Its high accuracy is maintained throughout the entire current range, guaranteeing accurate measurements throughout the entire charging cycle, from the high initial currents to the low currents at the end of the process.
The new meters comply with metrology certifications and international calibration standards, thus guaranteeing the accuracy and traceability necessary for kilowatt-hour (kWh) billing. This ensures regulatory compliance for electric vehicle (EV) charging applications. This, along with the detection accuracy throughout the charging cycle mentioned earlier, is important when charging electric trucks, where transport costs depend directly on precisely knowing the amount of energy supplied during charging.
Designers can access DCES meters via an RS485 communication interface that provides cybersecurity features. These features include digital signature authentication of measurements and others that enable secure remote maintenance and firmware updates. These features are designed to help reduce the operating costs of electric vehicle (EV) chargers that use DCES meters.
LEM also provides a comprehensive set of APIs (application programming interfaces) to streamline and facilitate software integration, as well as other tools that simplify product verification and integration.
DCES meters are supplied with an optional Remote Display Unit (RDU), which provides OEMs and system integrators with greater flexibility in human-machine interface design compared to integrated display solutions. The RDU can be mounted on a front panel, DIN rail, or motherboard. Its slim design eliminates the need for additional connections, such as communication lines or power supplies, when integrated with the DCES meters.
Both DCES meters are characterized by their robust mechanical design with a fiberglass-reinforced housing. The insulation resistance reaches 1000V DC in the DCES600 and up to 1500V DC in the DCES1500. They also incorporate large power terminals with extensive contact surfaces for current. The DCES600 has two M10 bolts that allow the busbar termination to be screwed onto a contact surface of 33 x 36 mm. The DCES1500 has four M12 bolts in two pairs, each offering a total contact surface of 45 x 100 mm. The busbars for both meters can operate up to 110°C. Both meters are supplied with a protective cover and gaskets.
DCES meters display voltage, current, temperature, and energy in real time. These values can be used for direct energy measurement, for example, for billing purposes, and within a system management strategy to ensure that end equipment remains within its safe operating limits through remote system diagnostics.
Applications for the DCES modules include:
• DC Fast Charging Points: The DCES 600 is ideal for both public and commercial fast charging stations, providing high performance and fast vehicle throughput.
• Megawatt Charging Centers: The DCES 1500 is specifically designed for megawatt-scale charging, making it suitable for heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and future high-capacity EVs.
• Fleet and Logistics Terminal Charging: Both meters can be integrated into fleet charging terminals, providing accurate energy tracking for managing operating costs and regulatory compliance.
• OEM Integration: The modularity of the advanced communication interfaces makes the DCES family suitable for integration into charging platforms and custom solutions for OEMs in the control and monitoring of any DC application, such as battery storage.
Availability: LEM is currently in the certification process for the DCES series, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. By then, the DCES meters will comply with European regulations, including MID 2014/32/EU, the EU Measuring Instruments Directive, and Eichrecht, the German calibration standard. Samples are already available for developers to begin integrating and calibrating the charger.
