Maximizing Charging Station Performance

Although keeping charging stations running is foundational, its performance management is about understanding utilization patterns to optimize pricing, identifying underperforming assets to guide capital allocation, ensuring consistent user experiences that drive loyalty, managing energy consumption to control costs, and ultimately maximizing return on infrastructure investment.

Whether you're operating public charging networks, managing fleet depot charging, or providing workplace charging, performance management transforms infrastructure from a cost center into a strategic asset.

This guide walks through everything you need to know about maximizing charging station performance: the metrics that actually matter, the monitoring infrastructure required, the optimization strategies that work, and the operational practices that separate industry leaders from everyone else.

📌 TL;DR

• Performance management encompasses 3 core dimensions: uptime, utilization and user experience

• Target benchmarks for high-performing networks: 97-99% uptime for public/fleet charging

• Five critical KPIs to track daily:

  • availability percentage across your network

  • average sessions per charger per day

  • energy throughput in kWh

  • session success rate

  • power delivery efficiency compared to rated capacity

Understanding Charging Station Performance

1) Uptime (availability when users need charging)

Uptime is the single most visible measure of network reliability. While 100% uptime is impossible given maintenance windows and software upgrades, high-performing operators consistently achieve 97–99% uptime for their public and fleet charging stations.

Uptime is not just about hardware health. It includes:

• Communications stability with the backend platform

• Payment and authentication systems

• Firmware compatibility

• Network connectivity issues (e.g., SIM card or Wi-Fi outages)

• Power availability from the grid

A charger may look “on” from the outside, but still fail transactions if any of the above systems are misaligned. That’s why real-time monitoring is a must.

2) Utilization (how effectively assets generate value)

Once chargers are functioning reliably, the next question is: Are they being used, and used optimally? Utilization depends on:

• Charging speed and availability of high-power DC units

• Location and visibility

• Pricing strategy

• Load distribution across multiple chargers to reduce congestion

Underutilized chargers represent locked capital. Overutilized chargers signal that you need to expand capacity. Only by tracking utilization patterns over weeks and months can operators make smart infrastructure decisions.

3) User experience (session success and satisfaction driving retention)

Even a highly available charger fails its purpose if users struggle to start a session, face error codes, or experience unpredictable charging speeds.

User experience encompasses:

• Smooth authentication (RFID, app, credit card)

• Transparent pricing

• Accurate charger information (live status, power rating, location accuracy)

• Fast resolution of failed sessions

• Clear signage and bay accessibility

• Reliable power delivery that matches rated capacity

Networks with a high session success rate (>95%) consistently outperform competitors in customer loyalty and energy throughput.

The Five KPIs That Matter Most for Charging Station Performance

1. Availability Percentage

This measures how often chargers are functional and ready for use. It must be calculated per connector, not per station. Operators should distinguish between:

• Technical downtime (hardware, firmware, connectivity issues)

• Operational downtime (planned maintenance)

• Energy downtime (grid outages, peak demand limitations)

A 97–99% benchmark may sound high, but even small drops can erode user trust quickly.

2. Average Sessions per Charger per Day

This is the clearest indicator of demand and utilization.Low sessions could indicate:

• Poor location

• Pricing misalignment

• Poor visibility on apps/maps

• Hardware that doesn’t meet driver requirements (e.g., too slow)

High sessions signal strong demand and potential congestion.

3. Energy Throughput (kWh Delivered)

Energy throughput is your revenue driver, especially in public charging or workplace commercial models. It shows whether your chargers are performing at their designed capacity.

• Steady growth → healthy adoption

• Spikes → predictable usage patterns that you can plan around

• Drops → potential performance problems

4. Session Success Rate

This measures how many charging sessions start and complete without issues. Anything below 90–92% warrants investigation. Common causes of failed sessions:

• EV-CP non-communication

• Firmware mismatch

• OCPP transaction errors

• Payment processing failures

• EV driver unplugging prematurely

Root-cause analysis is critical here; it prevents recurring issues.

5. Power Delivery Efficiency

Power delivery efficiency compares a charger’s actual power output against its rated capacity.For example, a 120 kW DC charger consistently delivering only 60–70 kW (outside of battery SOC limitations) is underperforming. Causes include:

• Thermal derating

• Grid supply limitations

• Faulty liquid cooling

• Cable degradation

Improving power delivery directly increases revenue and throughput.

A high-performing network requires the right backend visibility. At minimum, operators need a system that provides:

1. Real-time charger health monitoring to detects outages or anomalies instantly

2. Session and transaction logs for troubleshooting, pattern recognition, and financial reconciliation.

3. Energy management capabilities including load balancing, peak shaving, and smart charging.

4. Predictive diagnostics where operators can be alerted to failures before customers encounter errors.

Eigen Digital’s charge station management platform is built around exactly this level of visibility and control.

FAQ

1. What is considered good charger uptime?

For public and fleet operations: 97–99% uptime is the industry benchmark.

2. How often should I review utilization data?

Weekly reviews enable quick adjustments; monthly reviews inform long-term planning.

3. What impacts session success rate the most?

Firmware mismatches, payment issues, and poor EV-charger communication.

4. Can chargers be optimized after installation?

Yes. Pricing, load distribution, firmware updates, and monitoring improvements all significantly boost performance.

5. Does performance influence charger lifespan?

Absolutely. Underperforming or overheating chargers degrade faster.

Eigen Digital’s charge management platform is designed to help operators combine real-time visibility, intelligent energy management, predictive fault detection, and seamless user experience features. Looking to improve uptime, energy throughput, and asset performance? Contact Eigen Digital for a consultation or demo today.