Energy Ease: Development of a UPI Based EV Charging Station with Power Monitoring and Payment Processing

Pushpalatha Naveenkumar1 ORCiD, Sheikameer Batcha Sikkandar Batcha Banu2, Austin Jose Raja1, Poovarasan Ramesh Babu1, Rengaraj Murugan1 and Naresh Kumar Murugasan1
1. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sri Eshwar College of Engineering, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Research Organization Registry (ROR)
2. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, V.S.B. College of Engineering Technical Campus, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Correspondence to: N. Pushpalatha, pushpalatha.n@sece.ac.in

Premier Journal of Science

Additional information

  • Ethical approval: N/a
  • Consent: N/a
  • Funding: No industry funding
  • Conflicts of interest: N/a
  • Author contribution: N. Pushpalatha, S. Sheikameer Batcha, G. Banu, R. Austin Jose, R. Poovarasan, M. Rengaraj and M. Naresh Kumar – Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, review and editing
  • Guarantor: N. Pushpalatha
  • Provenance and peer-review: Unsolicited and externally peer-reviewed
  • Data availability statement: N/a

Keywords: upi-enabled ev charging, esp32 iot charge controller, Real-time power monitoring with acs712-zmpt101b, qr-code payment integration, User-centric transparent charging infrastructure.

Peer Review
Received: 15 August 2025
Last revised: 31 October 2025
Accepted: 17 December 2025
Version accepted: 4
Published: 29 January 2026

Plain Language Summary Infographic
“Vibrant infographic illustrating an Energy Ease smart EV charging station with UPI-based payment and real-time power monitoring. The image shows an electric car charging at a modern station, a smartphone scanning a QR code for instant UPI payment, and embedded hardware including an ESP32 microcontroller, ACS712 current sensor, and ZMPT101B voltage sensor for accurate energy tracking and transparent billing.”
Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more widely adopted; what’s needed is a readily available, efficient, and transparent EV charging infrastructure. Traditional EV charging systems rely extensively on proprietary apps and often have limited payment options, making them inconvenient at times and limiting the scale of the network. The ENERGY EASE project aimed at resolving the issue by offering a solution that includes UPI-based payment and real-time energy monitoring, which is achieved using an ACS712 current sensor (accuracy ±1.5%) and a ZMPT101B voltage sensor, sampled at 1 kHz via ESP32’s ADC to improve the user experience, making EV charging stations more accessible. It used an ESP32 microcontroller to control the charging process and track the real-time energy consumption for a smooth user experience.

The charging station issues a QR code to the user, who scans it to access a UPI payment gateway. This method of payment online is hassle-free, secure, and can be done in any amount without requiring a dedicated application. After the successful confirmation of payment, it turns on the relay, which starts the charging process of the vehicle. The system also continually monitors the power consumption during the charging session, which allows users to view real-time consumption information. It benefits from ease of payment through the widely used UPI systems, ease of transparency in consumption of energy, and flexibility where no proprietary apps are required. This initiative will prove to be a growth catalyst for EV infrastructure by providing an easily accessible, efficient, and friendly charging solution to the masses for the widespread acceptance of EVs.

Introduction

The increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) will require a robust and accessible charging infrastructure. However, conventional EV charging stations are usually coupled with proprietary apps, limited payment methods, and a lack of transparent monitoring related to power usage. This really creates inconvenience for the user and prevents this level of EV adoption universally. This solution is going to overcome the above-mentioned hurdles by integrating an easy-to-use solution that ties payment processing via UPI with real-time power monitoring. Such an infrastructure would make the charging of EVs easy, efficient, and transparent for users who are anywhere but still want to make their payments according to their preferred method. An ESP32 microcontroller that is at the heart of the system controls the functioning of the charging station, monitoring voltage and current in real time, as for real-time energy consumption data.

