In larger parking facilities, all chargers share the same electrical capacity. Load balancing ensures that the available power is distributed safely and efficiently between vehicles, preventing the installation from being overloaded. This makes it possible to install more chargers without upgrading the main fuse or reserving static capacity per circuit.

Load balancing can be implemented 4 different ways:

1. Local load balancing without Equalizer

Without an Equalizer, chargers are balanced only internally within each individual circuit. The master charger distributes the available power among the chargers on the same circuit.

Advantages:

• Chargers on the same circuit automatically share the capacity available on that circuit.

Limitations:

• Multiple circuits: Each circuit balances in isolation. There is no load sharing between circuits.
• No load balancing against the main fuse: The system has no awareness of the building’s overall energy consumption.
• Unused capacity cannot be reallocated: A circuit without active vehicles does not release capacity to other circuits.

This works in smaller installations, but does not utilize the total available capacity in larger shared facilities. Our recommendation is to always install an Equalizer in installations with multiple circuits.

2. Local load balancing with Equalizer (recommended)

The Equalizer reads the building’s actual power consumption and adjusts the available capacity in the charging installation accordingly. All capacity is distributed dynamically across all circuits based on demand. This enables faster charging where it is needed and more efficient use of the installation’s total capacity. All communication takes place locally between the Equalizer and the master chargers, and from the master charger to the remaining chargers on the circuit.

Advantages:

• The most stable solution in installations with good Wi-Fi coverage.
• Load balancing across multiple circuits.
• Load balancing continues even if the internet connection goes down.
• Protects the main fuse from overload when energy consumption is high elsewhere in the building.
• Supports up to 20 circuits (20 master chargers) within the same installation, with up to 100 secondary chargers per master.

Limitations:

• All chargers and the Equalizer(s) must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Requires stable Wi-Fi.

This solution provides the most robust and predictable load balancing and continues to function even if the internet connection is lost. Local load balancing with an Equalizer is, in most cases, the best option—provided that all chargers can be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

3. Cloud Balancing

Cloud balancing moves the load balancing logic to the cloud. The master chargers report to Easee Cloud, which dynamically distributes the total available capacity (e-mobility value) across circuits and chargers. The system works even if chargers are connected to different Wi-Fi networks, or a combination of Wi-Fi and 4G.

Advantages:

• Can combine multiple Wi-Fi networks and 4G.
• Ideal for large or complex installations where Wi-Fi does not cover the entire area.
• Does not require an Equalizer when only the charging system’s capacity needs to be managed.

Limitations:

• Requires continuous internet connectivity. If 4G or Wi-Fi coverage is lost, the cloud cannot send updated load limits to the master chargers, and they will enter a fallback mode with reduced charging capacity.
• Does not take the building’s total energy consumption into account (this can be addressed by installing an Equalizer in addition).
• Cannot be combined with third-party load balancing solutions.
• Cannot be combined with Direct OCPP. 

Cloud balancing is recommended for charging installations that are spread over larger areas and/or multiple floors, where it is not possible to connect all chargers to the same Wi-Fi network. For example, in outdoor installations where providing sufficient Wi-Fi coverage can be both complex and costly.

4. Cloud Balancing with Equalizer

Cloud balancing with an Equalizer is used in installations where dynamic load balancing with the building’s main fuse is required, but not all chargers can be connected to the same local Wi-Fi network.

The Equalizer measures the building’s total energy consumption at the main fuse, while Easee Cloud coordinates load distribution across master chargers connected via different Wi-Fi networks and/or 4G.

If all chargers and the Equalizer can communicate locally over the same Wi-Fi network, cloud balancing is not needed. In those cases, local load balancing with an Equalizer provides the most stable and efficient solution.

This setup is primarily intended for large or complex installations, such as outdoor or distributed sites where some chargers are outside Wi-Fi coverage but must still be included in dynamic load balancing and main fuse protection.

Advantages:

• Enables dynamic load balancing against the building’s main fuse even when not all chargers are within Wi-Fi range of the Equalizer.

• Allows chargers connected via different Wi-Fi networks and/or 4G to be included in the same load-balanced system.

Limitations:

• Requires continuous internet connectivity. If 4G or Wi-Fi coverage is lost, the cloud cannot send updated load limits to the master chargers, and they will enter a fallback mode with reduced charging capacity.
• Cannot be combined with third-party load balancing solutions.
• Cannot be combined with Direct OCPP. 

Cloud balancing with an Equalizer is mainly used when dynamic load balancing must include the building’s main fuse, but not all chargers can connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the Equalizer.

Want to know more about cloud balancing?

See the FAQ for detailed information.