Buying the best EV Chargers

When it comes to EV Chargers, if you’re buying an electric or plug-in hybrid car and you have a driveway or off-street parking adjacent to your property, then you’ll want a home EV Charging Point device to hang on the wall too. You can expect to spend somewhere between £400 and £1,200 for a high quality, safety-certified electric vehicle charging station. Off the back of this you will then to also employ an installer to get it installed on the wall at your property.

The new concept of EV Car Charging

As a concept and also as an offering to the end user too, EV car charging is a hot topic for newcomers. How on earth can we all make the switch to electric cars when they take so long to charge, and the UK’s public charging infrastructure is in its infancy? Well the good news is that the charging network is growing rapidly, but for most people it doesn’t matter either way because they will simply charge at home. By installing your own electric vehicle charging port at home, all you’ll need to do is plug your car in overnight and wake up to a full battery.

Charging at home is cheaper than using public stations, especially if you plug in at night when tariffs are cheaper. Indeed, on some ‘agile’ energy tariffs you could top up the battery for pennies. Of course, home charging points aren’t suitable for everyone. For a start you’ll need your own off-street parking. Either a driveway or a garage – or else your charging cables will pose a very real trip hazard.

Whether you’re buying your first or tenth electric vehicle, you want a home ev charger that allows you to take full advantage of your car’s charging range and how well you will be able to drive the car once it has been on charge too. This is key and will be key in how well you will be able to get from A to B. You will want to know that you will be able to travel afar and your battery won’t die.

There are a few factors to take into consideration when choosing the right electric car charger. For starters, is your vehicle a plug-in hybrid or a battery-electric vehicle? A plug-in with both a battery and an engine like the Chevrolet Volt or Jeep Wrangler 4Xe doesn’t necessarily need an expensive charger. Fully electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt or a Tesla don’t have any other way to move. They may take a long time to charge on a slow charger. You might also want to plan for the future and have the capacity to charge a full electric later on.

If you’re then in the market for a car charger for your EV, a standard wall outlet may not be enough. Level 1 chargers plug into a standard wall outlet and can be extremely affordable. Level 2 chargers do the job several times quicker than Level 1 chargers. They also require an electrician to install, and a different power outlet and circuit that you may not already have available in your household. Some chargers are hardwired, while others can simply be plugged in. Decide whether you want a plug-and-play solution or a charger that requires professional installation from an electrician.

Different plug types

In Europe, there are two different standard plug types – type 1 and type 2. Should you, for instance, have an electric car with a type 2 plug, this means you can use a charging station with a permanently connected charging cable. In contrast, a Nissan Leaf with a type 1 plug cannot be charged at this charging station. It can only be charged at this charging station with the right adaptor which is still pretty expensive and not yet state of the art.

The charging station variant with a type 2 socket offers you full flexibility, as the corresponding Mode 3 charging cable can be connected as and when required. A charging station with a type 2 socket is usually the best choice in public areas. This could be hotel or company parking spaces. There will be different types of requirements as and where you are looking for an installation. Have a good look through and between what is needed for and with domestic and commercial EV applications.

An installation will usually include a home consultation visit. This is done to assess the suitability and ensure you meet the criteria for the homecharge grant. Installation times obviously vary depending on where the point will be located and where the electricity supply enters your house.

Choosing the right EV station pod manufacturer

When choosing, make sure that it is made by a quality manufacturer who has been approved by leading automobile manufacturers. This will ensure compatibility with your car. Moreover, the manufacturer should also ensure that future updates, services or replacement parts for your charging station are available. Very easily, you can find a selection of established charging station manufacturers. After all, this is a growing market with more and more brands entering all the time.

Getting an EV charger installed

The installation of a charging station for electric cars should only be carried out by a qualified electrician. Before you use an existing domestic socket to charge your electric car, it is particularly important to check the sockets. Also check the cables in older buildings. Make sure that charging can also be carried out at full power over a period of several hours.

Overall, if you aren’t installing your charger inside a garage, make sure to purchase one that is outdoor rated. This is key no end. Take into consideration aspects such as the weather and how well it will be able to be maintained too; all of this will help no end. Do all of the research you can to buy the perfect device and charger for the job in hand. Assess how you need your charger to work for you and your needs at your property. Reducing your carbon footprint is all the rave nowadays so undergoing this transition is for sure a step in the right direction!