The use of QR code technology is linked to a UPI payment gateway to ensure that transactions are completely without any kind of requirement of any specialized apps or cards. Once the payment is confirmed, the system will activate a relay for charging while monitoring the power consumed for a safe and efficient recharge. Providing transparent energy tracking and a universal payment method, ENERGY EASE makes the recharge process more accessible for the common people, eliminates the worry about paying anywhere within the point of sale, and manages the resource needed to charge electricity. Such a project could be dispersed in both public and private charging stations, aiming towards sustainable transportation infrastructure and a future of more reliable and less costly charging for EVs. The system currently supports Type-2 AC charging (3–22 kW), with CCS/CHAdeMO adapters under development using SAE J1772-2022 standards.

Literature Survey

A model-based fast EV charging station with grid integration to ensure optimal and quality power exchange may generate a reduction in the pressure on the grid; this method may minimize conversion losses.1 A hybrid algorithm based on Pareto dominance suggests an approach to boost urban electric car adoption availability and efficiency. This study successfully addresses EV infrastructure planning difficulties and promotes sustainable urban transportation.2 Solar photovoltaic and fuel cell EV charging stations may reduce carbon emissions and promote green automobiles. Fuel cells create energy from hydrogen, while solar PV charges EVs from sunlight. Renewable energy charging stations minimize CO2 and green travel. These stations can fulfill EV infrastructure demand and reduce car charging’s environmental effect by using renewable energy.3 Game theory-based control optimizes energy utilization and EV charging coordination in grid-tied PV-battery stations at two stages, accommodating different charging needs.

This strategy boosts renewable energy use and EV charging infrastructure sustainability, solving energy management problems.4 Solar-powered EV charging stations with coin-based payment methods are creative and ecologically beneficial. Alternative energy sources like solar electricity promote green behaviors and save money. Coin-based payment systems are easy to use, particularly in areas without digital infrastructure. Some critical literature discusses hybrid systems that integrate solar panels and energy storage for continuous availability, technical challenges in energy conversion and storage, and their viability in rural and semi-urban areas, which aligns with global sustainability goals.5 Smart solar-powered EV charging stations are the most efficient EV infrastructure.

Solar-powered charging stations reduce electricity use and assist the environment. Advanced battery management technologies enhance EV charging efficiency and battery life. Temperature monitoring, overcurrent protection, and fault detection provide charging safety. This method addresses EV charging demand and reduces charging infrastructure carbon emissions.6 IoT-based monitoring and management may improve energy use and save money at electric car charging stations, particularly DC fast-charging facilities. IoT technologies will allow real-time data collection and analysis for efficient energy distribution between charging stations, customers, and the power grid. This balances grid load by charging during off-peak hours or when renewable energy is abundant, decreasing user charging costs and improving system stability.

Smarter decision-making based on charging speed, battery health, and energy usage makes the EV ecosystem more sustainable and cost-effective.7 A green energy electric car charging station with battery storage and PV technology is sustainable and dependable. Solar energy reduces dependence on electricity networks and improves environmental sustainability. Storage allows efficient charging even with low solar production. This combination helps reduce carbon emissions and energy use as EV demand rises. These stations also contribute to sustainable transport and energy systems by using renewable energy.8 Electrical vehicles contribute to sustainable development.9–14 Recent studies by Kumar et al. (2024) demonstrate UPI’s potential for rural EV adoption but highlight phishing risks in QR-based systems. Our implementation addresses these through end-to-end encryption (SSL/TLS) and RBI-compliant tokenization via Razorpay APIs.

Recent advancements by Kumar et al. (2023) in ISO 15118 Plug-and-Charge protocols demonstrate seamless authentication but require significant vehicle-side and infrastructure-side upgrades. Furthermore, IIT Madras’s Paytm-integrated prototype (2022) offers UPI payments but lacks real-time, transparent energy monitoring and is tied to a single payment provider, limiting its universality.15 As a modular and scalable approach to real-time data collecting, Dhananjayan et al. (2024) developed a telematic control unit to capture crucial vehicle data without manufacturer-fitted ports.16 Our system differentiates itself by leveraging the ubiquitous UPI ecosystem without mandating a specific app, thus offering greater flexibility. Unlike the IIT Madras solution, ENERGY EASE provides users with real-time, on-screen energy data, fostering transparency and trust. This combination of universal payment access and real-time monitoring presents a unique value proposition for the Indian market.

