How to buy & install the right EV charger?

Charging your electric vehicle at home is convenient and makes driving electric easier than ever. Home EV charging gets even better when you upgrade from plugging into a 110-volt outlet to a faster 240V ‘Level 2’ charger that can add 30 to 90 km of range per hour of charging. A faster charger allows you to get the most out of your EV and encourages you to use it for more local and long-distance trips.

Technically speaking, a charger is an ‘electric vehicle supply equipment or EVSE, that supplies power to your EV which charges the battery using an onboard charger that’s inside the car.

While an electric car owner can simply plug the vehicle into a standard 110-volt outlet for charging, it’s a very slow process. Also called’ Level 1’ charging, it can take anywhere from 8-24 hours to bring the battery up to a full charge.

A better choice is to have an electrician install a dedicated 240-volt line. This relatively higher voltage transmission enables what’s known as Level 2 charging. This can replenish a drained EV battery in as little as 4 hours. You’ll also want to buy a dedicated Level 2 wall charging station for added safety and convenience.

Most chargers can charge any EV using the universal J1772 connector. Compatibility with your vehicle probably won’t be an issue for your charger but there are many other details to consider when choosing an EV charger for your home, office, restaurant, Kirana shop, society, etc. Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors to consider and questions to ask about charging to help you find the charger that’s right for you.

Speed: How fast do you want to charge?

EV charging time is dependent on a few variables, namely your EV’s battery size (bigger the battery, longer it will take to charge), your home charging station’s maximum power capacity & your EV’s onboard charger power capacity. With a level 2 charging station, you can increase the power source to 240 V, which can deliver a full charge in 4-8 hours.

Location: Where do you want to put your charger?

Consumers should consider whether they plan to place their charger indoors or outdoors. If choosing outdoor placement, one must ensure the charger is weatherproof, that can survive rains, cold or heat. Installing your charger close to your garage door or parking area may make it easier to charge your EVs and also save on cable costs.

Safety & Reliability: How safe & dependable your charger is?

Users install EV chargers to have peace of mind with respect to ease and accessibility of charging. You must make sure the product is high quality, weatherproof, shock-resistant and conforms to safety standards. For example, Kazam EV chargers are engineered by IITians, IP65 certified, shockproof & weatherproof. The in-built MCB provides protection against power surges. One should also keep an eye on the warranty provided by the manufacturer.

Savings: Will the charger help me save money?

Outside India, many countries offer discounted EV charging rates that save you money if you charge at off-peak times (usually at night). In India, the state of Maharashtra offers an additional concessional rate of Rs.4.50 per unit for EV charging between 10 PM-6 AM. This is likely to be replicated in other states very soon. Having an EV charger at your disposal will allow you to benefit from these concessions.

Smart Features: What else can the charger do?

Smart features allow a user to stay connected to their charger through their mobile device or desktop. These features usually enable the user to view their activity, usage history & status of a charging session. Smart chargers also enable the possibility of scheduling features, which help to take advantage of your local grid’s off-peak energy savings programs, as well as receiving new software updates to ensure compatibility to new EV models.

Cost: How much will it cost?

EV charging wallbox/points are a long-term asset and EV drivers should keep this in mind when shopping for these. Besides the purchase cost, consideration towards installation costs, rebate eligibility & maintenance over the years, is vital.

Source of income: Will the charger help me make money?

If the intention of installing an EV charger is to earn money by offering charging facilities to other EV owners, there are options for that too. EV chargers are being installed at shops, restaurants, shopping malls, petrol pumps, parking spots, workplaces, societies, etc. EV chargers can be a good source to generate passive income. How Kazam offers such solutions is shown below via a screenshot from the Kazam website:

Conclusion:

Having an EV charger at home has many benefits, especially when it comes to convenience. That’s why over 80% of EV owners charge at home. Similar to charging your cell phone overnight, you can plug in your vehicle, then ‘set it & forget it’ until the morning. You’ll head out with a fully charged vehicle and peace of mind.

Now that you’ve mastered what to consider when buying a charger, have a look at Kazam’s offerings:

Visit portal to view our EV charging solutions .

On Kazam’s website, you’ll find this ↓. Kazam will you give complete information after listening to your requirements. There are one-click links as well (bottom-right of the image below), which helps you reach out to us on the phone & WhatsApp.

Contact Kazam at support@kazam.in or +91 9958943092.