Your EV Glossary for Smarter Charging and a Greener Tomorrow

A

• AC: Alternating current (AC) is an electrical current that periodically reverses direction. This means the flow of electrons constantly changes direction, typically oscillating in a sinusoidal pattern.
• AC Charging : Charging an EV using alternating current, common for Level 1 and Level 2 home chargers.
• AC Grid: This is a connection from the grid for power supply.
• AC2DC and DC2DC Rectifier: Transforms AC to DC and ensures that DC current going to the batteries and charging stations is of the right Voltage/Amperage. Each rectifier is connected to one or more battery systems.
• Auxiliary Systems: Systems used for control and safety of the container and associated electrical components.
• AI: Artificial Intelligence. Algorithms enabling predictive maintenance, load balancing, and customer personalization.

B

• Battery Management System (BMS): A system that manages the batteries in the storage unit, monitoring their health and charge.
• Battery System: A set of batteries assembled is called a module, and multiple modules connected together is called a rack. These racks stacked together with management and control systems are housed in a box, which is called a battery system.
• BESS (Battery Energy Storage System): A system that stores electrical energy in batteries, often combining renewable sources like solar or wind with the grid, to provide stable, on-demand power for EV charging and grid support.
• Bi-Directional (BIDI): BIDI is the module responsible for the two-way flow of electricity—receiving electricity from the grid and supplying excess energy back when needed. .
• BBEC (Battery-Boosted EV Charger): An EV charging system enhanced with integrated battery storage to deliver fast, reliable charging while reducing grid strain and enabling better energy management.

c

• Capex: Capex is an acronym for capital expenditure. It refers to a company's long-term investments in fixed assets (like property, plants, and equipment) to facilitate future growth and operations.  
• CATL Shenxing Battery : A next-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery developed by CATL, capable of ultra-fast charging at 12C rates and delivering up to 1.3 MW peak power.  
• Charge Point Operator (CPO): An entity that operates and manages EV charging stations.
• Charging Dispenser: The charging dispenser is the unit with the cable that directly plugs into the EV.  for control and safety of the container and associatedelectrical components.
• Charging Point : The physical outlet or interface where an electric vehicle is plugged in to receive electricity.
• Charging Speed (kW): The rate at which energy is delivered to an EV battery; Harmony Direct 2.0 supports up to 240kW for rapid charging.
• Charging Profile: A set of predefined rules and parameters (power limits, time windows, priorities) that govern how an EV charger delivers power to a vehicle. Modern chargers can support multiple profiles running concurrently.
• Clean mobility – Transportation systems and practices that significantly reduce environmental impact, often emphasizing electric or low-emission vehicles.

D

• DC: Direct current (DC) is an electrical current that flows in one constant direction.
• DC Fast Charging: High-speed charging using direct current, enabling rapid EV battery replenishment.
•  DLM (Dynamic Load Management): Technology that balances charging power among multiple EVs to avoid exceeding electrical limits.
• Dynamic Load Sharing (DLS): A smart power management feature that dynamically allocates available charging power between connectors or vehicles.
• Dynamic Charging : Charging an EV while it is in motion, such as via electrified roads embedded with charging infrastructure.
• Distributed Charging System: A network of geographically dispersed EV charging stations connected via cloud platforms and standardized protocols, enabling coordinated management and seamless scalability.
• DC Fast Charger: Direct Current fast charger, typically 50–350 kW, allows rapid charging for EVs.
• Destination Charging: Charging points installed where vehicles are parked for several hours (e.g., malls, offices, homes, hotels).

E

• EMS (Energy Management System): Software that manages energy sources and storage for optimal performance and cost savings.
• EV (Electric Vehicle): A vehicle powered by one or more electric motors, usingenergy stored in rechargeable batteries.
• EV Charging Solutions: Comprehensive hardware and software systems designed to support efficient EV charging.
• EV Charging Stations: Physical locations equipped with chargers for recharging electric vehicles.
• EV charger – A device used to recharge electric vehicles by supplying electrical power.
• EV adoption – The process and rate at which consumers switch from traditional fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.

G

• Gateway (IoT gateway): A network of powerlines and equipment that delivers electricity from power plants to consumers.
• Grid/Power Grid: A network of powerlines and equipment that delivers electricity from power plants to consumers.
• Grid Management: The process of balancing electricity supply and demand on the power grid.
• Grid infrastructure – The electrical power supply network that supports energy distribution.

H

• Harmony Connect RMS: Exicom’s remote monitoring and management platform for diagnostics, troubleshooting, and interface control.
• Highways – Major public roads designed for fast traffic movement over long distances.

