EV HOME CHARGING TYPES

No more petrol stations!! Owning an EV is different from a conventional ICE ( Internal Combustion Engine) car, but similar in the fact the energy to drive the car is required. Connecting your EV to a charger is the basis of being an electric car owner. But which to choose? Solarpower-ev is here to guide you through all of your EV charging purchases.

While the first electric vehicles (EVs) were created in 1884, there is a major push for more EV adoption within the last couple of years than ever before.
In recent times, the Nissan Leaf was the first fully EV sold en mass. When Tesla released their stylish and affordable range of EVs, it was considered “the” breakthrough which has lead all tradional and new car companies originating from around the world to release EVs. The future of EVs is now certain and many governments globally have mandated the phase out of ICE engines. Accessible, fast and reliable charging stations for public-use are being rolled out, but most charging will be done at home either by Solar power or overnight low. This article will explore the differences among charging connectors for home charging and how to choose the EV connector that’s best for you.

EV Charging Options:

While all EVs offer lower or zero pollution emissions to the environment, not all are created the same. There are some variations among charging connectors that depend on several factors ie from the size and shape of the charger to the charging speed and setup.
Charging your EV via a home charger is not dissimilar to using a charger for your phone. Instead of a charging box that connects to any plug found in the house, EVs use a charging station you can set up in your garage or outside in the drieway.
Once the charging station is installed by an electrician or plugged into the voltage-appropriate outlet, all you have to do is connect to your car and wait for it to charge.

We are seeing a large influx of cheaper chargers on the market with no after sales service coupled with inferior quality and design. There are certain features we highly recommend when selecting a car charger.

DLB- DYNAMIC LOAD BALANCING:

Firstly, we belileve that all chargers, as a basic standard, need to have DLB or Dynamic Load balancing. This feature allows the charger to ramp down the charge reducing the risk of overloading your home circuits. For example, if you are running an air-conditioner, oven and hot water service as well as your charger all at the same time, your electrical system will be stressed. The DLB will reduce the charge to the car until there is ample capacity returned in your system to allow for greater charging again.

SOLAR DIVERSION:

It’s a no brainer to charge your car from your rooftop solar. Any excess solar not consumed in your home can be diverted to your car battery instead of exporting to the grid, for little financial gain. We have many clients impressively running their cars on over 95% solar power. It may take a little more planning and capital expenses at the beginning, but the rewards are excellent.

Types of Charging Connectors:

Beyond the standard charger your vehicle comes with, you should consider upgrading chargers to a permanent wall mounted fixture in your home. We have broken down the different types of chargers and their functions. To follow, we will cover the types of EV home chargers available for your vehicle.

TYPE 1 CHARGERS:

This 15 amp, 240v charger is the minimum charger necessary and is the standard charging plug you’d most likely have in your home. It’s the same plug used for your large appliances like the refrigerator or washing machine. The majority of household circuits and plugs are 10 Amp, so we recommend upgrading to at least 15 Amps to allow for the extra capacity a car requires, especially when this will be used for the next number of years.
Level 1 chargers are the slowest at a rate of 6 to 8 kilometres per hour. This charger is best for those who can plug their car in and leave it charging overnight, who don’t have the need to drive often, and who have ample time available. The equipment that comes with the typical EV will have a Level 1 charger with it.

TYPE 2 CHARGERS:

If you require a faster charge, a Level or Type 2 charger is your best choice. These are usually sold as an optional extra at the time of purchase or lease of your new EV and have a charging capacity of 30 to 100km per hour. Due to their fast charge capacity, they require heavier duty cords and equipment but for customers who only have Level / Type 1 chargers, there are adaptors available to convert to Level 2. Solarpower-ev specialise in this type of charger. As the EV industry powers along, we will see larger chargers available on the market. Due to this drive, we will focus on Level / Type 2 Chargers in this article.

There are inbuilt 7kwh or 11kwh chargers available for homes with single or three phase respectively. If you have a three phase connection, we recommend you size your cabling and breakers to allow for the future capacity of 22kwh as the forecast dictates this requirement isn’t too far away. The industry is moving quickly so prospective proofing your chargers now will allow you to be ready for newer models tomorrow.

RAPID PUBLIC CHARGES:

Level 1 and 2 charging options offer alternating current (AC) charging, where the energy created from the plug is converted into usable energy inside the vehicle. However, rapid public charging stations use direct current (DC) power.
DC fast charging allows the power to convert the energy in the charger itself and before proceeding into your vehicle. These types of chargers are typically larger and used for en-route rapid charging (like a fuel pump for a petrol powered vehicle).

Rapid chargers have CHAdeMO and CCS connectors attached, requiring you to select which type fits your vehicle socket.
While rapid charging seems ideal because of the rate at which it charges your vehicle, it is not recommended as an everyday source of power due of its inconsistent charging patterns, which can hurt your vehicle’s battery health and ability to recharge.

Which Charging Connector is Best for you?

Most EVs you buy off the lot are equipped with a Level 1 charger cable that you simply plug into your everyday 240-volt outlet. As we mentioned however, this type of charging method, although fine in emergencies, is very slow. Level 2 chargers are hard-wired into their own dedicated circuit and recharge your vehicle a lot quicker.

Electric car charging is all about making sure your vehicle is adequately charged when you hit the road, with some spare capacity for addtional kilometres. If you are travelling around town, its not necessary to have a full charge every day. If you work away from home during the week, the weekends are the perfect time to fill the battery from solar, and maybe a top up is needed mid week. The aim for solar powered driving is to maximise the excess rooftop solar power and plan in advance to ensure you are have enough charge when needed.

If the Level 1 charger that came with your EV does not fit your lifestyle, you will need to consider a Level 2 charger.

Choosing the Right EV Charger:

When shopping for a charger, there are some important things to consider:
 Cost: It’s important to set up the charging station properly from the beginning, and there’s a charger for every budget. The base line models with a CT clamp for reading, currently start at $1300 and go up to $3000, before installation. Most charges below this price will compromise on features, design or build quality. In the past, we have seen the massive uptake of cheap products in the solar industry, where 90% have been replaced a few years later for better quality units. From our experience, buy quality and buy once. We are proud specialists in helping our customers set up their homes with an affordable and need-basis charging system

 Reputable manufacturers: The cheaper internet-based re-badged OEM products tend to be a poorer quality product. They lack the basic requirements to safely charge a vehicle car, and consequently, the long term costs can be excessive. Reputable manufacturers that value quality, functionality and design with an Australia after sales department who honour warranties is who we value the most.
An example to consider: Australia has the largest uptake of solar in the world, with close to 40% of houses having a solar system. There has been a lot learned about solar inverters and in our professional opinion, we recommend you have a quality inverter to match your charger with the inverter brand. This way, the portal and infrastucture are more compatible.
 Cable length: You need to have a plan for where your vehicle will be parked most of the time in relation to the charging station. Cable length ranges between 5 and 10 metres. Most tethered units have a standard 5 metre cable, but some like the Hypervolt, offer options up to 10 metres. Buy what suits your needs, and ensure the cable is not too long as it can be awkward to store.
 UL-listed: When choosing a vehicle, make sure your car is as safe as possible. A UL-listed charging station can help bring you peace of mind with an independently-tested piece of technology.
The UL-AU Mark is a specific solution for Australia and represents certification to local regulatory requirements including relevant Australian Standards. Anything hardwired electrically should be UL listed. Importing a cheap charger from overseas is risky.
The cable may be wet or dirty before storing away