Problem Statement

Presently, traditional EV charging systems mostly require proprietary apps, cards, or memberships to facilitate payment; these usually limit access and are user-inconvenient. In that regard, they limit the freedom of mobility the owner of an EV has since it is challenging to charge their vehicle while away from home or in regions with limited charging infrastructures. Furthermore, these systems mostly lack a power monitoring system transparent to users, leaving the latter without information regarding their energy consumption or even the actual cost of charging. This would mean that only limited visibility will be available, and hence the user will not be able to keep a proper eye on his charging habits; this would reflect inefficiency in energy usage, thus discouraging uptake in EVs. The ENERGY EASE has proposed the introduction of universal, UPI-based payment systems compatible with mobile devices of any kind.

The system thus does away with the need for specialist applications or cards to come into play and makes it very easy for anyone carrying a mobile device to access the charging station and perform transactions in a secure manner. More specifically, the system has real-time power monitoring via sensors driven by an ESP32 microcontroller that will provide users with instant data on their energy consumption and costs. This transparency enables users to track and optimize their charging habits but also supports the larger goal of efficient management of sources of energy with increasing demand. ENERGY EASE allows easy payments and information about consumption, making it convenient and accessible to EV charging stations and hence promoting the integration of an EV with a greener transportation infrastructure. User privacy is ensured through anonymized UPI IDs (only transaction logs retained), aggregated energy data (GDPR Article 35 compliance), and opt-in consent for usage analytics.

Methodology

Existing System

Payment requires proprietary apps, cards, or memberships, limiting typical EV charging alternatives. Apps or membership cards are needed to use charging stations. As the system gets more sophisticated, infrequent users or those in underdeveloped regions find it less useful. Most systems lack real-time power monitoring; thus, users are uninformed of energy use and expenses. Lack of transparency prevents users from tracking or changing their charging behaviors, reducing energy efficiency. Unfortunately, many charging stations lack automatic protections to avoid overcharging or battery damage. Lack of a smart timer or power monitoring wastes energy and harms the environment.

A grid-integrated fast EV charging model optimizes power use, reducing grid pressure and conversion losses for efficient energy management. A hybrid algorithm for EV station location in Guwahati enhances urban EV adoption by considering economic, grid, and traffic factors. Solar PV and fuel cell-based charging stations reduce carbon emissions by using renewable energy, promoting sustainable travel. Game theory optimizes energy use and EV charging coordination in grid-tied PV-battery stations, boosting sustainability. Solar-powered EV stations with coin-based payments offer eco-friendly solutions, with energy storage supporting rural infrastructure. Smart solar-powered EV stations enhance charging efficiency and safety while reducing carbon emissions and meeting demand.

Proposed System

A simple, UPI-based payment system, ENERGY EASE tackles the key EV charging infrastructure challenges. Anyone with a UPI-enabled mobile device may use it without apps or membership cards. The TFT touch screen shows QR codes that users may scan to pay with their phones without apps. Real-time voltage and current sensors on an ESP32 microcontroller monitor power. The transparency of energy consumption and expenditures lets users track their charging patterns and improve energy utilization. Timed charge restricts charging to the amount paid or a fixed amount. This reduces overcharging, energy waste, and EV battery damage. The hardware is designed for 7.2 kW (32 A/230 V) operation, complying with IEC 61851-1 and Bharat AC-001. Key components include: Power Switching: 40 A contactor, 30 A relay Sensing: ACS712 (±1.5% accuracy), ZMPT101B (±1.0% accuracy) Protection: 32 A fuse, TVS diodes, MOV, optocouplers for isolation Enclosure: IP54-rated. A full Bill of Materials (Table 1) are provided. Safety features include over-current protection, transient suppression, and proper earthing. ENERGY EASE’s contactor and relay technology identifies power difficulties and stops charging for safe and reliable charging.

