Introduction
As the planet shifts towards EV’s the most important decision on every home owners mind is choosing the right EV charging station. With so many options on the market it can be overwhelming therefore it’s important you know what to look out for when choosing a EV charging station. In this guide i will personally walk you through everything you need to know hopefully making you a expert on the subject.
Understand the basics of EV charging stations
First and foremost let us understand what is a EV charging station is this the same as EV charger? Yes it is, a EV charging station allows you to connect your car allowing the battery to charge. The best way to describe it is as a fuel pump but for the battery on your car.
Now if you have read our other blogs you might want to take a pass on this next section as we heavily cover it on our website.
Types of EV charging stations
There are three primary types of EV charging stations:
- Level 1 Chargers: These use a standard 120V outlet, which means you can plug them into a typical home socket. However, they charge slowly, adding about 4-5 miles of range per hour.
- Level 2 Chargers: These are faster than Level 1 chargers, using a 240V outlet (like your clothes dryer or oven). They add 25-30 miles of range per hour and are popular for home and business use.
- DC Fast Chargers: The fastest option, typically found at public charging stations, can add 100-200 miles of range in 30 minutes or less. They require more infrastructure and are ideal for high-traffic areas.
Key factors to consider when choosing a EV charging station?
Choosing the right EV charging station involves several factors from speed to compatibility you want a EV charger that ticks all the boxes.
Charging speed: How fast do you need to charge?
The single most important factor when it comes to choosing a EV charging station is the speed at which it charges, for 99% of EV owners a level 2 charger is more than sufficient.
If you do need to use a fast charger or DC charger then you can use a public space charger, Businesses will always opt for the DC charging option as it just makes more sense commercially.
Installation Location: Home, Business, or Public Spaces
Where you plan to install your EV charging station will affect your choice:
Charging at Home
If you’re installing a charger at home, convenience is key. A Level 2 charger is usually sufficient for home use, and you’ll need to decide whether to install it inside your garage or outside
- Benefits of Installing a Home EV Charging Station: No more trips to public charging stations, plus you can charge overnight while you sleep.
- Space and Power Supply Considerations: Make sure your home’s electrical system can handle the charger, and ensure there’s enough space for safe and convenient access to the charging port.
Charging for Businesses
For businesses, offering EV charging stations can be a way to attract customers and employees who drive electric cars. It also shows a commitment to sustainability, which is increasingly important to modern consumers.
- Value Add for Commercial Properties: Offering EV charging stations makes your property more attractive to tenants and visitors.
- Attracting Eco-Conscious Customers and Tenants: EV owners are likely to favor businesses or properties that offer easy access to charging.
Smart Features and connectivity
It’s important when you purchase a EV charging station to look out for smart features such as app connectivity, It may sound negligible but app based solutions allow you more control over your EV charging station such as show you real time data, schedule charging and alerting you when the vehicles fully charged.
The Best EV Brands to consider
At ShamsPlug we sell a wide variety of European branded EV chargers, You may be asking why only European? Well we put our customer safety at the heart of our business therefore any charging solution in Europe has undergone stringent safety measures before release. At Shamsplug we sell a wide variety of brands and we love them all equally so in no further order here are some of the most popular brands we sell.
Wallbox
Wallbox is a global company, dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy in the electric vehicle industry. Wallbox creates smart charging systems that combine innovative technology with outstanding design and manage the communication between vehicle, grid, building and charger.
EVBox
To build a sustainable future, EVBox empowers businesses and drivers to embrace electric mobility. EVBox’s charging solutions lay the foundations for a world where electric mobility is the new normal by giving EV drivers the ability to charge with confidence, allowing businesses to easily enter the market and scale their offering as demand grows, and evolving with the rapid pace of innovation
KEBA
KEBA has been developing and producing pioneering automation solutions for a wide range of industries under the maxim “Automation by innovation” for more than 50 years. KEBA is an internationally active technology company with headquarters in Linz, Austria, 26 subsidiaries in 16 countries and more than 2,000 passionate employees.
Conclusion
Choosing the right EV Charging station does not have to be overwhelming whether your looking for a home solution or a more high power business solution it’s important to consider factors like charging speed and cost. EV adoption is on the right and early investment will essentially future proof you from government restrictions on installations.
