HUBCORE
Knowledge

Frequently asked questions

Answers about charging, load management, apartment associations, homes, businesses, electrical safety, public charging and battery life.

General

What is HUBCORE?
HUBCORE is an Estonian energy technology project combining smart AC charging with building energy management. The focus is everyday charging where cars are parked for long periods — at home, at work and at apartment buildings. The solutions are in a pilot and partner-development stage.
Is HUBCORE building a fast-charging network?
No. HUBCORE focuses on everyday charging where the car is already parked for a long time. Fast charging matters on long trips, but most daily charging needs are covered by slower and cheaper AC charging.
What can be done in the HUBCORE customer portal?
The portal is a self-service view for following your sites, metering data and requests. Some modules are still in development and are labelled “Coming soon” in the portal. Simulated and sample data are always clearly marked.
Is the HUBCORE solution already available in my city?
HUBCORE is in a pilot and partner-development stage, so we do not claim service availability in a specific city in advance. Register your interest and we will assess the location, ownership and technical feasibility.

Apartment associations

How does an apartment association start planning a charging solution?
The first step is mapping demand and technical feasibility: how many parking spaces, what the grid connection is, where the main distribution board sits and how cabling can be routed. Only then is the Mini/Medium mix chosen. HUBCORE starts with a site and technical pre-assessment.
Does every apartment have to want a charger right away?
No. The sensible approach is to build readiness (cable routes and control) for the whole car park and add charging points in stages as demand grows. That avoids repeating the same construction work.
How is charging electricity cost split in an apartment building?
Charging is metered per charging point so the cost can be linked to a specific user rather than to shared association costs. The exact billing model is agreed with the association; HUBCORE is not an electricity retailer or grid operator.

Private homes

Which charger should a private home choose?
Start from daily mileage and parking time. If the car stands 8–10 hours overnight, 3.7–11 kW usually covers the need completely. Higher power helps only when the car must leave again after a short stop.
Does a home need a bigger main fuse for a charger?
Often not. Load management keeps charging within free capacity and reduces current when the stove, heat pump or sauna is running. Whether an upgrade is needed is determined in the technical pre-assessment.

Businesses

Why is a workplace car park especially well suited to charging?
Cars stay parked for 8–9 hours at a time. The same grid capacity therefore serves far more cars than fast charging would, and charging falls in daytime hours when solar output is highest.
Can a business restrict who uses the charger?
Yes — this is designed as access rights and point visibility: a charger can be private, staff-only or public. Some of these settings are still in development and are clearly labelled in the interface.

Technical

What does “smart charging up to 22 kW” mean?
It is the upper limit of three-phase AC charging. The actual power depends on the vehicle's on-board charger, the grid capacity currently free at the building or site, load management and any battery buffer. 22 kW is not guaranteed in every situation.
How do Mini and Medium charging differ?
Mini charging is a single-phase 230 V controllable outlet or a low-power charging point, suited to long parking and everyday driving. Medium charging is three-phase smart AC charging up to 22 kW with dynamic load management.
What is dynamic load management?
The system measures the building's actual consumption and distributes charging power within the free capacity. When building load rises, charging current is reduced automatically; when it falls, charging ramps back up. This avoids main-fuse overload and costly grid connection upgrades.
What is OCPP and why does it matter?
OCPP is an open communication protocol between a charging point and management software. An open protocol keeps the owner from being locked to one manufacturer and allows the charger to be connected to another management platform later.
How is charging started — RFID, card or app?
Common methods are an RFID card or fob, a mobile app and a QR code. Which one applies at a given site depends on the installed hardware and the management platform in use, and it is clearly indicated at the charging point.
What data does HUBCORE collect?
The technical data needed for operation: measured energy, charging sessions, device status and faults. Data submitted through the contact form is used to answer the enquiry. Details are in the privacy policy.

Safety & installation

Can an EV be charged from an ordinary extension cord?
It should not be done. Charging is a long, continuous load that ordinary extension cords and unverified sockets are not designed for — overheating is a real risk. Use a purpose-built installation fitted by a qualified electrician.
Who carries out the installation?
Electrical work is carried out by a qualified electrical contractor. HUBCORE may use vetted installation, hardware and software partners; the HUBCORE brand, standard, data logic and customer relationship stay with HUBCORE.

Public charging

Is a charger in a public car park always a public charging point?
No. The charger may belong to a building owner or a company and be intended only for residents, staff or customers. That is why the point must carry a clear “Public charger” or “Private charger” label.
How do I find out the price before charging?
The price per kWh in euros and any time-based fee must be visible at the charging point or in its detail view before charging starts. HUBCORE does not publish unconfirmed price lists.

Energy & battery

How does slower charging affect battery life?
Lower charging power means lower thermal stress on the battery. Everyday AC charging during long parking is generally gentler on the battery than frequent fast charging. Exact recommendations come from the vehicle manufacturer.
How can charging energy cost be kept low?
Three main levers: shifting charging to cheaper hours, avoiding peak load through load management, and using your own solar generation. Actual savings depend on your electricity contract and consumption profile.
Are solar panels and battery storage necessary for charging?
They are not required. They are additional layers: solar reduces purchased energy and a battery buffer helps smooth peak load. Smart charging and load management work without them too.