facility. Today, I will address these misconceptions and provide tips to help anyone accurately measure their network speed needs 3.5.

Common Misconceptions

Misconception One: All Facilities Have the Same Speed Requirements

Network speed requirements vary significantly depending on the type of facility. For example, is this a charging center outside a public building? Or an EV manufacturing facility or an EV service center? Does the network need to support one or two point of sale (POS) systems to collect payment, or does it need to support simultaneous software updates to multiple vehicles?

If the former, i.e. only charging center, optimal network speeds can be much lower. If the latter, more robust speeds will be required. Individual charging stations, that only service one car at a time, typically only need 5-10 kbps. Manufacturing facilities and/or service centers can expect to need 50-100 Mbps, depending on how many cars may be upgrading software concurrently

Misconception Two: Upgrading to the latest WiFi standards (WiFi 6 or 7) will Better Performance

Often people believe that upgrading the network infrastructure to the latest WiFi standards will offer the best overall performance. . One needs to carefully consider what benefits the newer standards bring, and more importantly under what circumstances. And last but not the least, do the EVs also support the newest WiFi technologies or not. In order to benefit from the newer standards, both the WiFi infrastructure as well as the client devices need to support it.  Higher speeds aren’t always necessary as mentioned above. Sometimes much lower speeds are more than adequate, providing an optimal user experience whilst saving a facility money. Investing in top speeds, when they aren’t needed, will lead to unnecessary costs without additional benefits.

As a reminder the primary focus for WiFi 6 has been “high-density” deployments, examples of which include stadiums and alike. WiFi 7 on the other hand focusses on reliability via maintaining multiple connections to the Access Point. Most EV charging stations, service centers may need to wait until WiFi7 gains widespread adoption within the cars.

The truth is these speeds are maximum theoretical speeds not intended for real-world use. Most of today’s devices aren’t even capable of reaching these speeds. This is fine because optimal performance doesn’t require them. Instead, we have evolved our WiFi standards to offer these speeds so that the higher speeds can be shared amongst the many devices found in our increasingly congested networks.

The WiFi is a shared medium. Each device accesses the airwaves, transfers its data request, and then gets off to allow another device to take a turn. If each device can communicate faster, it makes room for other devices sooner. No individual device will use the theoretical maximum speeds (for example 9.6 Gbps) on its own, but that speed shared amongst 1000 devices does improve performance.

Misconception Three: Network Speed is the Sole Determinant of Network Efficiency

When bad performance strikes, poor network speed is almost always the first to be blamed. It might not be the culprit though. It’s important to remember that network speed is only one part of overall infrastructure. Other elements, such as hardware, software, bandwidth, utilization, and non-WiFi factors like Bluetooth devices, all play significant roles in determining network performance.

Focusing solely on network speed without considering every aspect of a WiFi network can lead to implementing fixes that won’t truly resolve your problems.

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Cost-Saving, Accurate Measurement Tips

Now that we’ve broken down three of the most common network speed misconceptions, it’s time for the second part of this discussion: usable tips to help facilities understand their specific speed requirements.

1. Adopt a Network Analytics Solution

Every manufacturing facility and charging center has unique network needs - and these needs will fluctuate over time. The only way to ensure consistent, reliable, and optimal network speeds is with 24/7 analysis of the entire network ecosystem.

By proactively analyzing network behavior, IT professionals have the ability to monitor both real-time utilization and identify trends over time. If there are any issues affecting network speed, they can be identified before end users are impacted. The best resolutions can be implemented, and operational efficiency can proceed without pause. Facilities and charging centers will have the confidence that their networks are designed to meet the needs of their users while remaining cost-effective and budget-friendly.

2. Consider All Network Needs

Electric vehicles won’t be the only devices connecting to the network. There will be personal devices and other office equipment. Take this into account when determining your network speed needs. An analytics solution that analyzes the entire network supports this holistic view.

3. Plan with Cybersecurity in Mind

Any facility and device that connects to the internet, whether via WiFi or wired service, is at risk of falling prey to a hacker or other malicious user. To this end, EV stations and manufacturers must ensure that appropriate and up-to-date security protocols are in use  to support robust cybersecurity measures. It is essential to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access to the network.

Specific speed requirements will depend on the cybersecurity actions taken and the size of the overall network. Again, this is why proactive analytics and complete visibility are so important for crafting the right network for your organization’s needs.

4. Consider Future Expansion and Scalability

When planning for network speed, it’s essential to consider future expansion and scalability. All network designs should allow for the adoption of future technologies and increases in utilization without requiring significant upgrades.

With detailed analytics and the automatic identification of long-term trends, manufacturers and charging centers can better predict their future needs. They can then design networks to meet those needs, planning out future-proofing measures that are on-target and budget-friendly.

Additional Note: When making plans for the future, don’t forget the past. Older electric vehicles will still require attention and many of them won’t be able to upgrade to the latest WiFi standards. This requires you to maintain backwards compatibility so that you can continue servicing these cars. A common factor here is the fact that the software in older EVs will not be capable of reaching the speeds of newer vehicles and will take longer to receive software updates. This doesn’t mean that higher overall speeds are required, but is important to factor in when considering expansion and network capacity.

5. Regularly Review and Update Network Requirements

Part of future-proofing means leaving your network room to meet the evolving needs of both electric vehicles and WiFi networks. Regularly review infrastructure behavior to proactively identify trouble spots and keep abreast of performance issues. Study the latest technological advancements and industry trends from the point of view of your users: what problems do your users have? What could be better for them? Will these trends sufficiently meet those needs? If not, move on without them.

It’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends, but take the time to dive into the data. Just like network speed, you might not need what you think you need to provide optimal service.

6. Integrate Remote Troubleshooting

Remote troubleshooting gives IT professionals the ability to analyze network activity and resolve issues from any location at any time. It prevents professionals from being dependent on non-WiFi experts to report problems and describe the issue on the ground.

Network speed should support solutions that provide remote troubleshooting so that any problems can be resolved faster than ever. This keeps the network running smoothly, ensuring operational efficiency is maintained.

Optimize Speed Based on Your Needs

These steps take time to implement. You will need to analyze your network for several months (I recommend three at a minimum) to determine if the network optimally meets your needs at all times. This includes downtimes and during peak utilization. This time is well worth it though. Having the insights and answers you need, understanding your network in greater detail, all lead to greater efficiency and productivity.

Don’t forget: understanding network speed requirements based on your facility’s specific site needs is one of the best things you can do to both promote an optimal user experience and save money.

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