Service extension: SMATRICS operates calibration center for e-charging infrastructure in Austria now
As of 27 September 2024, SMATRICS is one of the first companies in Austria to be authorized as a calibration body for e-charging stations. “As SMATRICS, we are committed to correct energy-based billing. Becoming a calibration body ourselves was the next logical step, as there is currently still too little capacity for all charging stations in Austria,” says a delighted Hauke Hinrichs, CEO of SMATRICS. The company can now take over the calibration of charging stations throughout Austria, regardless of the manufacturer.
Strengthening the development & maintenance of e-charging infrastructure in Austria with an additional calibration service
There are currently more than 24,000 public charging points in Austria. All non-public charging points, i.e. those at home or in companies, still need to be added to this figure. The demand for charging points to be calibrated is therefore correspondingly high.
SMATRICS is now authorized to carry out initial, new and subsequent calibrations. This applies throughout Austria for manufacturers of all devices.
The conditions for calibrating e-charging infrastructure have been quite challenging for the industry until now, as there was only one private body that could provide this service.
Hinrichs explains: “We called for the calibration regulations for e-charging infrastructure to be updated back in 2022 in our master plan and, in September, we successfully completed the authorization process as a calibration center. This means that SMATRICS is not only AFIR-compliant, but also in compliance with calibration law.”
New or re-calibrations can be carried out quickly and easily
Even though the calibration of charging stations is usually valid for ten years, a re-calibration may be necessary, for example, due to repairs involving the breaking of calibration seals. This may be the case, for example, when replacing the charging cable or the display.
In particular, non-calibrated charging points with an exemption until 2026 are now affected. “It is important that operators whose charging stations were not calibrated when billing was converted to kilowatt hours can maintain their business – and under legally compliant and reliable conditions. An uncomplicated, quick initial calibration is crucial for this,” emphasizes Hinrichs.
With the new ordinance from the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying on “Calibration Regulations for Electrical Tariff Devices for Measuring Electrical Energy in Charging Equipment for E-Vehicles”, which has been in force since June 1, 2023, the legislator in Austria has, for the first time, created, among other things, generally valid technical specifications for charging tariff devices.
This defines the conditions under which charging tariff devices – i.e. an e-charging station – may be charged by the kilowatt hour in the country. The obligatory calibration of the charging stations ensures that the billing of the energy purchased is correct.
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