Highlights
Etecnic, a leading Spanish specialist in electrical energy and sustainable mobility, operates charging stations for electric vehicles nationwide.
A consistent, stable internet connection is essential for the reliable transmission of all operating and usage data via the company's own EVcharge software – especially for underground charging infrastructures.
For the technical implementation, our partner relies on powerful network technology from Teltonika: the OTD140 Outdoor WLAN Router, the TAP200 Access Point, and the TSW200 PoE+ Switch – for maximum availability and secure data communication.
The technical challenge
The solution: an outdoor Wi-Fi router installed in the immediate vicinity of the garage entrance, where mobile phone reception is still available. From there, the network connection is distributed throughout the underground car park, ensuring continuous communication between the charging station, platform, and app.
Underground parking garages pose special challenges for connectivity. Stable 4G/LTE coverage is generally not available in underground areas. An alternative network solution therefore had to be implemented to ensure a reliable connection between the charging infrastructure and the EVcharge platform.
The components used
Three perfectly coordinated partner products were used for this powerful and robust connectivity solution:
Das Ergebnis ist eine durchgängige, stabile und zukunftssichere Netzwerkinfrastruktur – selbst in anspruchsvollen Umgebungen wie Tiefgaragen. So wird sichergestellt, dass Ladeprozesse zuverlässig funktionieren und Nutzer jederzeit Zugriff auf alle relevanten Informationen haben.
The Challenge:Â
Connectivity underground
The world is becoming increasingly digital—and electric mobility has long been an integral part of our everyday lives. What was still a dream of the future just a few years ago is now reality: there are already over 40 million electric vehicles on the road worldwide—and the trend is rising sharply.
As electric mobility grows, so does the demand for a powerful charging infrastructure that is available at all times. The efficiency, comfort, and user-friendliness of an electric vehicle depend largely on how reliably charging processes can be planned, monitored, and billed. This is exactly where Etecnic comes in.
Etecnic offers charging stations for underground car parks throughout Spain and combines them with the intelligent EVcharge software platform. The solution enables engineers and technicians to perform centralised analysis, efficient energy management and ongoing operational monitoring of the charging points. The system is complemented by a user-friendly app that allows end customers to keep track of the location, availability and charging progress of their station at all times.
Another crucial factor is the ease of managing the infrastructure. IT administrators must be able to centrally monitor and maintain the network at all times and intervene quickly when necessary—even remotely.
The correct placement of access points plays a key role in this. Too many users or end devices per access point can lead to reduced bandwidth, increased latency, and an overall poorer user experience. Careful planning ensures that the load is distributed evenly and consistent performance is maintained.
The use of high-quality Wi-Fi access points is crucial for implementing a powerful, future-proof Wi-Fi network in higher education that meets all these requirements. The TAP400 Wi-Fi 6 Access Point from Teltonika offers the ideal basis for this.
Topology
The Solution
Router + Switch + Access Points
A powerful, industrial-grade network solution consisting of routers, switches, and access points was implemented to ensure reliable connection of the charging infrastructure to the EVcharge platform.
Robust Internet connection with the OTD140
The OTD140 outdoor WLAN router was specifically selected for its 4G LTE connectivity, PoE+ ports, and IP55-protected housing. This provides optimal protection against dust, moisture, and other demanding environmental conditions, making it ideal for use in the entrance areas of underground parking garages.
Thanks to LTE Cat 4, the router offers a stable and powerful mobile connection and is also backward compatible with 3G and 2G. Two SIM card slots enable flexible connectivity scenarios, while the auto failover function ensures that the charging station remains connected to the internet at all times.
Another advantage:
The OTD140 has both PoE-Out and PoE-In. This means it can either be powered via PoE itself or supply other devices – such as access points – with power directly. Alternatively, a PoE injector can be used if required.
The router also impresses at the protocol level with comprehensive support, including MQTT, VRRP, DHCP, TCP, UDP, and many more. Integrated security features such as firewall, access control, VPN, and VLAN ensure a protected and segmented network environment.
Central distribution with the TSW200
The solution was supplemented with the TSW200 PoE+ switch to connect the charging system.
Communication with the charging system takes place via Modbus TCP/IP, while the connection to the router is realized via RJ45. The industrial PoE+ switch handles both data distribution and power supply to the connected network devices – efficiently and in a space-saving manner.
Comprehensive WLAN coverage with the TAP200
The TAP200 WLAN access point was used to ensure stable WLAN coverage within the underground charging infrastructure.
Thanks to PoE-In functionality, it can be conveniently powered via the Ethernet cable – no additional power lines are required.
Several access points were connected to the TSW200 via RJ45 to ensure continuous WLAN coverage in all areas of the underground car park. This ensures that the EVcharge software provides real-time data for end customers, engineers, and technicians at all times.
The result
The OTD140 Outdoor WLAN Router, the TSW200 PoE+ Switch, and the TAP200 WLAN Access Point provide a robust, scalable, and secure complete solution for underground network environments.
If you want to implement a reliable connectivity solution for demanding locations such as underground parking garages or other shielded areas, these three Teltonika components are the ideal choice.
OTD140 &Â TSW200 &Â TAP100
Source: TELTONIKA Networks
