Versinetic launches controller boards for dual-socket EV chargers

Birmingham-based EV charging technology company Versinetic has launched two controller boards that allow manufacturers to build dual-socket AC chargers using a single communications controller.

CongaEEL and MinnoRay will make their debut at EV Charge Live at Birmingham’s NEC from 22 to 24 September. The products are aimed at charge point manufacturers and operators seeking to reduce the number of separate components required when developing AC charging equipment.

Versinetic designs control electronics and software for electric vehicle chargers, supplying charge controller boards, load balancing hardware and charging software to EV equipment manufacturers, charge point operators and installers. Its engineering work in EV charging dates back to the control and communications electronics developed for charge posts used during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

CongaEEL is an integrated power controller for public and commercial three-phase AC charging. It combines the mains contactor, residual direct current detecting device, current measurement and ISO 15118 interface on an IEC 61851-compliant board.

The board can be paired with Versinetic’s MinnoRay or MantaRay controllers. Two CongaEEL boards can share one controller, allowing manufacturers to develop a dual-socket charger without installing a separate communications controller for each charging outlet.

MinnoRay handles charger communications and combines Ethernet, LTE Cat 1 bis, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It supports OCPP 1.6, while the paired CongaEEL handles power and safety functions and provides the ISO 15118 interface used for Plug and Charge.

The modular arrangement means manufacturers can build single or dual-socket three-phase AC chargers with fewer individual components, reducing the amount of wiring and integration required during product development.

“An EV charger is built from dozens of separate parts today, each sourced, wired and tested on its own. CongaEEL and MinnoRay let a manufacturer start from two boards that are already engineered to work together, so the integration work is done before the design even reaches the bench, said Dunstan Power, Managing Director at Versinetic.

“We’re hearing the same thing from OEMs and CPOs across the market,” continues Power. “They want a connected, compliant charger without carrying the cost of features they don’t need. MinnoRay gives them that option alongside MantaRay, so the choice depends on the build, rather than what we happen to offer.”

MinnoRay will be available directly from Versinetic or under licence for manufacturers incorporating the technology into higher-volume charger production.

TechSparx previously reported that Versinetic had expanded its ISO 15118 offering through its modular Charging Blox platform, as EV charger manufacturers prepare for new interoperability requirements. The technology supports Plug and Charge, automatic vehicle authentication and vehicle-to-grid applications, providing relevant context for the company’s latest controller boards.