HAN Student Alexe Streamlines Digital Transition to Keep Allego Charging Stations Running Smoothly

During his internship at Allego, Alexe Harti immersed himself in the digital world behind the company’s public charging stations.

The Moldovan HAN student in Electrical and Electronic Engineering helped that accelerate the testing procedures to ensure everything operated correctly. Together with his internship supervisor, Marco Teunissen, he shares his experience.

When you plug your car into an Allego charging station and scan your charging pass, a hidden world comes to life. First, the charging station checks your pass. Is it valid? Then, communication with the car begins. The charging speed is estimated, and factors such as the stability of the power supply are assessed. If everything is fine, charging starts within seconds.

Communication between electrical devices

The protocol plays an essential role here: it’s a set of agreements electrical devices follow so they know how to ‘talk’ to each other. Thanks to this protocol, charging stations can send data to their owner's digital environment, such as Allego. Allego has a dashboard that shows all charging stations and indicates when something goes wrong, if everything is functioning correctly, at least.

In most cases, we make internships very practical. Our mantra is learning by doing.

Trouble-free charging 

This was Alexe Harti’s internship assignment. He tested whether everything still functioned correctly during the transition to a new and improved protocol and solved problems to ensure Allego received the correct notifications when an issue arose at a charging station. “Customers should be able to charge their cars without any problems”, says Alex. “If something goes wrong, it must be clear to us what the cause is: Is it the car? The charger? The charging pass? There are many possibilities. So, trouble-free charging is a bigger challenge than customers realize.” Technical Program Manager Marco Teunissen says with a smile: “We suffer without people noticing.”

Test, test, test

Testing the system is crucial for charging stations to function correctly and to enable electric driving. Marco: “You could compare a protocol to a language. However, some protocols influence each other, meaning an adjustment in one protocol can also alter another. But you never know for certain if and how it influences things.”

Every minor adjustment requires checking if the entire system still works. “During his internship, Alexe significantly made those tests easier and faster. He did an excellent job.”
 

Part-time job

Alexe did so well that Allego has since offered him a part-time job. Finding new talent is one of the reasons Allego provides internships for students. “But we especially appreciate having young people with fresh technical insights in the company regularly”, says Marco. “I’ve been working at Allego for eight years, and when you're somewhere longer, there's a risk of getting stuck in routines. Fresh blood is very refreshing.”

Internships at Allego

That’s why Allego pays close attention to its interns. “In most cases, we make internships very practical. Our mantra is learning by doing. Interns truly participate in daily business operations, such as weekly meetings.” Alexe: “It was very informative to see how daily business works inside a company. For example, I learned how to set priorities, in addition to all the technical knowledge I've gained. Working frequently with protocols taught me a lot about their structure, how they work, and their applications.”

Computer teacher in Chisinau

The internship added an extra dimension to his time in the Netherlands. Alexe is from Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. After high school, where an ‘amazing’ computer teacher sparked his fascination for computer components and functionalities, he decided to study Computer Science. “But I quickly realized I didn’t want to spend eight hours a day behind a computer changing codes.”

I chose applied science (HBO) instead of university because of its practical focus. HAN made the best first impression.

HAN

He eventually chose Electrical Engineering Bachelor at HAN. “I chose applied science (HBO) instead of university because of its practical focus. HAN made the best first impression.” The website played an important role — unsurprisingly. “It appealed to me; it’s very clear”, he says with a smile. “And Arnhem is closer to the airport than other options. That also influenced my decision.”

Moving to the Netherlands

That matters because his parents still live in Moldova. Nevertheless, they encouraged him to study in the Netherlands. “They told me the balance between tuition costs and quality of education here is very good. That’s also why my sister studied in the Netherlands.”

After nearly three years, he feels quite at home. “I didn't experience a culture shock or anything. Everything was much easier than expected, even though it was my first time living independently and having to take care of things like renting an apartment and paying taxes. It also helped that many people here speak good English.”
 

