SIM cards for EV chargers and charge points.
Chargers go where the cars are, which is rarely near a router. ThingSIM gives each charge point in Ireland its own multi-network connection back to your platform, billed per active SIM with no contract.
What the kit needs
There when the car plugs in
A charger that can't reach its back office can't start a session. Each SIM roams across the Irish networks and uses the strongest where it is installed.
Private by default
Chargers get private addresses. Add a Private APN or an IPSec VPN and OCPP traffic never touches the public internet.
Billed from switch-on
Ship SIMs with the hardware and activate each one on commissioning day. A SIM not activated starts billing 30 days after despatch, with an email 5 days before.
How it connects
1 GB, Ireland multi-network, one SIM per charger.
A starting point, not a rule. Move any SIM up or down a size from the portal.
Questions people ask
What SIM card does an EV charge point need?
A data-only IoT SIM (also called an M2M SIM) in the size the charger's modem takes. Every ThingSIM is a trio card with mini, micro and nano sizes in one, or an eSIM, and roams across the Irish networks, so the same SIM works wherever in the country the charger is installed.
How much data does a charge point use?
Less than most people expect. OCPP status and session messages are small, usually a few megabytes to a few tens of megabytes a month. Screens, adverts and firmware updates add to that. We suggest starting on 1 GB (€2.49 a month) and moving each SIM up or down from the portal once you can see what it really uses.
Can one SIM in a router serve several chargers?
Yes. Put the SIM in a 4G router and connect the chargers on that site behind it. Size the plan for the whole site rather than one charger: 5 GB is €8.99 a month.
Do I need a static IP for OCPP?
Usually not. Chargers connect out to the back office, so the private IP address every SIM comes with is enough. If your platform has to reach in to the charger, or only accepts connections from a known address, add a static public IP for €9.49 a month per SIM, or use a Private APN or IPSec VPN.
Which networks do charge point SIMs use?
Ireland multi-network SIMs roam across Vodafone, Three and eir and use whichever is strongest where the charger stands.
When does billing start?
On the day you switch each SIM on in the portal, not the day it is delivered, so SIMs can ship inside the hardware. There is no contract, and a SIM that uses its monthly allowance pauses rather than running up extra charges.
