There are many people that are investing in electric cars in an effort to do what they can do for the environment and cut operating costs. But getting an electric vehicle suggests talking to an electrician such as Peterkin Electric, for an electric car charging station. With that in mind, we would like to discuss the basics of the electric charging station for an electric vehicle.
What Does EVSE Stand for? Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment
An EV charging station, or the electric vehicle charging station, is also referenced as the EVSE, the electric vehicle supply equipment, is an element in an infrastructure that is engineered to supply electric energy needed for recharging electric vehicles, such as plug-in electric vehicles, including electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Expanding ownership of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicle is increasing the demand for accessible charging stations, especially the EVSE to support faster charging at higher voltages and currents than what is generally available from residential stations.
Electric Car Charging Terms & Levels
Below you will find a few terms used in conjunction with electric car stations.
Level 1 Charging: Charges the slowest as the plug connects to the on-board charger and a standard household 120v-outlet setup provides between 2 and 5 miles per hour. Though this doesn’t sound like much, it is sufficient for those who travel less than 40 miles a day and have all night to charge.
Level 2 Charging: To provide power at 220v or 240v and up to 30 amps, this charging system utilizes an EVSE. Charging at home or at a public station, drivers can add 10-25 miles of range in an hour.
DC Fast Charging: This is frequently referenced as Level 3 charging and this application is where the charger is a gas pump-sized machine. With no single standard for fast-charging, there a few suppliers for fast chargers deliver about 80% charge in 30 minutes.
EVSE: An acronym for electric vehicle service equipment is the link a power source and the vehicle’s charging port. Generally, this system is mounted on a wall or up on a pedestal in order to relay the AC power to the vehicle safely.
On-board Charger: The on-board charger is the actual charging device for Level 1 and Level 2 charging that comes factory-installed. DC power that charges the battery in the vehicle is converted from the AC power from the wall with the on-board charger. The most common on-board chargers are 6.6 kW on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 3.3 kW on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Electric Car Charging Station Installations in Laguna Woods, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Irvine, Lake Forest & Orange County, California
When installing the electric car charging station, there are a few things to consider; which level charger is optimal for you, where you typically park your vehicle to better plane charging station placement, and a number of other details. The most optimal solution is to consult your electrician about the specifics and different concerns and questions you may have. With Peterkin Electric, our specialists are well trained and experienced with electric car charging stations and can recommend the best suited charging station and other details based on your needs. Call Peterkin Electric today to discuss your electric car charging station needs.
