Why are some EV chargers more expensive than others?

Recently, the automobile industry has developed quickly. It has produced electric vehicles for transport as an alternative. The ever-growing population has led to an increase in greenhouse gases. As a result, there has been an increase in air pollution. The automobile industry is investing in protecting the environment. The Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is a good example that backs the transition to zero-emission vehicles. It supports organizations through grants and finances via OZEV or EVHS funding.

Electric vehicles are more efficient than fuel-powered vehicles. They utilise clean energy and help to reduce noise pollution. It’s because a motor drives these vehicles, while the rechargeable batteries provide power to run the engine. The batteries must maintain this power and thus, every EV ought to have an EV charger. There are various types of EV chargers. Their cost varies. Here are the reasons why:

You can charge an EV at home, work, or a public charging location. At home, where it is the easiest, involves using a standard EV plug to charge the car. Many users may opt to simply charge from a standard 3 pin plug socket. This method of charging is much slower and much more unsafe than purchasing a purpose built EV charger. EV chargers come in a range of charge speeds, this is determined by their “kW/h”, most standard chargers are rated at around 3-7kW. These chargers only require a single-phase connection. However if the property is fitted with a 3-phase connection type, then chargers up to 22kW become available.

Almost all EV chargers on sale today in the UK are “Type 2”. Type 2 refers to the type of plug that the charger uses. This type is widely becoming accepted as the universal charger type. Faster 3-phase chargers may use a slightly different version however the vehicles that are compatible with this will have both Type 2 and CCS connection ports. However, there is an exception for teslas which demand an adapter.

Another type of EV chargers is the Direct Current (DC) fast chargers. These chargers are more expensive as they require a 3-phase system. They add up more mile coverage over a short period. The chargers for Tesla vehicles are faster charging, adding up to 160 miles coverage in 30 minutes. Direct current (DC) fast chargers are convenient for longer drives. Commercial drivers use these chargers. DC fast chargers also vary in prices depending on the plug type. These plug types include the CHAdeMO standard used in Japan EVs. A CSS system used in America and Europe and a proprietary connector. Tesla’s company specifically designs the proprietary connector for its vehicles.

Some chargers are fast charging. Others involve smart charging. Smart charging involves intelligent management of how your EV charges, by connecting it to a grid or a solar pv network. A charger of this kind communicates with an EV through a data connection. It helps you choose how you want the vehicle charged. These chargers are more expensive. Another reason for a higher fee is that they allow load balancing. This feature permits network users to transmit the available energy equally across active EV charging points. All these features raise its price.

The location of where the EV charger is to be installed can also be a key factor in the price of the EV charger. For example many EV chargers offer the choice of mounting on either a wall or in some cases a pole for an additional cost. Installation fees may increase if the EV charger is installed further from an electricity supply or solar pv array.

Commercial chargers are more costly than residential chargers. They are built with scarce hardware technology. Also, the software involved in these chargers is slightly more advanced. These factors increase the cost. Commercial chargers also tend to be of a higher kW to allow for faster charge speeds.

Smart technology is advancing quickly. Therefore, each person must adapt to the technological changes to fit in. With the recent UK Government announcement to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel powered vehicles by 2030, the switch to EVs is inevitable . These vehicles are much more economical to use. The Government’s task now is to will need to provide enough charging infrastructure. Ultimately, this will reduce the cost of EV related products.