Table 1: Bill of materials.
ComponentSpecificationRatingPurpose
AC ContactorSchneider Electric LC1D40AA740 A, 230 V ACMain power switching
RelayFinder 60.1230 A, 230 V ACAuxiliary control switching
Current SensorACS712ELCTR-30A-T±30 A, ±1.5% accuracyCurrent measurement
Voltage SensorZMPT101B0–250 V AC, ±1.0% accuracyVoltage measurement
Microcontroller UnitESP32-WROOM-32D240 MHz, Wi-Fi, BTSystem control and communication

Timed charging operates in two modes:

  1. User-Defined: The user selects a duration (e.g., 30 minutes for ₹100) via the TFT touchscreen.
  2. Auto-Calculated: The system estimates charging time based on the EV’s battery capacity (e.g., 40 kWh) and current state-of-charge (SOC). For example, a 20%→80% SOC charge at 7.4 kW takes ~4.5 hours, calculated via.
Equation for calculating charging time based on battery capacity, target state of charge (SOC), current SOC, and charging power.

The ESP32’s timer switch enforces these limits to prevent overcharging. A multi-layered security architecture is implemented to ensure secure transactions and user privacy. All communications between the ESP32 and Razorpay payment gateway use HTTPS (TLS 1.2/1.3). Razorpay’s PCI-DSS compliant API ensures no sensitive financial data is stored on our servers. Dynamic, cryptographically signed QR codes containing a station ID hash and timestamp expire after 120 seconds to prevent replay attacks. User privacy is maintained through transaction log anonymization and aggregation of energy data, avoiding storage of personally identifiable information.

Block Diagram

The ENERGY EASE EV Charging System simplifies electric car charging with universal payment and real-time power monitoring, as shown in Figure 1: Block diagram of ENERGY EASE (components: ESP32, relay, TFT display, contactor, timer switch, voltage sensor, current sensor). The ESP32 power source uses voltage and current sensors to measure energy use. It can show a QR code on the TFT touch screen for UPI payments. After payment, the ESP32 powers a relay and contactor. Using a timed switch to start charging offers regulated and safe sessions. This removes proprietary payment methods that inhibit station use. This allows it to provide real-time energy use and cost statistics, making transit sustainable. Energy EASE may be a public or private charging station. This charging method is safe, convenient, and adaptable.

Fig 1 | Block diagram
Figure 1: Block diagram.
Power Supply

The power source provides enough electricity to charge the EV. It will power the EV, ESP32 microprocessor, sensors, and display, keeping the system operational and monitoring and controlling charging.

ESP32 (Microcontroller Unit – MCU)

The low-cost, power-efficient ESP32 microcontroller comes pre-installed with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Thus, it is ideal for IoT applications like this EV charging station. ESP32 is the core control unit of this system, connecting to other elements, analysing sensor data, managing on/off power flow, and relaying Wi-Fi requests for payment gateway confirmation. The ESP32 controls the charging timing and duration, starting just after payment confirmation and continuing until the timer runs out or the car is completely charged. This real-time processing by ESP32 manages energy distribution and checks for voltage or current abnormalities to protect users.

Voltage Sensor and Current Sensor

Voltage and current sensors track charging energy. They provide the ESP32 voltage and current data from the EV to calculate overall consumption. With this continual scan of information, the system can ensure power supply is within limits and efficient. Errors like overcurrent or voltage fluctuations may be noticed and fixed immediately. EV battery safety and lifespan are improved by such measures, which inform users of their power use. Sensors are calibrated monthly using a 1 kW resistive load. IP65-rated enclosures protect against dust/water ingress in outdoor installations.

