With an increase in electric vehicles (EVs), people are starting to wonder where EVs are charged and how much it costs to charge one at home or at work.
At home
Home charging units are faster and cost less than relying on public chargers. Home chargers can even be used to charge overnight during off-peak hours for a cheaper cost. Those who have home solar can even charge their EVs during the day for no cost at all. Learn more about solar charging options here.
Home chargers are typically units mounted to the wall of a garage or home that are wired to the home’s electrical system. Most homes don’t need an electrical upgrade, but we may recommend one if your home is older, has fewer electrical circuits, or has limited overall supply. We will determine this need during a survey.
At work
Workplace and fleet charging needs a lot more options. Typically this requires several charging units, and load management in-between to prevent tripping the supply if/when multiple vehicles charge at the same time.
If you are looking into solar and battery options for your business, the EV charging makes a lot of sense, as it is financially easier to charge a fleet of EVs using your own solar and battery system.
Charger Types
Untethered vs. Tethered: an untethered charger is a socket that you plug in your own charging cable. A tethered charger has a charging cable attached to the unit.
Charging Speed: most home charging units run at 7kW. Commercial and workplace charging units can be faster depending on supply and demand.
Smart Charging: charging units can be programmed to charge at off-peak hours or they’re able to charge when solar generation is at its peak.
What’s Involved
A survey to check your electrical supply and the location of the charging unit
A commissioning with a run-through of how to use it with a focus on any features in an associated app or scheduled charging.