Connectivity Antennas for EV Charge Points

A public charge point that cannot reach its back office cannot take payment, report faults or receive updates. For drivers, it is simply broken. Most UK charge points connect over cellular, so the antenna has a direct effect on uptime, and on how often an engineer has to visit.

Why the link matters

Charge point operators face growing pressure on reliability, including requirements for rapid charge points under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023. Many reported charger failures are communications faults rather than power faults. A charger in a basement car park, behind a building or inside a metal pillar may struggle to hold a cellular connection with a poorly placed antenna.

Embedded or external?

• Embedded antennas sit inside the enclosure, out of sight and out of reach. They work well in plastic or composite housings. Flexible types such as the 2JF0683P cover 617 to 5925 MHz and can be fixed to the inside of a plastic panel.
• External antennas are needed when the enclosure is metal or the site has weak coverage. A vandal-resistant screw mount such as the 2J7183Ba, rated IP67, IP69 and IK09, suits public sites.

Designing around a metal enclosure

Many charger housings are steel or aluminium, which blocks cellular signal almost completely. Options include a plastic radio window with an adhesive antenna such as the 2J5283P behind it, or a low-profile external antenna on the top of the unit. Keep the antenna away from high-current cables and power electronics, which generate electrical noise.

Underground and multi-storey car parks

Coverage in basements is often poor or absent. A shared external antenna at ground level, feeding a local router, can serve several chargers. In larger car parks, an in-building coverage solution may be needed. Our in-building coverage guide covers the options.

Future-proof the band coverage

Charge points are expected to run for many years. With 2G and 3G being phased out, specify antennas that cover LTE and 5G bands from 617 MHz upwards so the hardware outlasts network changes.

Test on site

Measure signal quality at the installed position, not in the car park entrance. Log the result at commissioning so later faults can be compared against a known baseline.

Frequently asked questions

Can a charge point antenna go inside the unit?

Yes, if the enclosure is plastic or has a radio-transparent window. In metal enclosures the antenna needs to be outside the housing.

Which bands should a charge point antenna cover?

LTE and 5G bands from 617 MHz upwards, so the hardware continues to work as older networks close.

Why do chargers lose connection in car parks?

Concrete and steel block cellular signal, especially below ground. A shared external antenna or an in-building coverage system usually fixes the problem.

Browse the cellular and IoT range, or contact sales@renair.co.uk to specify antennas for a charge point rollout.