Access settings are crucial for managing how individuals interact with your EV chargers. While the default setting is public, private groups allow for controlled access, ensuring that only designated users can charge their vehicles. Be mindful of how restrictions affect all potential users and adjust settings to balance security with accessibility.
Access settings determine who can use an EV charger when physically present at the station. This guide does not cover how chargers are displayed on public charging maps but rather how access is managed in real-world interactions.
Access Types
There are two primary access states for EV chargers:
- Public Chargers: By default, chargers are set to public access. This means that any user who finds the charger can interact with it, regardless of whether it appears on public charging maps.
- Private Chargers: Private chargers restrict usage to specified users or groups. Unauthorized users will receive a notification that they do not have access if they attempt to use the charger.
Managing Charger Visibility and Access
Public Access
By default, all chargers are public. To modify how your chargers appear on public maps, adjust the settings in the charger's configuration panel.
Making Chargers Private
To configure private access:
Navigate to the Access section in the sidebar.
Click on Make charger private.
Select Chargers to Make Private
Use the dropdown menu to select the chargers you wish to make private. Note that each charger can only belong to one private group.
Assign Access
Assign access to:
- Individual drivers using their email addresses linked to a ChargeLab account.
- Drivers using a company domain email, such as @acme.com.
- Both company domain users and external individual drivers.
You can edit or delete private charger groups at any time. Removing a group will revert all associated chargers to public access.
Best Practices and Considerations
When setting up access, consider the broader implications:
- Workplace Charging: Restricting access via company domains can exclude employees using personal emails. Consider options that allow flexibility for employees and visitors.
- Visibility vs. Access: It might be more practical to remove chargers from public maps while maintaining minimal access control, especially in mixed-use scenarios where both employees and visitors need charging options.