Love for his homeland

However, this doesn’t mean Alexe plans to stay in the Netherlands after graduating. “My plan is to return to Moldova and start a business there, mainly because of my love for my homeland. But first, I want to continue studying here and gain as much knowledge and experience as possible.”

Until then, Allego is happy to keep him employed as a Charging Solutions Engineer, ensuring the hidden world behind the company’s public charging stations keeps running smoothly, enabling customers to charge their electric cars without a hitch.

HAN Future Festival

Creating a new strategic plan together

Working together on HAN’s new strategic plan: that was the goal of the Future Festival, which took place on 1 April. Staff, lecturers, professors and student members of the Participation Council came together online to share knowledge and put their ideas in writing.

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
09 April 2021
Witte vlag met HAN-logo
Not so lonely anymore

International students welcome in living room

Since the lockdown and curfew, social life for students has been on the back burner. This applies even more to the international students who cannot rely on friends and family. What is the International School of Business doing to keep this group of students from getting lonely?

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
22 February 2021
Foto van basecamp van International School of Business, die is omgebouwd tot huiskamer voor eenzame internationale studenten.
Connecting Worlds

Week of the international student at HAN

This year's Week of the International Student is from 16 to 21 November. This year's theme? 'Changing Times - Connecting Worlds'. At HAN, the week is all about encounters between international and Dutch students. Students with international experience are put in the spotlight.

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
16 November 2020
baniervlaggen, trio, signing, branding, trio rood zwart wit
Vacancies and networking

Coronavirus and staying in the Netherlands after graduation

Vacancies and networking opportunities are in decline for international graduates due to the corona crisis. So graduates started a petition to extend the search year. Minister Koolmees for Social Affairs couldn't give them exactly this, but did make an important concession.

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
17 August 2020
Witte vlag met HAN-logo
Succeeding Kees Boele

Rob Verhofstad new chair of executive board

Rob Verhofstad has been appointed chair of the Executive Board by the HAN Supervisory Board. He will start on 1 October, and if possible already in September. Verhofstad is succeeding Kees Boele, who was chair of the Executive Board of HAN until 16 March 2020.

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
30 June 2020
null
International Design Awards

Design of new HAN corporate identity wins prize

Total Design won an important international prize for the design of the new HAN-brand and corporate identity. They were 3rd in the category ‘Print - Corporate Identity’ at the prestigious American International Design Awards (IDA).

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
10 February 2020
HAN vlaggen bij R31
Apple of Orange

Queen Máxima visits ElanArt at HAN

On Wednesday 8 January 2020 Queen Máxima visited the HAN campus in Nijmegen. The reason? To see the work of the ElanArt foundation, winner of the Appeltje van Oranje (Apple of Orange) in 2019 and collaboration partner of HAN.

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
14 January 2020
null
Energy technology

HAN W@TTS invests in technical education and research

HAN W@TTS stands for: ‘Infrastructure for Research and Education on Power Systems’. That means energy technology for the entire HAN University of Applied Sciences in Arnhem!

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
07 January 2020
Arnhem, Ruitenberglaan 31, vlag, vooraanzicht, banier, wit
Mobility Innovation Center

Students certified to work safely on e-vehicles

12 HAN students and 3 lecturers/coaches at the Mobility Innovation Center (MIC) at Industry Park Kleefse Waard recently received the NEN 9140 basic certificate (Safe working on e-vehicles).

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
03 December 2019
SEE, stekker elektrische auto
Humanitarian rally

Mayor Marcouch ambassador of HAN student project

Driving to Morocco in a Renault 4L to help schools and children in poor areas. A team of 12 HAN students are taking part in this very worthwhile charity. They're from 11 different countries and 3 different degree courses. Real champions!

Er is geen omschrijving beschikbaar
HAN Newsroom
03 December 2019
HAN 4L trophy rijders Nathan en Sam schudden handen