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MerchWhat is a smart car charger?
As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common, so do the technologies that support their usage. One key piece of technology is the electric vehicle charger. But did you know that not all EV chargers are created equal? Enter the world of Smart EV Chargers, devices designed to optimise your electric vehicle experience.
So, what sets a Smart EV Charger apart from a conventional one? How does it work, and more importantly, how can it enhance your EV ownership experience?
In this guide, we will explore the ins and outs of Smart EV Chargers, their benefits, and how they integrate into our increasingly connected world. We’ll discuss the technology behind these intelligent devices, how they can adjust to your usage patterns, save you money, and even support the electrical grid.
Whether you’re an electric vehicle owner, planning to buy one, or just tech-curious, this blog post will equip you with insights into this transformative technology. Let’s plug in and get started!
Car charging: a brief history
While we believe that electric cars are a modern-day invention, they actually date back to the early 1830s! While at this time they were not mass-produced, the technology still existed. They were mostly workshop vehicles, built for personal use and were very limited to range and speed. The lower cost of the combustion engine soon took charge and took the spotlight away from any potential of running cars from electricity for a long time.
It is only really since 2006 that electric vehicle sales have soared. This is due to the increase in reliability, range and advances in technology. Most leading car manufacturers now produce at least one electric-first vehicle and with every advancement, the price of electric cars is also coming down. Electric cars are forecast to reach price parity with petrol cars by 2025.
Not all electric vehicle chargers are the same, though almost all modern electric car’s come with Type 2 sockets which are compatible across all the variations of charger. This is with the exception of a handful of very early models which use a Type 1 charger.
Home chargers require an AC single phase supply which most Irish homes have and charge at a rate of 7kWh. Public chargers (known as rapid chargers) are usually DC and charge at much faster rates between 50kWh – 150kWh, though usually for a higher cost. Public rapid chargers found at charging stations, are also tens of thousands of pounds in comparison to commercial fast chargers or home chargers which are. fraction of the price.
There are also 22kWh chargers available, (known as Fast Chargers) for your home or workplace, though the premises would require a 3 phase supply to charge at these faster rates. These types of charger are often used on commercial premises. Equally, not all vehicles can charge at these higher rates of AC, so it’s worth checking if your vehicle can handle 22kWh charges. That said, you wouldn’t do any damage plugging into a 22kWh charger, instead your vehicle would simply revert to charging at the slower 7kWh rates.
If you do have a 3 phase supply, we’d recommend opting for a zappi 22kWh electric car charger to utilise faster charging rates, though for most residential homes we’d recommend opting for a zappi 7kWh charger.
What is a smart car charger?
A smart car charger works seamlessly and individually with your own electric car. It allows you to manage how much energy to give to any plugged-in car. This amount of power it gives to your car can depend on a number of factors:
- The time of the day
- The demands on the grid
- The type of charging required
Utilising the power of a smart electric car charger saves time and money and, most importantly, economises energy to help us to better protect the planet’s precious resources. Our mission is to provide clean and green energy for all devices, to free our users from the bonds of fossil fuel pollution. We can build a better future, together. A smart car charger allows you to ultimately ensure you’re powering your vehicle in the most eco-friendly way!
What is fast car charging?
Fast car chargers are also known as 22kWh chargers, and the process simply involves putting more electricity into your car’s battery at a faster rate. In a nutshell, it will charge your car faster. Rapid or fast electric car chargers are often available at commercial premises or service stations where electric car owners need a quickly charge to keep moving.
They are also available as home chargers, for example, the zappi, but they will not utilise the same money-saving resources as eco an eco charging mode would. The cost of car charging also vastly depends of the output of power. The charging power of 3 kW and take around 6-12 hours to fully charge an EV. Fast charging stations can charge with a maximum power of between 7-22 kW and take between 1-6 hours to fully charge an EV. Whereas rapid or fast car chargers can charge with a maximum power of between 50-150 kW, taking around 20-40 minutes to charge an EV to 100%.
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