I

• Ingress Protection (IP): A rating system that measures how well an enclosure protects against dust, liquids, and other objects.
• Inductive (wireless) charging :  Charging EVs without cables, using electromagnetic fields through coils embedded in driveways or parking spots.
• Intelligent Power Switch Matrix: Supplies electricity to charging stations based on their requirements.
• Interoperability: The ability of different EVs and chargers to work seamlessly together.
• IP54 / IK10 Enclosure: Weatherproof and vandal-resistant housing standards for reliable outdoor operation.
• ISO 15118: International standard for secure communication between EV and charger, enabling Plug & Charge and V2G.
• Intelligent Load Management (ILM): A dynamic system that allocates available electrical power among multiple EVs charging simultaneously, optimizing grid usage and preventing overloads.
• IoT: Internet of Things. Technology connecting devices to collect and share data over a network.
• Infrastructure expansion – Development and enhancement of physical structures such as roads, highways, and facilities.
• Integration (in infrastructure) – The process of including EV charging considerations into broader infrastructure planning.

K

• kWh: A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy representing the use of 1,000 watts over one hour.

L

• Level 1 Charger: Basic EV charger operating at 120–240V, typically ≤3.7 kW, suitable for overnight charging.
• Level 2 Charger: More powerful charger operating at 240V, delivering 3.3 kW to 22 kW for faster charging.
• LFP Battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate) : A type of lithium-ion battery chemistry known for safety, longevity, and thermal stability, used in CATL’s Shenxing battery.
• Load Balancing Grid (LBG): Ensures that electricity generation meets demand and prevents outages.
• Load Control Grid (LCG): This is a key component, which uses intelligent technologies tomonitor and control electricity consumption.

M

• Maximum Power Point Tracking Voltage (MPPT) System: This system/controllerensures that the solar panel operates at its peak efficiency regardless ofchanging
• Megawatt Charging : Ultra-fast DC charging technology delivering charging power of 1 megawatt (MW) or more, significantly reducing charging times.
• Multilingual UI/UX: User interface and experience design that supports multiple languages for diverse users.

O

• OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol): Open standard for charger-management system communication.
• OCPP 1.6J (Open Charge Point Protocol): Ensures interoperability and backend integration between chargers and management systems.
• Opex: Operating expenses—costs a business incurs to run daily operations.

P

• PCS (Power Conversion System): Converts electricity between AC and DC to match battery and grid needs.    
• Predictive Charging : Using AI/ML algorithms to schedule EV charging at optimal times to reduce costs and grid load.
• Public Charging Infrastructure : Networks of publicly accessible charging stations and points that allow EV users to recharge their vehicles outside the home.
• Predictive Maintenance: Using AI or sensors to anticipate and prevent equipment failures.
• PV Modules: Solar panels that convert energy from the sun to power the battery system.
• Photovoltaic (PV) Cells: Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity.
• PM e-DRIVE: Government of India scheme promoting public EV infrastructure with subsidies and deployment mandates.
• Public infrastructure plans – Government-led initiatives to develop facilities and services for public use.

Q

• Quality of Service: A holistic measure of user experience at a chargingstation, including reliability, availability, ease of payment, clearinstructions, and customer support.

R

• Renewable Energy: Energy from naturally replenished sources like solar, wind, and geothermal.
• Reliability (of EV Charger): The percentage of successful charging sessions outof total attempts, reflecting the charger’s ability to deliver energy whenevera user initiates a session.
• Remote Monitoring System (RMS): A technology platform that provides real-timediagnostics, predictive maintenance alerts, and usage analytics for EV chargers.
• Range anxiety – The fear that an electric vehicle will run out of charge before reaching the destination or a charging point.

S

• Smart EV Charger App: Mobile application that allows users to monitor and control charging remotely.
• Scalability: The ability to expand systems or infrastructure to meet growing demand.
• Subscription Model: Business model where users pay recurring fees for charging or value-added services.
• Subsidization – Financial assistance provided by the government to encourage certain activities, e.g., purchase or installation of EV chargers.

T

• Thermal Management System (TMS): Controls battery temperature to maintain safe and efficient operation.
• Tech-forward chargers – Advanced EV chargers that incorporate modern technology for efficiency, speed, and adaptability.

U

• User Interface: A platform for CPOs or users to view data and interact with the system.
• Ultra-fast charging : High-power DC charging that can replenish an EV battery to 80% in under 20 minutes.
• Uptime: The percentage of time a charger is powered on,connected to the network, and ‘ready to charge’, regardless of whether chargingsessions are successful.
• Utilization Rate: The percentage of time a charger is actively used(delivering a charge) out of total available time.

V

• Vehicle to Grid (V2G): Technology that allows EVs to send electricity back to the power grid.
• Vehicle to Home (V2H): Using an EV’s battery to power a home during peak demand or outages.
• Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) : Sharing energy between EVs directly.
• Volt (V): Unit measuring electrical potential difference or the pressure that drives electric current.

W

• Wireless Charging : Technology allowing EVs to charge without physical cables, typically through electromagnetic induction from charging pads or embedded roadways.
• Wayside Amenities (WSAs) – Facilities provided along highways, including rest stops and charging stations, aimed at supporting travelers.
• Workplaces and residences – Common locations where EV chargers can be installed to facilitate convenient vehicle charging.