Kontron will present its integrated PV surplus charging solution for the first time at Power2Drive Europe in Munich.
At the joint booth of its subsidiaries eSystems MTG and Kontron Solar (Hall C6, Booth 110, 7–9 May 2025), the Austrian IoT company will be showcasing a technology that optimises the charging of electric vehicles using self-generated solar power. The SolBrid hybrid inverter and a smart wallbox developed by e-mobility subsidiary eSystems enable uninterrupted PV charging, precise charge monitoring, and battery storage monitoring. Standardised interfaces ensure seamless integration with external energy management and control systems.
“PV surplus charging is critical to the success of e-mobility”, explains Hannes Niederhauser, CEO of Kontron AG. “Electric vehicles can be charged 100 percent sustainably and cost-effectively with your own solar power. At the same time, PV-based home charging relieves pressure on the power grid and drives the energy transition. ”With technologically leading industry solutions like the SolBrid hybrid inverter from Kontron Solar and the wallbox ghostONE from eSystems, Kontron now offers a fully integrated solution for optimised PV surplus charging — all under one roof.
Maximising the use of solar energy
The overall system is designed to optimise the use of solar energy: Up to four MPP trackers maximise the PV input power of the SolBrid hybrid inverter. Thanks to its implementation of the ISO 15118 standard, the intelligent wallbox can supply the EV continuously with solar energy. This standard allows for signalling of very low charging currents per phase. A minimum charging power of 1.4 kW or less can be achieved without switching between phases — provided the electric vehicle also supports ISO 15118. For vehicles that do not, eSystems offers a 3-1 phase switching function as part of the wallbox.
“The growth of e-mobility requires completely new approaches to home charging”, stresses Jochen Paukert, Managing Director at eSystems. “That’s why our wallbox is a platform packed with smart features and connected functions.” The wallbox is available in two versions: as a fully customisable white-label product (‘ghostONE’), tailored to the customer’s brand and requirements. Secondly, as an immediately available solution under the Kontron Solar brand. Both versions are compatible with nearly all electric and hybrid vehicles. In addition to ISO 15118, the wallbox supports the EEBUS protocol for smart home integration. It implements the EEBUS use case ‘Limitation of Power’ (LPC), making it compliant with §14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and thus grid-friendly. A version compliant with calibration law is also available. The charging system is also optimally protected against hacker attacks: It fulfils the new European Radio Equipment Directives (RED), which comes into effect in summer 2025.
Standardised interfaces
The flexible SolBrid hybrid inverter supports a wide range of system configurations — from complex roof layouts to hybrid storage solutions. When combined with the Grid Switch disconnector, the system offers additional functionality such as emergency power operation, real-time energy measurement, and precise energy monitoring. Grid disconnector and energy meters connect via standardised interfaces, and multiple high-voltage battery systems are supported. SolBrid also supports the manufacturer-independent SunSpec communication protocol and offers connectivity via WLAN and LAN.
Kontron has bundled its expertise in PV charging in recent years: Following the acquisitions of eSystems MTG and Katek Memmingen (now Kontron Solar), the company is pursuing a strategy to unlock the full potential of solar-powered charging and contribute meaningfully to the energy transition. Hannes Niederhauser, CEO of Kontron AG, adds: “We offer comprehensive solutions for sustainable charging from a single source — from the inverter and grid disconnector to the smart wallbox. All components are perfectly coordinated.”
