QNX RTOS for reliability in vehicle-to-grid charge post

Part of the UK Government-backed VIGIL program, the OCPP 2.0 compliant charge controller allows the charge-post to manage Electric Vehicle (EV) / building energy dispatch and ensures distribution network limits are not exceeded.

Based on NXP i.MX6 hardware, and designed by leading electronic design consultancy ByteSnap Design, the controller, named RAY, reduces latency and improves system robustness by allowing direct control via the building management system. During the VIGIL project, it was successfully integrated into three V2G units at Aston University, and is already being used by commercial customers.

The QNX Neutrino RTOS, supplied by Direct Insight is a microkernel-based full-featured and robust OS that scales down to meet the constrained resource requirements of and real-time embedded systems. Its modular architecture enables customers to create highly optimized and reliable systems with low total cost of ownership. QNX is often used as a commercially supported and licensed alternative to Linux in ARM-based embedded systems which are mission-critical, including those which require safety certification, particularly in automotive, medical or industrial fields.

“Early EVSE infrastructure has struggled with perceptions of poor reliability. Making this advanced controller available based on QNX means that customers can rely on the performance of the charge posts year-in, year-out,” commented Dunstan Power, ByteSnap Director.

David Pashley, Direct Insight’s MD, added: “ByteSnap is without doubt at the leading edge of embedded design and development, and are known for creating a quality product. Therefore, its choice endorses QNX’s credentials in mission-critical applications.”