EV Charging Equipment
It is crucial to stay informed about the diverse range of charger equipment available in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) charging market. Given the industry's relative newness, there is a constant influx of new products, manufacturers, and technologies, with an increasing focus on intelligent features for EV chargers. Manufacturers are in a race to introduce innovative products and establish themselves as industry leaders. Currently, Chargepoint holds the lead in terms of the most installed chargers, closely followed by Tesla, Blink Charging, Electrify America, EV Connect, Volta Charging, and Evgo.
When selecting a manufacturer, it is important to consider the charger's functionality for the end user. Reputable brands like Chargepoint, Tesla, and Blink Charging can guarantee the installation of a quality product. Moreover, these brands are more likely to provide ongoing support in case of a malfunction or future service needs. In contrast, opting for less established or cheaper brands may pose a risk of limited future support and fewer features compared to high-end commercial counterparts.
Choosing the appropriate charger for your EV charging system is a critical step in the process. Understanding the charging parameters, including speed and capacity, is key to meeting user requirements. EV chargers are categorized into Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 (DC fast chargers), and Level 4:
- Level 1: Operating at 120V, 20A, with a power output of 1.4 to 1.9 kilowatts, these chargers are suitable for multiday charging and are commonly used in residential settings.
- Level 2: Operating at 240 volts AC, with power ranging from 3.3 to 19.2 kilowatts, these chargers are faster and suitable for both home and public charging, providing a full charge in 6-8 hours.
- Level 3 (DC fast chargers): Operating at variable voltages, often at 480V 3-phase, with power exceeding 20 kilowatts, these chargers offer rapid charging in 20-40 minutes, ideal for quick stop locations.
- Level 4: This less standardized category may refer to high-power charging systems exceeding the capabilities of Level 3 chargers, typically found in specific applications or commercial settings.
Installing chargers
Level 1 and Level 2 chargers have the flexibility to be mounted in different ways. Commonly found are chargers on a pedestal mount with conduits entering the bottom of the charger. This allows the electrical cables to be protected underground from damage in the terrestrial. The other variation is mounting chargers to a wall and having exposed electrical conduits entering the charger from the backside, via a junction box. This method is best performed where new chargers are being installed in or directly outside an existing building where conduits can be supported by walls and beams.
Asides from the standard pedestal and wall mounted car chargers are alternative options for installing EV chargers. For example, a product from BEAM offers solar charging and battery energy storage without the need for connecting to an electrical infrastructure. It allows for rapid EV charging deployment with minimal installation cost. More products are being developed to allow for cheaper installations and easier deployment of chargers such as the Eaton’s EV Charging busway, which will allow for easy configuration and minimal work for existing infrastructure*.
