Building a Home ChargerInfrastructure, part 1

EV-230

This course is presented as part of Evannex Universitya free, open learning environment that presents concise, video-based mini-courses for those who have interest in electric vehicles (EVs)

Making a Clear DistinctionNational EV InfrastructureAn EV Infrastructure for your home (garage)!

>> Most industrialized nations have established a national EV infrastructure program that includes charging stations along major roads, in many cities, and at shopping locations, stadiums, hotels, and other public facilities.

In the United States, we have no national program, but private efforts to create an EV charging network are on-going. For example, Tesla Motors has been building its own national infrastructure of EV superchargers and already has over 200 in place in the United States and more than 130 in Europe.

But in this mini-course we wont be discussing national charging programs.

>> Rather, well spend a little time closer to homeyour home to be exact.

How much of a home infrastructure must you build to accommodate your EV or PHEV? Thats the question well answer in this mini-course.

What is a Home Infrastructure?

>> Your EV charging infrastructure begins at your service panelthe place where electricity from the grid gets distributed to all of the circuits in your house

>>

What is a Home Infrastructure?

Unless you have a solar PV system or a generator, the grid provides all of your homes electrical energy needs. Current flows into your home through a service panel that distributes it to each of the circuits in your house. In general, the service panel is in your basement, or if youre lucky, its in your garage.Why is the garage lucky?Because the cost of running a dedicated circuit for EV charging is directly proportional to the length of the electric cable needed to reach the charging location and the routing problems to get from the panel into your garage.

Youll need an electrician who will install a 40 amp circuit breaker in your panel. Unless youre an electrical contractor, this is NOT a DIY project.

The electrician will then run cable for a 240V, 30 or 40 amp circuit to the location where youll be charging your EV.Then, depending on the type of EV you have, youll either need a 240V receptacle, like a NEMA 14-50, or a charging unit, properly called Electric Vehicle Service Equipment, EVSE.

Lets talk about all of this in a bit more detail.

Charging - IYoull charge your car almost every dayUsually overnightEvery EV comes with a charging cable thatPlugs into your EVs charge port at the EV endPlugs into the grid via your home infrastructure:an SAE-standard J1772 plug (in the US) with appropriate adapter(s)an external charging unit (EVSE)

First, a few general comments on charging

>> Youll charge you car almost every day>> Usually overnight.

But as I just mentioned, to get that done, youll need to create your own home charging infrastructure.

>> Every EV comes with a charging cable that>> Plugs into your EVs charge port at the EV end>> Plugs into the grid via your home infrastructure:

That connection can be:

>> an SAE-standard J1772 plug (in the US) with appropriate adapter(s). As an aside, the Tesla Model S uses a special plug designed by Tesla Motors.

or

>> an external charging unit (what I referred to as an Electric Vehicle Service Equipment, EVSE) from which you draw power for your EV. The EVSE uses a J1772 plug in most instances.

Charging - IITwo options exist: 110V or 240V chargingCharging from a 110V circuit is very inefficient and very slowTypical time to fully charge a small EV using:110V circuit = 12 18 hrsWith a 240 V circuit and EVSE = 3 4 hoursLevel 2 chargers (EVSEs) connect to a 240V circuit

Before beginning this screen a suggestion: if volts and amps are a mystery to you, please be sure to take our mini-course, EV 102, that explains these concepts in simple language.

>> Two charging options exist for your home 110 or 240 V

>> Charging from a 110V circuit is very inefficient and very slowWithout getting into the physics of what is happening, a 110 charge wastes about 30 40 percent of the electricity it uses as as it charges, so for example, if you need 20 kWh of charge to top off your battery, youll need to draw 26 to 28 kWh to get it done. Worse, it will take a very long time.

>> Typical time to fully charge a small EV using:>> 110V circuit = 12 18 hrs>> With a 240 V circuit and EVSE = 3 4 hoursTherefore, its much better to charge from a 240V circuit

>> EVSEs, also called Level 2 chargers, connect to a 240V circuitSome level 2 chargers are 16 amp (for use with PHEVs like the Chevy Volt) and can often be installed on an existing house circuitOthers are 30 amp and require a dedicated circuit run directly from your service panel

Charging - IIIAn EVSE Mounted on your garage wallCommunicates with circuitry inside your EV Costs between $600 and $1000There are many EVSEs on the marketAerovironment ChargersClipper Creek HCS-40Bosch Power MaxEaton RLC EVSEGE Watt Station 30ASchneider Electric EVlinkSiemens VersiCharge EV Chargerand many others

Lets take a look at your charger.

>>An EVSE>> is mounted on your garage wall, connects to a 240V line, and typically contains a J1772 plug>> Communicates with circuitry inside your EV to ensure that the proper amount of current is passed to the EV>> Costs between $500 and $1000, plus installation

>> There are many EVSEs on the market>> Aerovironment>>Clipper Creek >>Bosch>>Eaton >>GE>>Schneider Electric >>Siemens, and othersoffer EVSEs for use with a variety of small EVs.

But EVSEs are not required for every EV.

Charging the Tesla Model SThe Tesla Model S does not require an EVSE for 240 V level 2 charging Tesla has developed its own charging cable standardinstalled a NEMA 14-50, 240V, 40 amp circuit or something similarAll Tesla superchargers accept Tesla-standard plugs

The king of EVs is the Tesla Model S. By virtually every measure, it leads the pack

>> The Tesla Model S does not require an EVSE for 240 V level 2 charging because all of the EVSE circuitry is on-board the car.>> Tesla has developed its own charging cable standard>> All that needs to be installed in your garage is a NEMA 14-50, 240V, 40 amp circuit or something similar>> All Tesla superchargers accept Tesla-standard plugs

In part 2, we continue with a discussion of how to build your charging infrastructure.

a free study guide for all EVU mini-courses is available for download from our website For a complete list of mini-courses and the study guide, visit: www.evannex.com

OlharesRouletBeats d'Amor, track 12014-05-18T14:02:41118051.055OlharesRouletBeats d'Amor, track 12014-05-18T14:02:41118051.055