Buying an electric vehicle generally includes installing a charging solution. To simplify their daily lives, most owners opt for the installation of a charging station (or Wallbox) that allows you to recharge your car optimally and safely at home. But a question then arises: which power should you choose? Qovoltis helps you make the best choice.
Charging station: what powers are available?
A wallbox is a charging station for an electric vehicle that can be installed indoors or outdoors. Unlike the domestic outlet, this solution is ideal because it offers optimal, efficient and secure charging. Depending on the manufacturer, it can deliver different standardized charging powers in alternating current:
- 3.7 kW to 7.4 kW on a single-phase network;
- 11 kW to 22 kW on three-phase networks
There are also ultra-fast charging stations, called super chargers, offering powers of up to 50 or even 350 kW. However, the latter are expensive (25,000 to 200,000 euros), require direct current (DC) and are mainly used on public roads and highway areas.
The choice of a powerful terminal to anticipate your future needs
Buying a charging station is a long-term investment and requiresanticipate your future needs. You will (maybe) change your car in the next few years, but no charging station. It is therefore advisable to prefer a charging solution with a power of 7.4 kW in single-phase and 22 kW in three-phase. In the event of a change of vehicle, you will thus be able to enjoy maximum power.
Good to know
To take full advantage of the power of your charging station, it is essential to choose a cable that suits your needs. In fact, if the latter only tolerates 3 kW charging power and is connected to a 7 kW terminal, the charging power will also be limited to 3 kW. There are two types of cables on the market: the single-phase one that supports a maximum power of 7.4 kW, and the three-phase one that adapts to all powers up to 22kW.
Also to be read : How to choose the charging cable for your electric vehicle?
Vehicle use and battery capacity: is it important?
Whether you use your vehicle for short distances or travel many kilometers per day, a station offering a charging power between 7 kW and 22 kW is recommended in any case. If you have low annual mileage and are tempted by a low-power station, you will in fact need to recharge very often (every evening) to ensure that you have a full battery. On the other hand, with a wall terminal, all you have to do is plug in once a week and you will benefit from faster and reliable charging.
On the battery side, the larger its capacity, the longer it will take to recharge. If your electric vehicle can store a large quantity of energy, it is better to choose a powerful terminal.
Did you know that?
On July 14, 2021, the European Commission announced its goal of ending the sale of internal combustion vehicles by 2035.
How to optimize the charging time of your electric car?
To recharge your vehicle optimally and at the highest possible power, there is a simple solution: opt for a charging station integrating smart charging and energy management functionalities.
That's what he's offering Qovoltis : an efficient and secure charging station, delivering power up to 22 kW in three-phase and 7.4 kW in single-phase. It delivers the maximum power accepted by your vehicle, while taking into account existing constraints, such as the appliances switched on in the home, the maximum power tolerated by the electrical network or electricity rates (full hours/off-peak hours).
This power makes it possible to recharge a vehicle equipped with a 50 kWh battery in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. Two charging methods are available:
- fast, with charging started at the highest power available;
- optimized, where the terminal automatically controls charging in order to optimize the electricity cost, while taking into account the time at which you want to return to your vehicle and the quantity of electricity required.
Our solutions are available in a Totem version to be fixed to the ground, or wall. Designed to withstand bad weather, they can be installed in a garage as well as in an outdoor car park.
