When it comes to electric vehicle charging, people often focus on power, charging speed, or infrastructure sizing. But one metric is often overlooked, even though it’s critical for fleet managers: the uptime rate of charging stations.
So, what does uptime really mean? How does Chargepoly track it? And why is it so important for truck and bus fleets in North America?
What is uptime?
Uptime measures the time a charging station is fully operational and available for charging. It’s expressed as a percentage over a set period (e.g., a month or a year).
For example, a station with 99% uptime was fully functional 99% of the time, excluding planned maintenance or external network issues.
How Chargepoly monitors uptime
At Chargepoly, uptime is precisely monitored using real-time data from our supervision platform.
Unlike traditional all-in-one systems, our architecture is distributed: a shared Power Unit and multiple satellite chargers. This allows monitoring at two levels:
- Power Unit: power availability
- Satellite chargers: individual point availability
Our process:
- 24/7 monitoring of all equipment (satellites + Power Unit)
- Automatic detection of faults or performance drops
- Exclusion of planned maintenance (with advance notification)
- Accurate calculation of the ratio between actual operational time and expected availability
This granular approach ensures maximum reliability and a consistently high level of service.
Why high uptime is essential
Every minute a charger is down or underperforming can have operational and financial consequences:
- Operational efficiency: Scheduled charging must start and end on time to avoid disrupting routes.
- Cost control: Downtime can lead to extra labor, rescheduling, or using more expensive alternatives.
- Driver confidence: A reliable network keeps drivers motivated — no “will it work today?” worries.
- Return on investment: Less downtime means faster ROI and better utilization of infrastructure.
Chargepoly’s approach: >99% uptime
Our stations are designed for durability and reliability:
- Modular, adaptable architecture for uninterrupted service
- Preventive maintenance through full monitoring and alerts
- Responsive technical support
- Robust design for high-power, intensive use, and outdoor conditions
Our goal: maintain over 99% uptime, already achieved in multiple installations across North America.
In short
Uptime is a key performance indicator for any charging station. At Chargepoly, it’s continuously monitored, optimized, and reported, ensuring that fast charging is not only available but reliable when it’s needed.
Managing a truck or bus fleet in North America? Looking for a durable, reliable, turnkey charging solution? Contact us today!