TFT Touch Display (QR Code)

TFT touch screens provide important screen and user interaction information, improving user experience. A 3.5-in. TFT touchscreen (480×320 resolution, SPI interface) displays QR codes and charging status. It displays a QR code that consumers may scan to pay, among other tasks. This QR code connects to the UPI payment gateway, allowing mobile payments. In addition to providing the QR code, this may indicate real-time charging status, including energy used, cost, and session duration.

Payment Gateway

The ENERGY EASE pay gateway ensures secure and simple transactions. UPI-based payments are easy using the TFT screen’s QR code. Its universal payment gateway integration lets users pay with any UPI-compatible mobile app without an app or membership. After payment, the gateway confirms with the ESP32. Charging may commence. Though incomplete, the EV cannot produce power without payment. Service exploitation by paying users will end. Dynamic QR codes include: Station geolocation hash 2-minute expiration SMS-based ID verification (users match the last four digits of the station ID). UPI payment integration includes Razorpay’s UPI API, implements PCI-DSS Level 1 compliance, dynamic QR tokens (expire in 120 seconds), and AES-256 encryption for card-on-file transactions per RBI guidelines.

Timer Switch

The ESP32 timer switch controls the charging session. User payment or preset setups may restrict charge time. The timer switch stops charging once a user pays to charge the system. This eliminates overcharging, saves energy, and expands stations. To prevent car battery overcharging and overheating, charging stops after a defined period.

Relay

A relay handles power supply and contactor connections like an electrical switch. In case of vehicle power control, ESP32 signals relay to turn on or off. After payment confirmation, the ESP32 switches the relay on to charge. In case of incomplete payment or timer lapse, the relay turns off and charging ceases. This regulated switching method will offer a nice, dependable charging experience and prevent unlawful access to EV and charging station power supplies.

Contactor

A high-power switching device for big loads, the contactor transmits energy from the charging station to the EV. High-power current normally connects to the EV battery via this contactor and relay. The relay activates after payment. Closed contactors start charging. The ESP32 activates its relay on payment failure, timer expiry, and aberrant sensor readings. The relay opens contactor circuits, stopping charging. TVS diodes (15KP series) suppress voltage spikes. A physical emergency stop button directly cuts contactor power (UL 508A compliant).

Work Flow

Figure 2: Work Flow Diagram (Steps: User initiates session, QR code display, UPI payment processing, Payment verification, Relay activation, Real-time monitoring, Session termination) shows the work flow diagram of the proposed method. It consists of many phases in the suggested system workflow:

Fig 2 | Work flow diagram
Figure 2: Work flow diagram.

Initial Stage

Desensitization: Starting the EV charging procedure is the first time the user interacts with the ENERGY EASE system. To allow the user to pay, a QR code will momentarily show on the screen.

Phase Two

The Process of Payment: The QR code is connected to the UPI payment gateway when it has been scanned. The payment’s status is now checked by the system. The status remains “Waiting for Payment” if the payment is still not complete. The loop keeps on until the transaction is verified.

Phase Three

Activation of Charging: The relay must be successfully accessible in order for electric current to flow from the wires delivering power; charging will then start.

Phase Four

Live Observation: Using onboard sensors, the system continually checks voltage and current during charging. In this way, consumers are able to get real-time data that provides a clue about power consumption, allowing them to know precisely how much energy is being used.

Phase Five

Finalization and Termination: Unless the user decides to remove it or it finishes a charging session, it remains in the monitoring phase. When a charging session is over, the system shuts off on its own. Electric car charging will be made simple, safe, and effective by integrating automated shut-off features, real-time monitoring, and simplified payments. On Wi-Fi dropout, transactions are queued locally (ESP32’s SPIFFS storage) and auto-sync upon reconnection. Users receive SMS confirmations via Twilio API (future implementation).

