Charging Your Ev With Solar Power
Charging an EV at home using solar energy is another way owners can save money and make running their EV even more environmentally friendly by using a renewable energy source. There are two main things those who want to power their EV with solar should consider:
- Power output/size of their solar setup
- Weather unpredictability
Sizing the solar panels
Home solar setups commonly output between 5kW and a maximum of 10kW of AC.
Current or soon-to-be EV owners should factor in the energy demands of charging an EV when sizing a solar setup. If the combined energy requirements of a household and charging an EV exceed the output of your solar system, then grid energy will be used supplementarily.
For instance: if your homes power usage during the day is 5kW, and your EV has a charge rate of 5kW, then a 10kW solar system will be sufficient to supply energy for both.
Weather unpredictability
A solar panel arrays power output is its rated maximum, meaning in suboptimal conditions such as overcast days less energy will be produced, creating a larger reliance on the grid.
Owners who don’t want to power their home or EV from the grid can purchase a smart charger, able to alternate between solar- and grid-supplied energy depending on conditions.
A smart charger can determine when a solar setup is producing more energy than a house is consuming and, when suitable, automatically direct the surplus energy into charging the EV.
What Evs Are Available In Australia
The Electric Vehicle Council lists the current EV models on the Australian market on its site.
For a more comprehensive look at the range of pure electric BEVs, PHEVs and hybrid cars on offer in Australia, go to the Government’s Green Vehicle Guide and look for the Advanced vehicle search. Search by fuel type and find out the range, annual fuel costs and energy consumption for each model.
Read more: How to buy the best eco-friendly car
Contact Us For All Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions And Accessories Across Australia& New Zealand
EVSE believes in a green sustainable future by delivering the latest EV Charging technology at the lowest price. All our work is certified and guaranteed with the backing of global brands.
Our team of experts can provide specialist EVSE advice and are available to answer any of your questions over the phone
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How To Charge Your Electric Car At Home
Here’s how to charge your electric car at home, maximizing convenience and cost
It’s important to know how to charge your electric car at home. Whenever the subject of EV charging comes up, someone brings up the state of the public charging infrastructure. While having more public chargers is a good thing, the fact is drivers do the vast majority of electric car charging happens at home.
Thats the most convenient and cost-effective way to do it, after all. No more trips to the gas station, finding an electric car charging station near you. You get home, plug in, and you only pay as much as your energy company charges. It couldnt be easier.
But there are a few different ways to recharge at home, each with their own pros and cons. Heres how to charge your electric car at home.
What Are Chargers And Evse
Electric vehicle supply equipment is the hardware that delivers energy, from an electricity source, to charge an EV battery. It is often referred to as the charging station and sits outside of the car, or as part of a charging cable. The charger in the car converts power entering the car from AC to DC. Faster EVSE that use DC power do not require an internal charger as the power is directly fed into the battery without requiring conversion.
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Should I Charge My Ev To 100
The answer is generally no if youâre wondering whether you should charge your electric vehicle to 100%. While itâs fine to do so occasionally, charging to 100% on a regular basis can shorten your batteryâs lifespan.
Instead, itâs typically best to charge between 80 and 90%. This will help keep your battery healthy and maximize its lifespan. Of course, you can always charge 100% if you need to, but try not to make it a habit.
Charging Your Ev Is As Easy As Charging Your Phone Or Plugging In The Toaster
One of the best things about driving an EV is that you can charge up at home, so theres no need to queue at the petrol station before your summer roadie, or when youre in a hurry to work. Theres a growing number of public EV charging options for when youre out and about, too.
Weve broken down the types of chargers available, home and public charging, as well as what charging your EV will cost you. Spoiler: not much.
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How Do You Charge An Electric Car At Home
Because an extension cord hanging out the window isnt exactly an appealing visual.
Electric cars and all of their many acronyms have been buzzwords for some time now, but for the vast majority who dont own or have never driven one, they remain a somewhat mystifying modern marvel.
Sure, price and misconceptions around electric vehicle range figures are definitely affecting electric vehicle popularity, but for many buyers its more that the logistics of charging them are one big question mark.
Australia is currently in a catch 22, analytics firm said in October 2019 of the demand for electric cars. The lack of recharging stations and infrastructure discourages electric vehicle buyers. Without consumers intention to purchase, the government will not prioritise to build whats needed.
For 23-year-old Melburnian Jessica, her desire to do the right thing by the environment and purchase an EV was quickly thwarted by confusion, jargon and mystifying answers from dealers.
