The rapid increase in technological advancements is influencing almost every aspect of our daily lives. One of the recent advancements includes the advent of Electric Vehicles (EV). These modern vehicles are extensively capturing public attention including Governments as well as the research and development industries. The main reason is their better performance and efficiency. Another plus point is the decrease in environmental pollution, which normally results from the use of gasoline vehicles. The growing trend of electric vehicles has given rise to the need for Electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
An Electric Vehicle (EV) charger is also termed as the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) or simply a charging station. It is a modern version of refuelling automobiles that charges plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles by supplying electrical power. The system of charging EVs is just like charging a battery or any other electronic device.
Unlike the typical filling station, an EV charger takes a long time to fuel up the automobiles. The possible reasons include the difference in types of connectors and levels of EV charging as well as the fact that each electric vehicle takes up a varied amount of power.
Below is some essential information about the Electric Vehicle (EV) Chargers.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV) CHARGERS MARKET REVIEW
Statistical data shows that the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger market size is worth 3.8 billion US Dollars globally in 2019, and is expected to reach the figure of 25.5 billion US Dollars by the year 2027, growing at 26.8% CAGR between 2020 and 2027 (Akshay Jadhav, 2020). Analytical data also shows that in 2019, about 819,000 units of EVCS were sold and the figure is continuously rising at a rate of 17.5% annually (Sharma, 2021).
The Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Market stations are divided into four bases: charging-type, vehicle-type, geography and end-user.
By charging type, it is subdivided into off-board chargers and on-board chargers. In terms of vehicle types, it is categorized into hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in electric vehicles (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV). The geographical segmentation includes Europe, LAMEA, Asia Pacific and North America, whereas the end-user type consists of commercial and residential EV chargers.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected almost all sorts of business and production. However, the EV production industry is somewhat safe. Several countries are now funding the original equipment manufacturers to accelerate the production of EV chargers (Fernandes, 2021). Increasing governmental funding to develop charging infrastructure and providing incentives to consumers can assist the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to grow their revenue stream and geographical presence (MarketsAndMarkets, 2021).
TYPES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV) CHARGERS
The Electric Vehicles (EV) chargers are categorized into three types. These include rapid, fats and slow chargers. These categories are based upon charging speeds and their power supply voltage. Each of these is available with a separate set of connectors. Let’s have a look at all three types: –
- Rapid (Level 3): These types of EV chargers can charge the vehicles in the least possible time. You don’t have to wait for hours to get your car ready for a journey. In contrast, these chargers can boost up your vehicle within just 20 to 40 minutes. This means that your car battery is charged up to 80% in less than an hour. You may have seen these EV chargers in malls, office buildings, hospitals, hotels, and many others in the Washington D.C. metro area. Other than the slow chargers, these EV chargers come with a tethered charging cable and can supply 50kW of DC power supply.
- Fast (Level 2): These chargers are intermediate between rapid and slow charging units based on effectiveness. The time it takes for these systems to refuel your vehicles depends on the kind of vehicle being charged, as well as the speed of the unit. They are normally rated at either 22kW or 7kW, however, on a Tesla Destination Network, they can supply 11kW of power. These may either be untethered or available with tethered charging cables.
- Slow (Level 1): These units take the longest time (from 6 to 12 hours) to charge the electric vehicles and are typically used for charging the vehicles overnight. They are commonly rated at 3kW. These charging units are untethered, so you have to use a cable to connect the vehicle to the charging point.
ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV) CHARGERS
Have you decided to install an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger at your home? That’s great! However, there are certain electrical requirements for installing EV chargers. Make sure to keep them in mind to avoid any sort of loss or damage.
Load Size
Installing an EV charger at your home is not that simple. In fact, it carries a very high load. It is essential to do some research or planning for a better understanding of your current load size. However, these calculations are quite complex, so it’s better to get the services of an Engineer or an expert Electrician. He will make sure that your new EV charger load demand won’t exceed your panel “load center” capacity, which can cause the main circuit breaker to shut down.
Location of Charger
This factor also is of prime consideration in EV charger installation. The more distance there is between the load center and the charger, the more power and time it will consume. Besides, such an installation is also more expensive. The electric code and inspectors always suggest a shorter run, which may help minimize voltage drop along the branch circuit cable. The recommended cable length is 100 to 120 feet. If your cable doesn’t fall under this distance range, some changes in cable size or a sub-panel addition can help.
Safety
This factor should never be overlooked. Special care should be taken to ensure property and residents’ safety. At present, hard-wired wall charging units come with a maximum of 48 Amperes charging withdrew capacity and it’s recommended to install with a 60 Ampere double pole breaker to avoid overload. An illegal EV outlet may cause immense damage to your home.
Continuous Cable
Electric code and expert electricians always select a continuous cable run without any joint. An example of the joint is a Junction Box splice which is used in the middle of a cable. A continuous cable can reduce the likelihood of heat and a potential loose connection in the future. Besides, it helps improve voltage at the load end. However, in some cases, a junction becomes a need, such as in the case of a short cable to overcome particular technical issues.
Some other factors also have an impact on the technical and code requirements of EV chargers. For instance, whether you are using a plug-in charging unit with NEMA 14-50 outlet or a hard-wired station. The latter one supplies more power and thus quickly charges a vehicle. However, when installing these systems in a farther location from the main panel, you may have to use a safety connect.
CUSTOMER OPTIONS FOR CHOOSING TYPE 2 EV CHARGERS
If you are looking out to install an Electric Vehicle (EV) charger at your home, you should opt for the Level 2 chargers. You can’t choose a Level 3 charger in this case because they are greatly expensive and require very powerful equipment for functioning. This makes them suitable for commercial or industrial use only. The table below is a customer guide for choosing Level 2 chargers.
| EV CHARGER | FEATURES | PROS | CONS | AVERAGE PRICE |
| JuiceBox Smart EV Charger | Built on the universal J1772ging standard. It can charge all electric vehicles, including the Tesla models. It can be used with the JuiceNet mobile app or website to control notifications, schedules, LED charging light indicators and power meters. | Available in 3 variants: 11.5kW, 9.6kW, 7.7kW. Built-in Wi-Fi. Compact size. JuiceNet support. | Some customers report issues with the Wi-Fi. | $649 |
| ChargePoint Home Flex Wi-Fi-enabled Home Charger | It is available in both hard-wired and plug-in models. Have a 23 feet long cable. It can charge up to 50 Amp. | Can be used with Alexa, which means it can be remotely controlled. Energy Star Certified. Wi-Fi-enabled. It can charge a vehicle for 37 miles of range per hour. | Some customers report problems with the charging app. | $699 |
| EVoCharge EVSE Level 2 EV charging station | It has an 18 feet long cable. Available with a Standard NEMA 6-50 plug-in and universal mounting bracket. | It charges 8times faster than a standard Level 1 Charger. Charges your vehicle for an approximate 25-35 miles of range per hour. Secure and tested. Charges all PHEVs and EVs. Elegant Design. | The system is a bit expensive. | $584 |
These were some selected EV chargers. There are several charging stations available on the Internet. Some more examples include LEFANEV 40A EV charger, BOSCH Level 2 EV Charger, Pulsar Plus Level 2 EV Charger, Blink Home Level 2 EV Charger. You can check out their details, including pros, cons, and prices, to choose the best for your home.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Electric Vehicles (EV) Chargers are amazing equipment for charging plug-in hybrid and electric models. They are subdivided into 4 types, each of which comes with specialized connectors. Thorough research about the subject, as well as hiring a professional electrician or engineer for installing the station at your home, can help save your cost and time and ensure safety.
