Do you have an electric car? Do you need a home charger?

As a society, we are increasingly aware of the dangers of global warming and pollution. We are segregating garbage, conserving water, limiting meat eating and… buying an electric or hybrid car. Electric-powered cars have the advantage over traditional cars that they are quiet, have low breakdown rates, emit no emissions and, when combined with a renewable energy source such as photovoltaics, the cost of charging them is reduced to practically zero. However, they require frequent charging. We are increasingly seeing electric vehicle charging stations, not only at gas stations but also at malls and shopping centers. Drivers who value comfort and convenience decide to invest in a home EV charger for an electric car.

Types of electric cars?

We can divide electric cars into four types.

HEV (from Hybrid Electric Vehicle) the so-called full hybrid is characterized by the fact that it can recover energy during engine operation, as well as braking. The recovered energy is stored by the vehicle in batteries. The vehicle uses electricity when driving at low speeds, such as in the city.

themHEV(Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle) also called a soft hybrid, which reduces combustion to a small extent. The primary function is for the electric motor to assist the internal combustion engine when driving at low speeds. It acts as a replacement for the alternator and starter that are used in internal combustion cars.

PHEV( Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or cars with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Such a solution is ideal for driving in the city, since the range of driving only on electricity is between 50 km and 90 km, depending on the model of the vehicle. We don’t have to worry if we run out of electricity and the car stops, we always have the combustion engine in reserve.

The last option is all-electric BEV( Battery Electric Vehicle) cars. With this solution, we use only batteries, which we can charge at fast charging stations or at home with a charger, such as Wallbox. Depending on the model, BEVs have a range of 200 km to 700 km on a single charge.

What types of EV chargers do we have?

Regardless of the method we want to charge our vehicle, if we choose an AC-based method, an OBC( On Board Charger) is an additional limitation. There are 4 methods of charging electric cars.

The first type of chargers are portable cables that we plug into a power outlet. This is a solution we do not recommend, as chargers of this type do not have any safety features that, in the event of a malfunction, could protect our vehicle from an electrical short and subsequent fire.

The second method of charging differs from the first with additional safety features on the cable, this significantly increases safety.

The third method is already Wallbox home charging stations. Like the previous two methods, it charges our car with up to 22 kW of alternating current.

The fourth method we can use is fast charging stations, they offer fast and safe DC charging of the car, bypassing the OBC protection, powering the car battery directly. Buying such a charger for private use is expensive. DC chargers are most often found at gas stations and other public places for fast charging of vehicles.

The safest and most economically reasonable solution, therefore, seems to be the Wallbox home EV charger for an electric car. Mounted on a garage wall or a freestanding platform, it offers convenience and safety of use. It is worth noting that the cost of such a charger is, at today’s fuel prices, equivalent to the price of a dozen fill-ups of internal combustion engine cars.

Home EV charger for an electric car from Spanish company Wallbox

Wallbox’s chargers stand out from other such devices on the market. The range includes both chargers for home use and devices that can serve, for example, company employees. The Wallbox home EV charger for electric car has the following advantages:

• Adaptation to the available instantaneous power of the home electrical system, thanks to the Power Boost function
• Power Sharing function, that is, sharing the available power among all vehicles using the chargers at the same time within a given panel
• The charger has a number of certifications and safety features
• Communication between the charger and the vehicle via an app
• Adjustable power and charging moment- this means that we can set the time at which charging will start and thus benefit from a lower price of electricity at night
• Security against unauthorized access.

Wallbox also offers devices dedicated to entrepreneurs. The owner can grant access to the charging station using RFID cards or by means of a QR code, which is synchronized with a dedicated application that allows payment.

Do we need a home charger for an electric car?

If we value convenience and safety – yes. Wallbox provides a variety of applications with complete safety and is our first choice. We also offer a comprehensive service of supply and installation of photovoltaic installation also in the option with energy storage. Such a solution effectively reduces electricity bills and becomes TURBO ECOLOGICAL. An interesting feature is V2G (Vehicle to Grid) vehicles, which can act as energy storage.

When we need to charge our vehicle in a short period of time then it is worth using a fast charging station. For daily use of an electric car, it will be more convenient to have a Wallbox home charger. Thanks to this, the vehicle will be charged at a time of our choosing when the cost of electricity is lowest, that is, at night. Optimally with electricity from your own photovoltaic installation.