System Implementation

The proposed system of the ENERGY EASE EV Charging System integrates several stages, starting with an ESP32 microcontroller to manage and control the charging operations. For this purpose, the ESP32 was chosen owing to its good processing ability and Wi-Fi connectivity (“ESP32 uses HTTPS for secure payment confirmation via Razorpay/UPI APIs, with MQTT for optional cloud logging.”) at the core of the system that will enable all the components of the hardware ecosystem. A power supply unit is fed to the system as a constant and reliable source of energy for the charging process of the EV. All through every second, voltage and current sensors monitor the electricity drawn by the EV and record this true and real-time information about energy consumption as provided to the ESP32 for transparent tracking and billing.

The system also includes a TFT touch screen that generates a QR code connected to the UPI payment gateway. This screen further enhances payment mechanisms by scanning the same QR code using any UPI-supported mobile application by an end user. Thus, without requiring proprietary payment solutions, the system is made available. Once the payment has been squared away, the ESP32 will energize a relay on a contactor. That way, power can flow from the charger to the EV. An added feature is a timer switch, which controls for how long the charging operation will continue. If either the timer has timed out or the charge operation is done, the power will be cut off. It does not overcharge, which enhances safety and efficient management of the infrastructure with the charging timer-based approach. This module also enables real-time monitoring and reporting with the ESP32 connection to Wi-Fi, through which the transmission is made. Through this well-designed implementation, the ENERGY EASE system brings a convenient, reliable, and secure EV charging solution to serve accessibility and transparency needs. It brings an ideal solution to evoking the adoption of EVs in a sustainable and user-friendly manner.

Results and Discussion

The ENERGY EASE EV Charging System offers much functionality for smooth charging.

Figure 3: Home Screen (“Click to Pay” button (200×100px), Charging Station ID display) shows the home screen of the developed application. Initially it shows the option “Click to Pay.” Once the user clicks that tab, the application will be redirected to the payment page. The home screen includes a central “Pay Now” button, error pop-ups for invalid QR scans, and a session history tab.

Fig 3 | Home screen
Figure 3: Home screen.

Figure 4: Payment Screen Showing (Dynamic QR Code (150×150px), “Awaiting Payment” Status) shows the UPI-linked QR codes are printed on TFT touchscreens. Users can pay using any UPI-compatible app after seeing the “Awaiting Payment” message.

Fig 4 | Payment screen
Figure 4: Payment screen.

Figure 5: Payment Confirmation Screen (“Payment Successful” message, “Start Charging” prompt) shows the user receives a “Payment Received” prompt to confirm payment, and then the screen will indicate “Start Charging.”

Fig 5 | Payment confirmation screen
Figure 5: Payment confirmation screen.

Figure 6: Charging Status Screen The progress bar (0%–100%), voltage/current values, and time elapsed show the charging process; the status screen shows progress bars and icons of the vehicle and charging station that track the progress of charging.

Fig 6 | Charging status screen
Figure 6: Charging status screen.

Chi-square tests confirmed payment success rate significance (χ² = 4.32, P = 0.038 < 0.05) across 100 trials with 95% CI. Testing across 50 trials showed a 95% payment success rate, ±2% sensor error (vs. Fluke 87 V Multimeter), 200 ms relay activation latency, and 5% lower energy loss vs. proprietary stations (Yokogawa WT1800 measurements). A pilot study (N = 20) showed 85% satisfaction with QR payments, 15% requested voice guidance (planned via ESP32’s I2S interface), and 92% found real-time monitoring “extremely useful.” Rigorous testing confirmed system reliability mentioned below:

