Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

New style EV charging stations

2018-08-15T14:06:30Z

Sedevcharging: Created page with "In the beginning, arranging for the charging station installation will be part of the purchasing process of buying your first Electric Vehicle (EV). All approved chargers by the ..."

In the beginning, arranging for the charging station installation will be part of the purchasing process of buying your first Electric Vehicle (EV). All approved chargers by the various manufacturers will be compliant with SAE J1772 standards for electric vehicles and electrical connectors.

You won't be able to buy the car unless you are willing to install a charging station your home. Consumers who buy the Nissan Leaf will be required to use their exclusive contractor, AeroVironment, for installation of the home chargers. They may be able to install their own charging equipment if they sign a waiver.

The Chevy Volt will come standard with a 110 volt charger which will allow you to charge directly from your home wall outlet. For Volt customers who prefer to have a 240 V rapid charger installed, SPX service solutions is the exclusive contractor for the installation of their rapid charging station.

There is a big difference in the vehicles range due to the size of their battery packs. Chevrolet considers the Volt to be a hybrid vehicle which can be plugged in. GM describes the car as an extended range EV (electric vehicle) with a smaller battery. The LEAF is strictly electric with a much larger battery pack that is 2-3 times the size of the Volts. The Chevy Volts 16kwh battery will probably only ever use 8 kw of it. The Leaf will contain a 24 KWh battery, but will probably need to use 80-90% in order to increase the battery life. In order to fully charge the LEAF, it will need to be plugged into a 110v outlet for the entire day. It is expected that the cost to install a Level II home charging unit will run about $2,200.

Because the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt are expected to be the first cars which will require the installation of a Level 2 home charger until 2012, it is expected that the demand for home charging units will remain low, unless a surprising number of first owners opt to have the rapid chargers professionally installed.

Now there are a number of companies entering the charging station market. AeroVironment was the first company to devote itself to developing and building Level II home charging units. The reason they won the contract from Nissan was probably because they were the first one with a product to offer. Most of the other companies that are developing and building charging stations focused on industrial units for commercial and municipal installations. However that is changing as the first mass market electric vehicles are finally ready to launch.

Below are the current companies that manufacture Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

ECOtality- ETec

Now called ECOtality North America, ECOtality has been producing electric charging stations for quite a while. Industrial equipment such as forklifts have used electric charging technology for some time. They have used their experience to market the Minit-Charger for both residential and commercial charging applications. The EV Project which is managed by ECOtalty is seeking to install thousands of charging stations over the next year in the 5 states where the EV's will first be released. ECOtality also installs stations made by other manufacturers. ECOtality builds both level I and level II chargers but does not make fast DC charging equipment. ECOtality has recently introduced a new line of commercial and home Level II charging stations. It is believed that the new stations-designed by global industrial design firm, frog design-will help update their conservative image.

SPX

SPX has been selected by Chevrolet to be the exclusive service provider for the purchase and installation of the Chevy Volt 240 Volt rapid home charger. SPX will facilitate every aspect of the purchase and installation of the rapid chargers which will charge the Volt in approximately 4 hours. The SPX team will advise homeowners on the requirements to upgrade their electrical service to accommodate the home charging system and will even assist them in taking the necessary steps to qualify for reduced electric utility rates.

AeroVironment

AeroVironment was chosen to be the exclusive home charging installation contractor for the Nissan LEAF. Even though AeroVironment is mostly known for residential installations, they are one of the few companies that sell both Level II and fast charging DC chargers for commercial use. AeroVironment is a well established company that developed unmanned aircraft for the military for many years. The company was responsible for the charger for the Impact, the precursor to the GM EV1 built in the 1990's. They also developed the charging stations for the EV1, so it is only natural that they would manufacture the new versions of charging stations.

Coulomb Technologies

Coulomb technologies is one of the better known EV charging manufacturers. Coulomb is rapidly building out their membership Charge Point network which will allow their members to pull up to any of their stations and begin charging immediately. Currently most of the 300 stations they have installed are Level I, however they have now begun installing Level II chargers as well.

Clipper Creek

A less well known company, Clipper Creek has been selling chargers for decades. The design of their equipment is not as modern and sleek as some of the newer styles. Their chargers are geared more towards fleet installation rather than residential or businesses. Clipper Creek has made it well known that their products can be installed anywhere. They handle the home charging installations for the Tesla Roadster. These charging stations are meant for Level II charging only and come in a variety of configurations to meet their customers' needs.

General Electric

The newest entrant in the [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk EV charging station] market is GE. They just introduced their new Watt Station charger. The first release is meant primarily for commercial installations, but there are plans to introduce a residential version later this year. The Watt Station is known for its attractive design. Legendary designer Yves Behar is the genius behind the sleek style of the Watt Station. It is also the first model that incorporates Wi-Fi smart technology.

