A short guide on electric car chargers

2035 is the year in which the European Commission set the limit for the sale of combustion cars. In other words, diesel, gasoline, hybrid and bi-fuel cars will cease to be produced starting in 2035. So what we will be left with is the electric car. It will be 7kw home charger.

More and more Chinese are interested in these vehicles, so at Kinouwell we give our customers the possibility to incorporate electric car chargers in their solar offer.

Although we have seen significant growth in the field of e-mobility, in Italy we still suffer from a shortage of public charging stations to recharge the car. For this reason, having a charging point at home makes everything easier.

In this article we will talk about:

• What is an electric car charger and how does it work
• The types of electric car chargers
• What chargers we offer to our customers
• The benefits that self-consumption brings to the automotive sector
• How much does it cost to recharge an electric car and how does it compare to the costs of a combustion car
• How long does it take to recharge an electric car.

Let’s begin!

What is an electric car charger and how does it work?

7kw home charger, or plug-in hybrids, is devices used exclusively to charge vehicles that run on electricity.

In the case of domestic use, if the connection cable is not directly connected to the socket, it is normally mounted on the wall of the house or at a short distance from where the car is parked.

Although the installation of the appliance is not complicated, it is always recommended to have it carried out by a qualified electrician.

After installing, you will simply have to plug the car cable into the socket. Moreover, it depends on the type of battery. The charging power is chosen in order to carry out the entire process safely. There are several types of electric car chargers.

Let’s now examine what is 7kw home charger!

Charging columns for electric cars: the different types of connectors

There are different types of charging stations for electric cars based on the type of connector:

• Schuko connector
• Type 1 connector
• Type 2 connector
• Combined single connector
• CHAdeMO connector

Let’s see them together!

The connector

The connector is the traditional house plug, the same one we use for household appliances. The main advantage of these plugs is that they are compatible with all electric cars. However, it is not the best way to recharge a vehicle as recharging is very slow.

Type 1 connector

The type 1 connector is the first connector made specifically for charging electric cars. It is also known as 7kw home charger. This model is single phase and can support two levels of alternating current load.

Type 2 connector

Also known as Mennekes, the Type 2 connector is the most widely used in Europe. It is called Mennekes from the name of the German brand that produced it first. These devices work with both single-phase and three-phase installations.

At Kinouwell we offer both Type 1 and Type 2 chargers.

Combined single 7kw home charger

Unlike the other chargers described so far that charges with alternating current, this charger charges with both alternating and direct current.

Battery charger

This electric car charger, while less popular, is the most versatile of all. It is a three-phase charger that uses direct current at high speed. Furthermore, this connector is bidirectional, meaning that if necessary the car can become an electricity supplier. It is a type of charger that is very popular in Japan. In fact, its name derives from the Japanese association that integrates some of the most important car brands in the country.

Other types of 7kw home charger

In addition to 7kw home charger, there are technologies that are likely to develop more in the future, such as wireless charging for electric cars.

In this case the charging process is done by induction or magnetic resonance.

Car charger according to the charging mode

In addition to the connector type, electric car chargers are classified by the charging mode. In this case we find chargers of:

• Mode 1
• Mode 2
• Moreover, Mode 3
• Mode 4

The mode 1 charger is an outdated system that is no longer used, as it presents a high risk of overheating. The current goes directly from the socket to the vehicle without a control unit between the two.

Mode 2, on the other hand, has a charge control unit that cuts off the power supply in the event of an anomaly. This charger can also be used with hybrid cars.

Mode 3 7kw home charger has advanced technology. In this case, the cable should not be plugged directly into the socket at home, but a wallbox must be installed on the wall. This ensures intelligent load control. It is also compatible with plug-in hybrid models.

The brands of electric car chargers that we include in our systems are of mode 3.

Finally, there is mode 4, which does not work with hybrid cars but only with electric ones. This is normally used in the chargers of the charging stations of public electric cars.

Power Based Car 7kw home charger

Finally, as regards the categories of chargers, these are also divided according to the power they have and which determines their charging speed.

In this case there are chargers:

• Up to 3.7 kW
• From 7.4 kW
• From 11 kW
• Moreover, From 22 kW

The electric car chargers we bet on

There are several types of electric vehicle chargers on the market, but the ones we bet on are those from Wallbox, an agency of Catalan origin that has seen rapid expansion since 2015, with customers in 80 countries.

7kw home charger is compatible with a wide range of electric cars. Some of these brands are:

• Volkswagen
• Seat
• Mercedes
• Audi
• Kia
• Nissan
• Hyundai
• Cupra
• Tesla

 However, the maximum charging capacity will be limited by the power of the charger and the power contracted by the house. In other words, the contracted power is the power of the solar inverter and the size of the 7kw home charger, if present.