  • Metering Accuracy: ±1.8% error (vs. Yokogawa WT1800) across 2–7 kW loads at PF = 1.0 and 0.8. Relay Latency: 220 ms from payment confirmation to power delivery. Network Resilience: 92% payment success rate with Wi-Fi dropouts using local queuing (vs. 25% without).
  • Thermal Performance: Stable temperatures (contactor: 68°C, PCB: 55°C) during 6-hour 7 kW load test. User Trials (N = 52): 89% payment satisfaction, 94% valued real-time monitoring. Voice guidance requested for future iterations (Tables 2 and 3).
Table 2: Comparison of existing system and proposed system.
ParametersExisting SystemProposed System
Payment MethodProprietary apps, cards, or membershipsUPI-based payment via QR code.
User InterfaceApp-based or physical cardUser-friendly TFT touch screen
Real-time MonitoringLimited or absentReal-time voltage and current monitoring
Energy EfficiencyLimited due to lack of monitoringImproved efficiency through timed charging.
SecurityVariesEnhanced security with contactor and relay technology
AccessibilityRestricted by proprietary systems and infrastructureAccessible to anyone with a UPI-enabled phone
Environmental ImpactVaries based on energy sourcePotential integration with renewable energy sources
User ExperienceCan be complex and inconvenientSimple and user-friendly experience
Cost-EffectivenessHigher installation and maintenance costs.Lower installation and maintenance costs due to simplified design.
ScalabilityLimited by infrastructure requirementsEasily scalable due to modular design
Ease of UseCan be complex for new users.User-friendly interface and simple payment process
ReliabilityCan be affected by network connectivityMore reliable due to offline payment options and robust hardware (offline transactions like cash transactions can be done).
Table 3: Cost breakdown.
ComponentProposed System (₹)Proprietary System (₹)
Hardware10,00018,000
Payment Gateway5,000 (Razorpay)7,000 (Custom API)
Total15,00025,000

A comparative analysis was conducted against a commercially available Bharat AC-001 compliant charger (Brand X) and an open-source OCPP-based solution (Brand Y). The results, summarized in Table 4, highlight the advantages of the proposed system.

Table 4: Benchmarking analysis.
ParameterProposed SystemBharat AC-001 Charger (Brand X)OCPP Charger (Brand Y)
Unit Cost (₹)10,00022,00028,000
Payment FlexibilityUPI, CashProprietary App and CardRFID, App
Energy MonitoringReal-time, transparentLimited or noneBasic, on app only
Setup ComplexityLow (Plug-and-Play)ModerateHigh (Server setup needed)
User ExperienceExcellent (No app needed)Good (App-dependent)Fair (Complex for new users)
Conclusion

ENERGY EASE presents a crucial leap into more accessible, convenient, and efficient EV charging stations. It eliminates proprietary applications and cards by integrating payment processing through QR technology based on UPI. This has, therefore, meant that the EV charging system can be accessed by a large number of people. Real-time power monitoring of the connected devices is supported by a voltage and current sensor through the ESP32 microcontroller, assisting the user in transparency about energy consumption and cost. The charging behavior is thus well-informed, and payment initiation nicely transitions into automation of the shutdown of the charge.

Low-cost, scalable design supports easy rollouts of both public and private charging stations, making support for sustainable transport by ENERGY EASE. The system is designed using a modular approach with minimal maintenance requirements and is practical for use in urban as well as rural regions. These are major issues related to access to EV charging and energy consumption. Ongoing improvements leading toward network reliability (future work includes 4G/LTE fallback and edge computing for latency reduction) and payment security will further strengthen the system by increasing users’ trust in the system. For low-network areas, USSD-based UPI (99# services) will leverage India Stack’s APIs, requiring only 2G connectivity (planned Q4 2024).

PVsyst simulations show 1 kWh/day solar integration reduces grid dependence by 20%. Actual field tests recorded an 18.7% reduction over 3 months. Load testing with 10 concurrent users revealed ESP32’s threading limitations. Future versions will implement “Redis-based session management on Raspberry Pi clusters for >50-user support.” In short, ENERGY EASE contributes an efficient and sustainable ecosystem toward the move toward cleaner, more reliable transportation. User safety is paramount. The design incorporates a Residual Current Device (RCD) to prevent electric shock and a thermal cutoff switch to de-energize the system in case of overheating. A physical emergency stop button provides immediate shutdown. Regarding grid impact, the system’s timed charging feature can be leveraged to encourage off-peak charging, reducing strain on the grid. For future public deployment, the system will undergo formal certification with agencies like the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) or Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to obtain the necessary compliance marks for commercial sale.

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