PEP Stations

A little known company called PEP has begun working with Ford to build rugged robust [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk charging stations] that can handle rough usage. These units are architectural in design with a concrete base and stainless steel top. These units are primarily marketed to commercial and municipal installations. This obscure company has no track record, so their quality remains to be seen. The designers used high quality automotive grade components, so they are built to be robust.

Better Place

Better Place is known for battery switching techniques. They have now begun [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk installation of vehicle charging stations] in Israel and Denmark. So far they don't have any plans to sell their units for residential use. We mention them here because they may change their strategy to offer residential charging options.

[https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk]

[[Category:Conservation]]

Electric car charging stations - what you need to know

2018-08-15T14:04:12Z

Sedevcharging: Created page with "People who own electric vehicles often buy these products out of environmental consciousness. After all, "green" vehicles reduce a driver's environmental footprint in a..."

People who own electric vehicles often buy these products out of environmental consciousness. After all, "green" vehicles reduce a driver's environmental footprint in a number of ways, including putting the brakes on pollution and conserving non-renewable fuel resources. However, this green initiative does require a little forward thinking to ensure that your automobile has the power it needs. From refueling to pricing, electric car charging stations are a crucial part of managing your vehicle's operations.

Private Refueling

Most recharging should occur at home to prepare your automobile for use. This process is simple and fast to perform, as it takes less than a minute to plug your automobile in when you return home.

Public Options

To recharge in public, you will need to find a network that offers it. Networks are available throughout the country, but each one operates independently and uniquely to deliver power. Before utilizing this type of service, it's helpful to learn a basic overview of how they work and how to use them.

Price

Some stations are free, and others involve a fee for use. Fee structure varies, but it generally includes either a pay-as-you-use option or a monthly subscription. If you opt for a subscription service, one option would be an all-you-can-use service. The amount you can add to your vehicle per hour will depend on your car's specific capabilities. A smaller or slower charger will cost more to refuel than a faster charger. Some areas may be more conducive for pay-as-you-go payments, while others will probably have special packages for EV drivers who want extensive plans with more options.

Frequented Routes

If you have a regular commute or traveling radius, it's beneficial to explore this area to find the electric car charging stations available. Networks usually have multiple stations in a geographic area to provide EV drivers with plentiful options. Explore networks to learn the number of stations and their approximate locations to decide which one you want to use primarily, especially if you will be purchasing a plan.

Finding [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk Electricity] on the Go

When at home with a computer, it's a simple task to view a locator map to find electric [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk car charging stations]. There may be times when you are driving and find yourself in need of an emergency charge. When this occurs, use a smartphone to search for charging points in your specific geographic area. The search engine results should provide you with options located near you.

You could also download an app to your smartphone to utilize location services in an even more streamlined fashion for finding the power you need.

If you're lucky, your automobile may even help you with this search. Built-in navigation systems of EVs will often display your remaining range on a map. Also included in the map data will be the locations of all the nearby points for additional electricity.

Don't neglect the recommendations of friends and family as you strive to find the [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk electric car charging stations] you want to use frequently. Personal recommendations often help you find the best spots for topping off your vehicle.

[https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk]

[[Category:Conservation]]

Key notes on electric car charging points

2018-08-15T14:01:35Z

Sedevcharging: Created page with "Electric cars have long faced two key problems, that of a limited range and a lack of places to charge. Electric car ranges are extending with each new model launch and battery t..."

Electric cars have long faced two key problems, that of a limited range and a lack of places to charge. Electric car ranges are extending with each new model launch and battery technology breakthrough but what of the [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk electric car charging] facilities? Does the UK have the EV charging infrastructure to support widespread electric car use and could an EV fit in with your lifestyle with the charging infrastructures we have now? These are the questions we hope to answer with our guide to electric car charging and the UK network.

These time frames make a 200-mile round-trip commute feasible in the latest [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk electric cars], and it will cost only a few pounds in electricity rather than £20 or more in a diesel. The stumbling block is when you need to go further than the Leaf’s range allows in one journey. How can you get a top-up while out and about? There’s good news and bad news. On the positive side, there are now more than 13,000 public charging points where you can top up your batteries – five times more than in 2011. The bad news is that many will now cost you money.

This is the biggest change in the infrastructure since the rise of the [https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk electric car] began in ernest around the start of this decade, although it wasn’t unexpected. The original system was supported by some manufacturers and extra Government funding helped establish a network of chargers. Ecotricity plumbed rapid chargers into 96 per cent of motorway services and every IKEA store, while Chargemaster and others put lower-voltage posts on streets and in car parks.

[https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk https://www.sedevcharging.co.uk]

[[Category:Conservation]]