Buying an EV Charger

If you’re considering EV ownership, it’s important to know your options. You’ll need a 240V EV charger for home installation and public charging stations (EVSE).

A home charger requires a specialized breaker box that can handle the additional current. Check with your electrician for an accurate cost estimate.

EV chargers can be found in public spaces like malls, parking garages and restaurants. There are also a variety of mobile apps and maps to help you find them.

1. Adapters

EV drivers have many options to choose from when it comes to charging their vehicle. They can charge at home, in work parking lots and even at friends’ houses. While the EV charging network is still young and not yet universally available, adapters can help make the process smoother by allowing owners to use their vehicles with different types of chargers.

Most public charging stations have a Type 2 socket, which is compatible with most EVs and plug-in hybrids. This is the type of socket that most EV charger cords are designed to fit into. However, some people’s homes may only have NEMA 10-30 outlets, which are not suitable for EV charging (at least EV Charger not at the level of the fastest EV chargers). In this case, an adapter such as the Rophor 10-30 NEMA to Tesla adapter allows people to plug their 14-50 Tesla charger cord into the three-prong NEMA outlet in their home.

There are also adapters for CHAdeMO chargers, which are less common and not as widely used as the Tesla connector. These allow owners of CHAdeMO-compatible EVs to charge at Tesla destination and fast-charging stations, although they cannot be used with Tesla Superchargers as there are no adapters for that particular connection type. This flexibility can make a big difference for long journeys, as a fully charged battery can ensure that you never have to worry about running out of power on the road.

2. Cables

There are many EV charging cables on the market. They all come in different lengths and power ratings. It is important to find a cable that matches or exceeds the kW capacity of your charger, as this can significantly increase your charging speed.

It is also important to choose the correct plug type for your vehicle and charger. For example, if you have a Type 1 plug on your car and a J1772 charger at work, you will need a Type 2 cable. This is because the Type 1 plug cannot accept a higher power level.

The EV Charger cable is also very durable and can withstand the wear and tear of daily use, such as being pulled across the floor or thrown into a puddle. It has a rubber cover that keeps moisture away from the connector pins, preventing corrosion and prolonging the life of your charger.

The EV Charger cable is subject to rigorous digital testing across 50 specialised metrics, including insulation resistance, continuity, phase rotation, four-wire Kelvin low-resistance and coding resistor tests. This ensures unparalleled safety and reliability for peace of mind. It also features an oversized 0.75mm2 pilot core, which helps to reduce the risk of communication failure by increasing the cable’s resilience to prolonged flexing and mitigating voltage drop. This is particularly important for cables longer than 5 metres.

3. Apps

A good EV charging app can provide valuable insights into the way you use your car, and how it uses electricity. It will also allow you to optimise Power Battery your usage to make the most of off-peak tariffs, reducing your costs.

Most EVs come with branded apps from their manufacturers that can help you navigate the intricacies of recharging on the go. They often include a wide range of features, from finding the nearest compatible charger to setting up and monitoring home charging. However, these aren’t the only options available. Third-party apps can often offer more sophisticated functionality than the branded options.

Some of the best EV charging apps let you locate, find prices and pay for public charging at stations across the UK and Europe. One such option is Chargemap, which provides a full map of charging points and lets you filter by plug type, speed and charging network. This allows you to see exactly which stations are compatible with your electric vehicle, and is particularly useful for planning journeys.

Other apps, such as ABRP, specialise in journey planning and can factor in stops for charging on longer trips. This can save you time by automatically calculating routes that take in appropriate charging stations, and even list the fastest charging stations on your route. Another useful feature offered by ABRP is the ability to switch your vehicle on and off from within the app. This can be helpful if you have an EV with more than one driver and want to share it with a friend.

4. Looks

A good EV Charger is attractive and blends in with its surroundings. There are a number of stylish chargers available, and they often come with additional features that make them even more appealing to electric car owners.

For example, “smart” chargers use Wi-Fi connectivity to communicate with the charging station, other EV drivers, and local energy resources. By doing so, they can avoid peak energy costs and help ensure that the EV charger is used when demand for electricity is low. Smart EV chargers are also able to display enhanced information and status on the vehicle’s charging session.

EV Owners can now plug their EVs into Level 2 chargers with ease and enjoy the benefits of an electric vehicle lifestyle. They can do this at home or at thousands of public charging stations across America, which are popping up like berries on an overripe banana. And they can even use a mobile phone app to find the nearest available charger when away from home. That way, going from empty to full is as easy as refueling a gas-powered car.