
TESTIMONIES
Actenergy: a pioneer in high-power charging
Design office
Actenergy, the specialist in high-power charging stations
Actenergy is a design office specialising in the design of high-power charging stations for electric vehicles. This niche expertise, built around the needs of Charging Point Operators (abbreviated as CPO), focuses on installations ranging from 400 kW to more than 4 MW. Thanks to this, Actenergy is able to meet the growing demand for fast charging solutions.
The company has managed to position itself in this rapidly expanding market, in particular thanks to its in-depth technical expertise and in-depth understanding of the specific requirements of this type of installation. Although it can start at 50 kW, its installations are mainly oriented towards larger-scale projects, with particular attention paid to technical and economic optimisation.
A team of experts and strategic collaborations
Actenergy is an agile structure made up of five engineers specialising in electrical engineering and one electrical technician, supported by external members for specific tasks.
Actenergy’s area of activity is not limited to France. At the same time, the company wants to consolidate its presence in the European market and is expanding into the Benelux, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The three charging segments: a high-power specialisation
The electric charging infrastructure market is divided into three main categories:
- Slow charging : Mainly used in private or residential contexts, such as garages or building car parks.
- Intermediate charging : Designed for places where vehicles remain parked for several hours, such as company car parks or condominiums.
- Fast charging : This is where Actenergy specialises. Fast charging stations are deployed in places where users stay for a short time, such as highways, hotels, restaurants or shopping centers.
Optimisation and technical challenges: the key to profitability
The success of a fast-charging station depends on how well it is optimised. The costs associated with cabling, especially in high-power projects, can quickly add up. Actenergy makes it a point of honour to reduce these costs while limiting energy losses.
Use of elec calc: a technological asset
To optimise its projects, Actenergy relies on the elec calc software, a dynamic tool that allows the intuitive sizing of electrical installations, in particular EVSE. Thanks to elec calc, it is possible to test different configurations in real time and evaluate the impact of each parameter on the entire installation.
- Software for accuracy and responsiveness
elec calc stands out for its ability to offer dynamic sizing of electrical installations. This feature allows Actenergy to visualise the impacts in real time for each adjustment made on the design parameters. This includes, for example, modifications to the cable diameter, protections or connection points.
This agility is crucial in an industry where customer specifications can change rapidly. It not only saves valuable time during the planning phases but also optimises costs for end customers.
- Cost reduction through optimized design
One of the main challenges facing Actenergy is controlling the costs associated with fast-charging projects. High-power infrastructure requires the use of expensive cables and equipment. But thanks to elec calc, Actenergy is able to act on several fronts:
- Reduction of energy losses: The software accurately calculates wiring-related losses and adjusts technical choices accordingly to maximise energy efficiency.
- Management of operating modes : elec calc allows you to set up the different operating scenarios of an installation in order to automatically define the sizing case for all the normative controls.
- Equipment optimisation: thanks to its multi-manufacturer database, elec calc will offer you the optimal equipment for your installation, so you will reduce the space in the control cabinet and of course optimise the project finances.
- An intuitive interface that accelerates productivity
elec calc’s interface is also user-friendly and intuitive. For Actenergy, this means that even new employees can quickly get to grips with the tool and produce quality studies in record time.
“In one day of training, a new employee who is already proficient in electrical engineering can learn the basics of the software and start carrying out simple studies. This allows us to be operational very quickly,” adds Axel Carret.
This ease of use is a major asset for a company like Actenergy, since it has to manage a large volume of projects while maintaining a high level of quality.
- Responsiveness for collaboration
Actenergy also highlights the quality of Trace Software’s customer service as a key element in its choice to use elec calc. Thanks to the responsiveness of the technical support team, the company quickly obtains solutions to the problems encountered, which guarantees continuity of operations and avoids any delays in projects.
“The responsiveness of the Trace Software team is essential for a company of our size. As soon as we have a question or a problem, they are available to accompany us,“ explains Axel Carret.
This close collaboration not only ensures a smooth use of the software, but also reinforces the trust that Actenergy places in elec calc as a strategic tool.
- Energy optimisation of stations thanks to elec calc and archelios
Actenergy uses the elec calc software as a central tool for carrying out electrical studies in low voltage (LV) and high voltage (HV). It allows the precise dimensioning of charging station infrastructure, whether standard connections or installations integrating solar car ports and energy storage systems (ESS).
Dual Source and DC modules offer the ability to analyse and design electrical architectures that combine multiple energy sources, such as grid, PV generation, or batteries.
The gateway with archelios is a major advantage, as it facilitates the integration of photovoltaic production data directly into electrical calculations. This synergy between elec calc and archelios helps to design stations where energy production, consumption and storage are perfectly optimised. Thanks to this combination of tools, it is possible to build innovative, high-performance and sustainable infrastructure, meeting the needs of projects while maximising their energy efficiency.
Effective project management
Despite a small team, Actenergy manages to manage nearly a hundred projects per year. These projects vary in size, ranging from small installations to complex stations with up to twenty-eight charging points.
To meet this workload, the company implemented optimised internal processes and developed tools to standardize station design. This approach makes it possible to maintain a high level of quality while increasing productivity.
