We’re all connected: our daily lives and businesses depend, in no small part, on the signal strength shown at the top of our device screens. This is especially true for EV drivers accustomed to internet-connected chargers when plugging into a public or workplace charger. But what if installing a charger that relies on the internet to function is not practical, possible, or sufficiently secure? 

For corporate facilities, military bases, and government buildings, the risks of cyber threats and exposure multiply when new devices are connected to internal networks. Remote parks, subterranean parking structures and rural attractions lack the necessary infrastructure to support internet connection. 

Until now, the solution has been to install “dumb” chargers and simply miss out on the benefits of smart chargers: mainly payments and access control – just because there’s no WiFi or 4g signal. Liberty’s CodeConnect™ chargers offer a middle road: low-cost, high value chargers that unlock only the essential smart features without the need for an internet connection.  

Why smart chargers aren’t always the smart choice  

Today’s smart chargers aren’t immune to glitches or logistical and operational shortcomings, despite what providers (and price tags) might lead you to believe. In fact, 33% of charge station issues can be attributed to connectivity issues and payment stations. If you started with dumb chargers, you could expect a 50% increase in bugs when you switch to networked units.

The advantages of offline 

Offline charging is an attractive alternative to smart chargers for businesses, rural areas, and multi-unit dwellings and facilities that need simple, uncomplicated, and cost-efficient charge stations for their users. Perks include:  

• • • Maintenance costs and software fees kept to the bare minimum, resulting in a lower cost of lifetime ownership. 
    • Network failures are no longer of consequence to the driver or the operator, giving you higher uptime and more reliable charging. 
    • Simple deployment means no unnecessary bells and whistles to manage, and much simpler future upgrades.
    • Easy user experience: a simple plug-in gets the job done.  

Here’s the catch: dumb chargers are a great solution, as long as you don’t mind giving energy away for free, to whoever parks in your lot.  While dumb chargers may seem like a convenient way to sidestep network costs and the burden of maintenance, the practical reality of unmanaged charging (letting anybody use your chargers at anytime, free of cost) is usually a worse result. 

Sounds like a catch-22? Not quite. What if there was a way to manage your chargers and unlock only essential management features like access control and payment, without the need for an internet connection?   

How Liberty’s CodeConnect™ offline charging works, and why it matters 

Liberty identified a problem in the market: as long as there were places where EV chargers could not be practically deployed, there would always be places where EVs couldn’t go. Enter CodeConnect: Liberty’s patented encryption technology.

Here’s how it works:  

1. Each CodeConnect charger keeps time with a highly accurate internal clock. 
2. When it leaves the factory, a secret key is shared between the unit and our pay server.  
3. When a user buys a session, they are given a code that is generated using the secret key specific to that charger and the current time as inputs.  
4. The charger, synchronized to the server with the secret key and current time, anticipates and receives that code and unlocks to charge for the specified duration 

No other EV charger available today enables internet-free managed EV charging at the low price of our CodeConnect line of chargers.  Read more about CodeConnect™ here. 

The bottom line 

We believe that EV chargers are not one size fits all. You need systems that work for you and your bottom line. CodeConnect chargers are ideal for:   

• Parks and remote destinations: EV drivers don’t have to miss out on their bucket-list locations simply because they can’t charge. 
• Government, military, and secure corporate campuses: Strict network security and IT red tape are no longer a barrier. 
• Multifamily properties: Adapt charger installations where they fit into your infrastructure best, not just where WiFi can be accessed. 
• Fleet operators: No matter where your chargers are located, they stay functional and secure; no more unauthorized users or sessions.  

Liberty CodeConnect Chargers offer a smarter, more accessible EV charging experience, all without requiring a single bar of signal. Don’t compromise on EV charging access: contact us today to get started with CodeConnect.