Each local group of charging stations is connected to the network operating system. The gateway is a special version of a charging station equipped with a CDMA or GPRS radio modem. The charging station communicates with the remote server through the network.

The charging station network, together with the operating system, offers a smart infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles and allows for payment and grid load supervision. Additionally, the network automatically offers possible returns for municipalities, corporations and parking lot owners who are interested in offering electric vehicle owners convenient charging possibilities.

The Charging Station Network Operating System

The 365 Energy network operating system provides a software platform with extensive upgradeability. These software upgrades, which are available for download through the network, allow for the installation of new features without the hassle of a site visit. The server is a secure, open, web-based application built on standard, reliable software and hardware platforms.

The operating system provides four distinct portals into the system, for 
subscribers, hosts, car fleet managers, and utilities.

Subscriber Portal

• Sign-up, choose from a variety of subscriptions, order a smart card or a key fob for access to the network.
• Search for charging stations near a specific location or along a route on Google Map.
• Determine which charging stations are currently available or in use.
• Request new charging stations at specific locations.
• Overview of account status and usage history, as well as the ability to make contract changes and receive assistance.

The network offers users flexibility and comprehensive usability: drivers can charge their electric cars at any given charging station, regardless of the host or electricity provider.  Subscribers can locate not only the charging stations, but also their availability on Google Map.  A highly-secure encryption method protects all internal network communications, as well as subscriber data and payment information, from any unauthorized access attempts.  In addition, the system provides for incredible flexibility in regards to payment options.  The upgradeability of the network enables the integration of new forms of authorization and payment in the 
future, such as RFID-based credit card systems, gift cards, and SMS-based payments.

Host Portal for Municipalities and Corporations

• Commission individual charging stations and groups of stations.
• View the location and status of their charging stations on a Google Map, and receive email and pager alerts for any alarms and faults.
• View detailed history and status information on individual charging stations, including occupancy rates and energy usage trends.
• Generate inventory, service and maintenance reports for import into service tracking systems.
• Set network policy and access rights.

365 Energy’s payment system provides payback to the host for electricity, 
operations and maintenance, and the capital investment in the charging 
stations themselves. Hosts, for example corporations, shopping centers or apartment complexes, may choose to make charging stations available 
for free, as a benefit to employees or tenants. Other hosts may wish to recover only their ongoing maintenance and operations costs, and provide electricity for free. This option would be an interesting one for shopping malls which, by offering this free service, can entire customers to return. The network-based subscription model of the ChargePoint Network easily accommodates all of these business models.

Utility Portal

The unpredictability of the grid load at particular times and in particular locations through charging vehicles, is the main concern for electricity providers.  The 365 Energy charging station network offers a solution:

Energy providers have the ability to reduce charging capacity during peak generation periods at any level from an entire service area down to a single charging station.

365 Energy supports the shedding of subscribers, who have signed up for this plan, to cap the charging capacity when the grid is extremely overloaded. The Utility Portal lets energy providers monitor and manage the impact that the charging stations have on the grid.

Individual electric utility companies are provided a secure web page login where they can:

• Monitor the aggregated public charging load in their territories.
• Customize their territory maps and view Google-based maps of load that can be shed.
• Cap the charging capacity in cases of grid overload (provided the subscribers have opted for this plan)

Each charging station contains a certified electric meter, making new business opportunities for Utilities possible, who wish to own and operate a 365 Energy charging station.

Car Fleet Managers Portal

Unique challenges managers of electric vehicle fleets (EV fleets) face:

• What is the charging status of my fleet? Do I have to continuously monitor my vehicles to see if they are fully charged?
• What happens if someone forgets to plug in a car? This is critically important for electric-only vehicles.
• Some vehicles may be charging in publicly accessible areas: What happens if someone unplugs one of my cars?
• Where is the nearest available station that I can plug into?
• Is that station actually available or is it in use by someone else?
• How has my fleet performed? How much Greenhouse Gas emissions has my EV fleet saved? How much gasoline has my EV fleet saved?
• How can I measure the “electric fuel” cost of my fleet(s)?

Especially for fleets shared by multiple departments the ChargePoint Network provides solutions:

• At-a-glance charging status of every vehicle in the fleet: No more guessing whether any of the vehicles are charged.
• Notifications to fleet managers (and drivers) when a driver forgets to plug in: No more “empty batteries” the next morning.
• Instant notification when someone accidentally (or maliciously) unplugs a car: No more “live” cords in public: the outlet will de-energize when a plug-out occurs.
• Ability to search for charging stations and their current, live status: The ChargePoint Network provides real-time status of every charging station.
• Performance data and graphs: per-fleet and for all fleets
• Greenhouse Gas savings: per period and cumulative total
• Gasoline savings: per period and cumulative total
• Per-Fleet, Per-Vehicle, Per-Department, and Per-Driver usage data
• Exportable charging history with custom filters (e.g., Fleet One only)
• Enables detailed “electric fuel” usage reports