For prospective buyers without off-street parking, charging an EV may seem daunting.
I really wanted to do my bit for the environment by choosing an electric car, but because I only have on-street parking available to me, charging the vehicle would have been a problem, Jessica said.
The result? Jessica is the reluctant owner of a petrol car, placing her environmentally friendly aspirations on hold for now.
How Long To Charge An Electric Car
Electric cars can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day to charge, depending on the size of the battery and the charger used. Level 2 chargers, which are the most common type found at public charging stations, can charge an electric car in 4-6 hours. Level 3 chargers, which are much less common, can charge an electric car in as little as 30 minutes.
An electric vehicle can be charged in the same way that a mobile phone can be, by topping it up during the day and leaving it plugged in for the overnight. There could be a limit to how long an electric vehicle can be charged at a given time. In terms of range, driving conditions, driving style, and weather all play a role. Electric car drivers charge their vehicles whenever they park, whether its at home at night or during the day. Your vehicles charging time should be clearly displayed so you know how many miles you have left. The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle is determined by five factors.
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Tips To Reduce The Cost Of Charging Ev At Home
Below are the things you can do to manage the cost of EV charging at home.
Match charging rate with the battery capacity
When buying an electric vehicle charger, you must ensure that its maximum charging rate isnt less than the maximum charging rate of your vehicle. Also, it would be a waste of energy to buy a charger with a higher maximum charging rate than what your EV requires. Thus, you should choose a compatible charger for your electric car.
Buy a fast charger instead of a regular one
If your electric car has fast charging compatibility, you should consider buying a fast charger. While a regular charger takes about 8 to 12 hours to fully charge an EV battery, fast chargers require only 2 to 5 hours, depending on the charging capacity.
Equip Your Home With A Level 2 Charging Station
If you plan on charging your EV at home, the next key step is to equip your home with a level 2 charging station. These vary more and more in response to the increase of electric vehicle models available today. Youâll consequently have to choose a charging station that best suits your needs and your lifestyle.
Some models are mounted to a wall, others are available as plug-in versions and can be moved. There are âsmartâ level 2 charging stations that allow you to view your charging history or even schedule charging sessions at specific times of the day. Some charging stations are better suited for cold weather than others.
Yes, there are many factors to consider when you decide to purchase a Level 2 charging station for your home. But fear not! The ChargeHub Team has prepared a guide on How to Choose Your Home Charging Station. Letâs take a look, shall we?
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Using A Three Pin Plug
The other method of charging your electric car is using a three-pin plug. The slow charger mostly comes along with the vehicle. This type of charging is convenient for emergencies only since it is slow. It works by connecting the three-pin plug to a domestic power supply, which then charges the car.
The three-pin plug is portable and easy to use. It does not require the installation of cables or complex devices. The charger is more suitable for emergency purposes. However, it is not as reliable as using a wall box.
Many people have inquired on how to charge electric car at home without a garage. You will need to have an electric service and an area to park. Install a hard-wired charging station and attach it to a standing pole or an external wall. Ensure that you choose a charger with a long cord enough to reach the cars charging port.
When it comes to home charging costs, the most commonly asked question is how much does it cost to charge an electric car at home. The cost of charging an electric car at home will depend on the charging method you are using. You can install an electric car calculator, and it will help you calculate the cost every time you charge the E.V.
When using the three-pin plug, the cost will be minimal as there are no installation costs incurred. On the other hand, it is more costly to use a wallbox. The wallbox needs installation hence incurring some costs. Generally, the home charging method of electric vehicles is considered to be less expensive.
How Many Public Chargers Are There For Electric Cars In Australia
Jafari says the latest figures suggest there are 1679 public wall boxes around Australia and 251 fast chargers across 110 sites .
How does that compare to other EV-friendly countries? The short answer is were behind, Jafari told CarAdvice.
The good news is weve got two companies building a charging highway across Australia so that you can travel right up to the Eastern seaboard and around South Australia and Western Australia using their chargers.
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Charging Electric Vehicles At Home
Most drivers of electric vehicles which include all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles charge their vehicles overnight at home using AC Level 1 or AC Level 2 charging equipment. Residential equipment is frequently installed in garages, but outdoor installation and use are also safe, even if the vehicle is being charged in the rain. Outdoor installations require outdoor-rated equipment. Charging at a multifamily housing requires additional considerations and may be more like public charging than charging at a single-family home.
