Top 4 EV Chargers for Home and Office

​Electric vehicle chargers at home and offices can come in handy. They offer you the freedom to carry out off-peak charging, control your cost, save time, and provide comfort. The UK government gives grants to residential and commercial users for installing approved EV chargers, resulting in considerable savings. Installing an EV charger at home or your business has many benefits. You will not have to wait in long queues to charge your vehicles. You will be able to save your energy costs. 

Electric vehicle chargers at home and offices can come in handy. They offer you the freedom to carry out off-peak charging, control your cost, save time, and provide comfort. The UK government gives grants to residential and commercial users for installing approved EV chargers, resulting in considerable savings. Installing an EV charger at home or your business has many benefits. You will not have to wait in long queues to charge your vehicles. You will be able to save your energy costs.

How to Select the Best EV Charger?

So, which are the top EV chargers which you should consider installing at your home, offices, and commercial buildings? It would be best to consider cost, connectivity, type, tethered or untethered, RCD & earthing protection, and user control.

Type 1 or Type 2

Type 1 inlets are plugs and sockets. They are mostly found in Asian and American vehicles. European vehicles mostly used type 2 inlets. However, universal connectors are now easily available, which can easily convert these two. Many electric cars these days come with both types of cables, and many chargers now cater to both.

Charging Speed

Charging speed defines how fast your EV can be charged. The speed depends on several factors, such as the charger's amperage. Your requirement depends on your EV's range, usage, and driving style. You should go for a fast charger if you are the fast type and if you regularly commute over long distances. A 32 Amp charger is a suitable choice for most electric vehicles and can add 25 miles per hour of charging.

Tethered or Untethered

A charger with a permanently attached cable is tethered, while untethered chargers are the exact opposite. A tethered charger would do if you have only one electric vehicle or all your electric vehicles are of the same type. However, if several users have type 1 and type 2 chargers, an untethered charger is more suitable so that you can change the cables accordingly.

Location and Connectivity

Installing your EV charger at the right location is highly important. You will have to consider the distance from your main electric panel. The greater the distance, the higher will be the installation cost. Location is also important when considering internet connectivity. As many EV chargers now come with apps and can be controlled through smartphones, you will need either a WiFi connection or a charger with a built-in SIM. Both have their benefits. Chargers with built-in SIM can be installed anywhere, while those requiring WiFi must be installed close to your router. If you go for chargers with built-in SIM, make sure that it is at least 4G or higher to get uninterrupted internet.

Application Control

EV chargers which can be monitored through their applications or third-party applications, offer you a great degree of control over energy cost as they enable you to benefit from off-peak rates. Application-controlled chargers also allow you to schedule charging sessions and retrieve periodic reports. This can especially come in handy if you operate an EV charging business or any other logistic-related business. These applications also allow you to lock/unlock your chargers and prevent theft.

Protection

When opting for an EV charger for your home or your business, ensure they are OLEV/OZEV certified. You also need to make sure that they are installed by authorised dealers. You must pay attention to these tips to be able to benefit from the Government's grant scheme. The best EV chargers come with a warranty of at least three years. Make sure you learn all about warranties before you choose an EV charger.

Based on the above factors, we have a few recommendations below to help you select the right EV charger.

Easee EV Charger

The EASEE EV charger is a favourite of both households and offices. It is an RFID charger with a stylish design and modern features. It has an integrated eSIM providing fast and uninterrupted connectivity. The charger originates from Scandinavia and has highly innovative features. These include :

• A 7kW EV charger with a type 2 switch allows you to charge both single and three phases.
• Lockable charging port that transforms the EASEE ONE into a tethered charger.
• Three chargers can run on a single fuse.
• The EASEE keys feature allows you to set your charger to recognise only RFID tags which no one can use without a key.
• Ideal for both residential and commercial use.
• Compliant with UK regulations, i.e. it is equipped with both open PEN conductor and B RCD protection.
• The charger has its own app, The EASEE app, available for both apple and android devices.
• The app provides you considerable control of your charging Robots. You can access all your properties as well as the charging Robots. The app can be downloaded easily for Android or iOS devices.
• The Easee Robots are always connected, as it comes with an in-built SIM and can also run on WiFi.
• Schedule charging sessions, check status, add/delete EASEE Keys, and do much more with the EASEE charger and its app.

Rolec EV Charger

A compact and user-friendly wall pod charger which can be used for both commercial and residential installation. The Rolec WallPod has built-in earthing and is relatively easy to install.

• It has a rock solid hardware.
• It is available in both tethered and untethered versions.
• The charger supports 7.2 kW (32A) and 3.6 kW (16A) charge speeds.
• It is available with or without RFID.
• It is also available in a solar version.
• Older WallPod versions required earthing; however, the latest model is equipped with TruePEN PME fault detection, which automatically monitors voltage.
• The charger has a built-in modem, roaming SIM card, and GPRS antenna. WiFi is not required, making installation incredibly easy.
• Rolec chargers do not come with their app and use a third-party app, i.e. ev. energy app
• The app enables monitoring and smart scheduling. It also helps you retrieve important data which can be used for tariff optimisation.
• For commercial users, Rolec Zura One Charger is more suitable. |
• All Rolec chargers are Manufactured in the UK and come with a 3 Year Warranty.
• The charger is available in several colours, including black, red &black, black & green, silver & grey, etc.

Hypervolt EV Charger

The Hypervolt EV charger is highly aesthetic, with an LED status ring and a backlight.

• It is highly compact and sleek.
• The Hypervolt charger has PEN and RCD protection ( 6MA DC) and therefore requires no earthing. The only protection required at sources is A RCD + 32A MCB.
• The company provides its own cable called the HyperConnect cable.
• It comes with a built-in fan that keeps the CPU cool.
• It has an LED ring which is multi-coloured. Blue signifies standby, purple signifies charging completion, and green symbolises charging.
• It is supported by hypervolt's app and hyper volt cloud.
• The charger is Alexa-enabled, allowing you to issue voice commands to check the charging status, charging speed, and charging schedule). However, you need Amazon Echo for this feature.
• The Hypervolt requires a stable and high-speed WiFi connection.
• The charger comes with an Unlock/lock feature provided in the app. This ensures that no one can steal your electricity. The Hypervolt charger has a speed of 7kW AC and charges most Electric vehicles completely in 8 hours.

Ohme EV Chargers

Ohme EV chargers are available in several varieties, including Ohme Go, Ohme Home, and Ohme Home Pro.

• The Home Pro stands out among other charges as it is equipped with a control panel and a high-quality LCD screen.
• The charger is compact and elegant.
• The charger is available only in tethered form.
• It has a charging speed of 7.4kW and requires no earthing.
• It has a built-in 3G/4G SIM allowing you to install the charger anywhere you want. The SIM is valid for three years.
• Many electric accessories are included in the charger, requiring little extra expense and installation time.
• The LCD shows you the charge level, charge target, charging speed, charging mode, time, and time to target.
• The charger provides the option of two charging modes: Eco charge and Maxcharge, with different kW rates.
• The Pro is compatible with all EVs which use type 1 & 2 connectors.
• You can use the Ohme app to control the charger, schedule charging, tariff integration, green charging, EV integration, and many other features.