Level 2 single-phase EV chargers can be wall or post-mounted and come in various options and designs. Most are rated at 32 Amp, equivalent to 7.4kW of power, and can provide a vehicle with a range of 40 to 50km per hour at the max charge rate. However, most chargers allow the charge rate to be adjusted from 8A to 32A using a mobile App. Given that the average person drives less than 50km a day, in theory, you will only need an hour or two to recharge a vehicle daily. An average EV can be fully recharged in 8 to 11 hours (overnight) using a regular single-phase 7kW Wallbox charger set to the maximum charging speed.
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Power rating: adjustable from 2.0 to 7.2kW (32A)
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Charge rate: up to 45 km (28 miles) of range per hour
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Single-phase charger price range: $500 to $2400
Charging from solar: Charging using solar and a single-phase EV charger (7kW) at full speed is possible using a larger 10kW+ solar system during good weather. If the charger is set to a lower charging rate of around 4kW, solar charging using a smaller 6kW system is possible. However, a smart EV charger is the best option as it can dynamically adjust the charging rate to match your solar generation.
3. Three-phase Home EV chargers
Level 2 three-phase home EV chargers generally look identical to single-phase wall-mounted devices and are typically rated at 32 Amps (per phase). However, due to having three supply phases, they can supply three times as much power as the single-phase version, which is roughly equivalent to 22kW of charging power. This can provide a vehicle with a range of 120 to 150km per hour at the maximum charge rate. So, fully recharging an average EV could be possible in around 3 hours using a 3-phase Wallbox charger. However, it’s important to emphasise that not all EVs can accept 3-phase AC charging. Many EVs have limited AC charging from 7kW to 11kW single-phase, so AC charging speeds up to 22kW are not possible with all vehicles.
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Power rating: adjustable from 3.6 to 22.0kW (32A 3-phase)
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Charge rate: up to 130 km (80 miles) of range per hour – compatible EV required
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Three-phase charger price range: $600 to $2500
Charging from solar: Solar-only EV charging using a powerful 3-phase charger (up to 22kW) is difficult, even with a much larger 15kW+ solar system, especially during cloudy weather. Solution: A three-phase EV charger set at a lower charge rate (such as 12kW). However, a smart EV charger is a better option as it can dynamically adjust the charge rate to match the solar output.
