To help you navigate your partnership and understand common terminology, we've compiled a glossary of key terms you may encounter. This resource is designed to provide a baseline understanding of phrases used within the electric vehicle charging industry and specifically by EVCS.
Glossary of EVCS Terms
- ACH (Automated Clearing House): An electronic network for financial transactions in the United States. EVCS uses ACH transfers for secure and timely direct deposits of your quarterly revenue share payments to your bank account.
- Charging Session: The period of time an electric vehicle is actively connected to and receiving electricity from a charging station.
- DC Fast Charging (DCFC): Also known as Level 3 charging. This is the fastest type of EV charging available, delivering direct current (DC) power directly to the vehicle's battery, allowing for rapid charging times (often 20-60 minutes for a significant charge).
- EVCS Support Help Center: EVCS' main public online knowledge base (support.evcs.com) designed to assist electric vehicle drivers with questions about using our chargers, managing their accounts, and troubleshooting.
- EV (Electric Vehicle): A vehicle that runs on an electric motor powered by a battery, rather than a gasoline engine.
- EVCS App: Our mobile application available for iOS and Android devices, which drivers use to locate charging stations, initiate and manage charging sessions, and handle payments.
- EVCS Site Host Dashboard: Your dedicated online portal (currently operating on the "EV OS" platform) where you can view charging statistics, monitor station performance, and access reports for your EVCS charging locations.
- Kilowatt (kW): A unit of power, commonly used to describe the rate at which an EV charger can deliver electricity (e.g., a 50 kW DCFC station).
- Kilowatt-hour (kWh): A unit of energy, representing the amount of electricity consumed over a period of time (e.g., a charging session might deliver 30 kWh to a vehicle). Revenue share calculations are typically based on kWh dispensed.
- Level 2 Charger: A common type of EV charger that uses a 240-volt (or 208-volt) AC (alternating current) power source, typically found at homes, workplaces, and public destinations. These chargers provide a slower charge than DCFC but are suitable for longer parking durations.
- Network Operations: The internal EVCS team responsible for remotely monitoring the health and performance of all charging stations, diagnosing issues, and coordinating maintenance and repairs.
- Pay As You Go: A payment option for EV drivers who choose to pay for each charging session individually, without enrolling in a subscription plan.
- Revenue Share: The portion of the revenue generated from the electricity dispensed at your EVCS charging stations that is paid to you quarterly as per your Site Host Agreement.
- RFID Card: A Radio-Frequency Identification card that EVCS drivers can use to tap and initiate a charging session at compatible stations, often tied to their EVCS account or subscription.
- Site Host Agreement (SHA): The formal contract between your organization and EVCS, outlining the terms of your partnership, including details such as charger installation, maintenance responsibilities, and your specific revenue share percentage.
- Site Host Support: Your dedicated EVCS customer success team, available to assist you with questions, concerns, and issues related to your partnership, agreement, revenue share, and general station inquiries.
- Station ID: A unique identification number assigned to each individual EVCS charging station, typically found on a label below the QR code on the front of the unit. This ID is crucial when reporting issues.
- Subscription Plans: Payment plans offered by EVCS to drivers, typically involving a recurring fee in exchange for benefits such as a monthly charging allotment and/or reduced charging rates.
- W-9 Form: A tax form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) required by the IRS from entities that receive payments, used by EVCS for tax reporting purposes related to your revenue share.