Usage

The use case, size of battery or energy replenishment needed, and size of charger will determine charging speed. For a general rule, one vehicle should be able to get a sufficient Level 2 charge within a 4-hour period, and a Level 3 charge within 20 minutes. This can fluctuate based on several factors like charger size (kW), ambient temperature, size of vehicle battery, vehicle onboard inverter size, battery management system, and battery chemistry. Within a 12-hour period, 2-3 vehicles should charge per day on Level 2, and up to 24 vehicles using a Level 3 charger.

Several ways can be used to monitor use of chargers. Typically, a separate utility or customer meter would be placed upstream of a particular load. In the case of EVSE, all reputable smartchargers will have revenue-grade meters built into the hardware. This will be recorded by the software and stored in the cloud for access by the owner/site host.

Smartcharger OEMs have several ways to control and monitor access to users. Some chargers can be set up to activate only through the use of employee/student/guest RFID badges. Other ways consist of creating user groups in the software, only allowing certain users to access.

Through software platforms, site hosts/owners can turn on visibility, activating an icon in a map location found on smartphone apps. This will direct a driver to the charger location for use.

The two most common charging ports in US for Level 2 charging are SAEJ1772, and SAEJ3400 more commonly known as NACS or Tesla. For non-tesla drivers, the J1772 plug will fit directly to the vehicle. In order to connect a Tesla to the J1772, a $25-$40 adapter (common for Tesla owners to keep in the vehicle) will need to be attached to charge the vehicle. By 2025, GM, Ford, and others will be adopting the NACS plug into their vehicles. By this time, many smartcharger OEMs will incorporate this configuration for purchase. For now, only Tesla branded chargers come with the NACS J3400 plug.

Drivers can start a session by several methods. Free chargers will automatically start a session as soon as the vehicle is plugged in. Other methods may include an RFID access card, credit card, or smartphone app. In the future, most phone apps will be unnecessary due to the data transfer between vehicle and charger.

Setting chargers to be visible on the network will allow drivers to pinpoint your location through smartphone apps. The same app can be used to activate a session and collect fees for use.

This depends on the total energy (KWh) needed to be injected into the battery, and the size (kW)of the charger. For example, a 100kWh battery at 50% will need 40kWh of energy to bring back to 90%. Most Lithium-ion battery manufacturers recommend not charging beyond 90% for most driving. If your charger is 7.2kW, it will take 5.55 hours in moderate weather. A 19.2kW charger will refuel to 90% in 2.1 hours in moderate weather. In cold climates, the battery will draw energy to maintain temperature, increasing charge times.

Yes. Electric Vehicles and EVSE products have been designed to withstand outdoor environments that include precipitation. Built-in ground-fault circuit interruption (GFCI) is typical on a reputable smartcharger.

To date, most e-bike manufacturers do not have 208/240V onboard charging capability. Also, due to the relatively small battery pack size, most e-bikes provide a removable battery that can be charged from a 120V outlet

Many charger OEMs have the capability to link an employee/student/guest badge to activate a charging session.

To date, EVSE OEMs will accept payment via credit card, phone app (ChargePoint, Flo, Blink, EV Connect, etc), or RFID card.

Although this configuration is becoming less available, some charger OEMs still incorporate the option of a credit card reader on products.