How Much Does It Actually Cost To Charge An Electric Car
Charging an EV at a commercial charging station from almost empty to nearly full costs between $10 and $30 on average. It is critical to remember that charging your EV on a road trip, which is where commercial chargers are located, is significantly more expensive than charging it at home.
Electric car owners in the United States do 38% of their charging at home, which adds up to an increase in electricity costs. Electric vehicles can travel four miles per kWh if they run on just one kilowatt-hour, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The national average price of electricity in November 2021 was 13.7 cents per kWh. As of this writing, the average cost of a kWh in California is 22.81 cents. Level two EVSE systems cost between $400 and $6,500 for equipment and between $600 and $12,700 to install. If you have a car, you can also charge it by installing solar panels on your roof. Solar panels can cost between $17,538 and $23,458 in a 10-kWh system.
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Tesla Launches Home Charging Station That Works With Other Electric Cars
Tesla has launched a home charging station, or Wall Connector as it calls it, that works with other electric cars and not just Tesla vehicles.
Unlike all other electric automakers, Tesla uses its own proprietary connector for vehicles produced for the North American market. This means the companys charging network and products, like home chargers, only work with its own electric vehicles.
Teslas design has been praised for being much easier to handle and more efficient than the CCS/J1772 standard that has been adopted by the rest of the industry.
Earlier this year, there even was an effort to make Teslas connector the new standard, but it looks to have been in vain.
Tesla has been leaning toward opening up its own charging network and products to electric vehicles from other automakers.
The company has been indicating that it will add CCS connectors to Supercharger stations in North America like it already did in Europe.
Last year, Tesla even briefly launched a new version of its home charging station, the Wall Connector, with a J1772 connector instead of its own. It meant that the charger was geared toward non-Tesla EV buyers.
However, the product didnt stay available for long.
Now, Tesla has launched a brand new version of its J1772 Wall Connector for $550 on its website:
Our J1772 Wall Connector is a convenient charging solution for Tesla and non-Tesla electric vehicles alike, and is ideal for houses, apartments, hospitality properties and workplaces.
The Good News: There Is A Quicker Home Option By Installing A Level 2 Charger Which Increases The Charging Power To 72kw
This brings charging times down considerably, with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV gaining a full charge from empty in 6.5 hours, and the Nissan Leaf and Mercedes-Benz ECQ 5.5 and 11 hours respectively.
And youll get a 7.2km travel range for every 10 minutes, meaning about 43km after an hour’s charging which is enough for the .
A 7.2kW Level 2 charging unit works off standard 240V single-phase wiring with the wall-box costing around $1000 to $1500 dollars plus installation, which is pretty good value considering what you pay for a full set of tyres or new car options such as a sunroof.
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How Fast Can You Charge An Electric Car At Home
For most electric cars, a standard 7kW wall box will charge a small car such as a Mini in around three and a half hours. Larger cars will take around six hours to reach full capacity. If you upgrade to the three pin power system that we mentioned earlier than you can potentially charge a large car in as little as two hours.
Is It Cheaper To Charge Your Electric Car At Home Or At A Charging Station
Electric vehicles emit fewer emissions, achieve higher fuel efficiency, and are less reliant on foreign oil in addition to a variety of other benefits. Charging an electric car at home or at a charging station is still a debatable issue, despite the fact that it is cheaper. It is possible to save money by shifting your energy usage to off-peak hours. To begin charging, you must first follow instructions on the touchscreen, and depending on the power level of your vehicle, Electrify America charges a variety of fees. When you buy an electric vehicle at Walmart, you will receive a free charger. A standard fee of 25 cents to 99 cents is charged, with a $1 session fee.
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How Do I Charge My Ev At Home
You can plug your EV into any standard AC outlet with a compatible lead, just as you do with a laptop or smartphone, but charge times will be very slow. That may be OK if youve got a lot of time, however its much easier to charge your EV at home by having a dedicated home EV charging unit installed, which can charge your car up to three times faster than a standard power outlet.A dedicated EV charger at home makes EV ownership highly convenient: you can fully charge your car overnight, or during the day and you wont need to leave your house for top-ups. You can even set up your home EV charger to only charge when your solar power system is generating energy and/or at off-peak times from the grid . Around 70 per cent of the EV owners across Australia today also have a home solar system, allowing them to run their EV on solar power at no additional cost.
Household charging units make EV ownership highly convenient.
