New Computer for Electric Vehicle Chargers and Energy Storage
Computing company Advantech has released a new single-board computer (SBC) designed for electric vehicle (EV) chargers and energy storage systems.
The new AFE-E420 uses processors from NXP called i.MX 93. These processors have been upgraded with an Arm Cortex-A55 core to improve speed and lower energy use. A special chip called a Cortex-M33 co-processor helps with real-time tasks like monitoring the connection between the charger and the EV.
The i.MX 93 processor is the first in the i.MX family to include the Arm Ethos-U65 microNPU. This allows developers to create more advanced machine learning applications that are both cost-effective and use less energy.
The AFE-E420 is made to make designing, building, and maintaining EV chargers easier. It has a 145 x 115 mm size and includes:
- Dual displays
- Four ports for Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate (CAN-FD) communication
- Six ports for RS-232/422/485 communication
- Six channels for Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD)
- Two ports for control pilots
It also has multiple connections for CAN-FD and Powerline communication (PLC) to meet standards for different EV charging types like CCS1, CCS2, NACS, GB/T, and CHAdeMo.
Alexandra Dopplinger, Director of Product Marketing at NXP, said that the i.MX 93 processors combine the power of the microNPU with strong security and integration to provide efficient, fast, and secure machine learning at the edge. She added that Advantech’s AFE-E420 SBC will help make it faster for EV charger and energy storage applications to get to market.
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | 145 x 115 mm |
| Displays | Dual |
| CAN-FD Ports | 4 |
| RS-232/422/485 Ports | 6 |
| RTD Channels | 6 |
| Control Pilot Ports | 2 |
| Communication Interfaces | Multiple for CCS1, CCS2, NACS, GB/T, and CHAdeMo |
I’m Rohan Mehta, the voice behind KhelRe—a trusted and steadily growing blog dedicated to electric vehicles (EVs) in India. With over five years of experience as a tech and automotive blogger, I turned my frustrations with owning an EV into a mission: to help others make more intelligent choices in this fast-evolving world of electric mobility.
I’ve been an early adopter of EV technology—I repurchased my first electric scooter in 2019. That experience opened my eyes to both the promises and the pitfalls of this new mode of transport. From slow charging times and range anxiety to misleading specs and hidden costs, I’ve faced it all. But instead of walking away, I decided to write about it.
That’s how KhelRe was born—a no-nonsense, hands-on blog where I share practical, real-world reviews of EV cars, bikes, and scooters. I break down features, range, performance, and pricing from a user-first perspective. I take pride in simplifying complex tech into clear, valuable insights—offering tips, ownership stories, and advice you won’t find in flashy press releases or sales brochures.
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When I’m not test-driving the latest e-scooter or comparing charging networks, you’ll probably find me tinkering with my garage EV setup, chatting with fellow enthusiasts online, or sipping chai while writing my next blog post from a cosy local café.
