Empowering Mobile EV Charging with Edge Computing

Background

As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to surge in popularity, the infrastructure needed to support them must evolve just as rapidly. One forward-thinking company specializing in sustainable e-mobility solutions aimed to address a key gap in the market—mobile EV charging. But to make their vision scalable, they needed a reliable industrial-grade computer to manage process control and data collection directly from their mobile units. 

Challenges

• In need for industrial computer to help integrate in their EV charging solution
• Needed integration for AI Acceleration via M.2 on-board
• Experienced trouble narrowing down their exact compute requirements 

Solution

• Premio’s BCO-1000-ADLN semi-rugged industrial computer for mobile process control 
• Compatibility with AI accelerators via M.2 expansion 
• 12–36V wide voltage input, ideal for mobile environments
• UL certifications available to meet regulatory standards
• Stock availability, ensuring short lead times 

Benefits

• Reliable process control for mobile EV system 
• Stock availability, ensuring short lead times 
• Localized support provided quick response times and support 

The Company

This company develops mobile charging platforms and solar-powered trucks designed to bring EV charging directly to vehicles wherever they are—on the road, in parking lots, or at remote locations. Their goal is to eliminate range anxiety and make EV charging more accessible, sustainable, and flexible. Their solar-powered mobile trucks serve as mobile power plants, providing an on-the-go, eco-friendly energy source for EVs. 

The Challenges

While the company had a strong vision for their mobile EV charging solution, integrating the right industrial computer to manage their mobile units was no small task. They faced several challenges in identifying the best solution, including technical complexity and compliance requirements. Many of their previous vendors were unable to accommodate their requests or had difficulty narrowing down the best technical specifications for the company’s solution. 

• Strict Certification Requirements: From the start, the system needed to comply with UL certifications - crucial for safety and reliability in their overall solution. 
• Unclear Technical Requirements: Initially, the team had difficulty identifying the exact hardware specifications they needed. For example, the company originally required that the system operate in the most extreme temperatures (Up to –40C), and prior vendors were unable to offer clear guidance or the flexibility to meet both the rugged and technical requirements. 
• AI Accelerator Integration: Their vision included future support for AI capabilities, requiring M.2-based AI accelerator compatibility, which their existing vendor could not accommodate. 
• No Need for Cellular Connectivity: While ruggedness and compute power were key, cellular capabilities were not necessary, meaning their solution needed to be flexible and streamlined to avoid overengineering. 

The Solution

After a thorough search, the company found Premio through an online search and reached out to explore potential solutions. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, Premio worked closely with the company to understand their needs, provide guidance, and recommend a tailored solution that would help them meet their requirements. Premio’s team didn’t just propose products off the shelf. They worked closely with the customer’s engineers to define exact specifications—including performance, temperature, and power needs—ensuring the selected computer would be a perfect fit for the mobile EV charging platform. 

During the evaluation, they explored several different rugged edge computer models: 

• RCO-1000-EHL Series 
• BCO-1000-ADLN Series 
• RCO-3000-RPL Series 

Each system offered a unique balance of performance, thermal design, and ruggedization. However, the RCO-1000 proved to be too robust for their specific needs, and the RCO-3000 offered way more features than what was necessary. Conversations soon revealed that the company’s requirements were too extreme for their own deployments. Their –40C operating temperature was quickly debunked as unnecessary, and helped pivot the direction towards Premio’s BCO-1000-ADLN. 

What truly stood out was the BCO-1000-ADLN, which struck the ideal balance between durability and performance. The system offered the necessary fixed features without overcomplicating the deployment. It supported M.2 AI accelerators, provided the required temperature range, and offered a wide voltage input (12–36V) that met the company’s bottom line standards, all without unnecessary features like cellular connectivity. 

However, the biggest key deciding factor was Premio’s ability to deliver quickly with a shorter lead time. With stock availability and localized manufacturing in the USA, the company was able to receive their systems faster than other vendor options. 

The Benefits

The successful integration of Premio’s BCO-1000 Series brought significant benefits to the company, helping them accelerate product development and improve operational efficiency. Some of the key advantages included: By integrating the BCO-1000 Series into their mobile EV charging platforms, the company unlocked several business and operational advantages: 

• Reliable Process Control: The industrial edge computer now orchestrates critical charging operations and monitors real-time data on the go. 
• Accelerated Time-to-Market: With available inventory and quick turnarounds, Premio helped reduce product development timelines significantly. 
• Scalability and Flexibility: The modular nature of the platform allows the company to expand into AI-driven applications without changing their hardware. 
• Responsive Local Support: Fast communication and engineering feedback from Premio’s US-based team provided confidence and agility throughout the integration process.