ARE YOU READY FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

SOLARPRO INSTALLS EV CHARGING SOLAR INVERTERS

Are you ready for a car that needs no oil change and can be charged from your solar system?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular and there are government incentives available.  Not all EV chargers use solar. If you want to charge your EV from your solar power then you need the EV charger to communicate with your solar power system.  We recommend if you own an EV or think you are likely to have one in the future that you install a combined SolarEdge Inverter and EV charger now, so you are set-up. Then all you need to add is the cable and holder.

This is the World’s first EV charging solar inverter and means you won’t need a separate charger.  The only other option to ensure you can use solar power is to install a Zappi EV charger which has an ECO mode enabling it to work with solar or wind turbines.

We hear comments from our customers that they are setting themselves up now not just for their own vehicle but assuming their kids will have them as well.  Most people are surprised when they find out that if they use a standard EV charger their ‘green’ car will be charged from coal-based electricity even if solar power is available.  For those of you who already have an EV you may find this app useful if you are planning a trip PlugShare.

NOT ALL EV CHARGERS ARE GREEN!

Standard EV Charger

This graph is a 24-hour period.  The green bell curve represents the solar generation and the blue beneath is the homes’ self-consumed solar energy.  Red is the grid energy.  Note only half the EV’s charge has been Free from the sun.

Solar Inverter EV Charger

Here we have the only EV charging solar inverter that controls the energy flow into the EV. Note the energy charging – the EV stays below the curve of the solar generation. This is the only way you can guarantee your ‘Green EV’ is truly green.

EV charging with solar power - Solarpro

SOLAREDGE EV CHARGER WITH SOLAR INVERTER

With SolarEdge’s EV charging single phase inverter you can charge your EV directly from the solar power you produce to further reduce electricity bills. The combined HD Wave Solar Inverter and EV charger removes the need for a standalone charger as well as a solar PV inverter and enables integration with the SolarEdge monitoring platform.

The SolarEdge Features

  • Reduces costs of installing separately a standalone EV charger and a Solar PV inverter
  • An EV-ready solution, future-proofed for new EV purchase or replacement, and compatible with multiple EV connectors
  • Maximises self-consumption by using excess solar for EV charging
  • Fully integrated with the SolarEdge monitoring platform (monitoring connection is also required for first-time EV charging)
  • Built-in meter enables separate tracking of EV power usage for visibility and control
  • 12-year warranty, extendable to 20 or 25 years
  • Demand-Response ready
  • To configure the charger via the monitoring app, Ethernet or ZigBee® connection is required
  • Mobile connection may be used. It requires a SIM card with a 1GB data plan from the mobile phone provider
SOLAREDGE EV CHARGER WITH SOLAR INVERTER

ZAPPI ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER

Zappi works like an ordinary EV charging point.  However, it has two special eco charging modes to benefit people with grid-tied micro-generation systems such as solar power. The two modes automatically adjust charging current in response to home power generation and household power consumption. In FAST charge mode, Zappi operates like an ordinary EV charging station.

  • Available with Type 1 or Type 2 connector
  • 3 charging modes: ECO, ECO+ & FAST
  • Optimises micro-generation self-consumption
  • Works with solar PV or wind turbine systems
  • Economy tariff sense input
  • Programmable timer function
  • Charge and event logging
  • Remote control and monitoring add-on option
  • Pin-code lock function
  • Tap operated display back-light
  • Built-in RCD protection
  • Integral cable holster
  • Supplied with clip-on grid current sensor
ZAPPI ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER DATASHEET

HOW CAN SYDNEY HOMEOWNERS OPTIMISE THEIR SOLAR POWER GENERATION TO CHARGE THEIR ELECTRIC CARS?

FAQs

How long will it take to charge my electric vehicle on the Northern Beaches?

The following factors affect the charging times: the current level of your battery charge, your solar battery capability, the settings and capacity of your charging stations, and the energy source of your charging station. Full-electric vehicles can take between 1 and 4 hours to fully recharge, while plug-in hybrids typically take 4-8 hours. The average car is left at home for around 15 hours per day, while it’s at work for about 9 hours. When at work theoretically you could charge your car fully at a nearby charging station, but naturally overnight seems to be the best time to charge your car. A few basics are necessary before you start installing charging stations. It is important to be careful when charging your electric vehicle from a standard outlet. To avoid power outages or overheating, a special charging cable is required for home charging. You should also ensure that your car is near the outlet. An extension cable cannot be used to charge your vehicle. These precautions aside, it is highly discouraged to charge your vehicle from a standard outlet. Most residential buildings aren’t wired for a high electrical draw. This is why you should look into installing an actual specific EV charging station. This charging method is safe and efficient and the best for car charging. By having one installed in your home, you can make sure a charging station is close by so you will be certain your car has maximum range and a full charge every time you go on the road. The charging station can charge your device up to eight times faster than a standard outlet. This means that EVs can be fully charged in as little time as 1-4 hours. An EV charging station installed by Solarpro is highly recommended if you have an electric car. It will charge your car quickly and safely.

How can I choose a wall charger unit?

When choosing an electric charging unit, there are many options. You can choose from a 3kW, 7kW or 22kW unit. Logically, the slower units are 3kW and the fastest 22kW. A 7kW unit is the most popular, but you can save money by choosing the 3kW power rate. This is a better choice for overnight charging. A three-phase power supply is required for a 22kW unit. Many electric vehicles cannot receive up to 22kW of charge at home, as most homes only have one supply. Also, you will need to decide if you want a tethered device with a power cable attached. This allows you to plug it in and wait instead of pulling out your car’s charging leads every time. An untethered option is also available, but it does not include a charging cable and can be used with Type 1 or Type 2 connectors. You can adjust the length of your cable with this option. The budget is the most important thing for most people. There are many price points to suit any budget. The ever-expanding EV charging range of products makes it easy to choose from a range of products that will appeal to a broad range of customers.

Is it possible to charge EVs via Solar?

Electric vehicles have many advantages over traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. An EV is better for the environment. This type of vehicle emits very little exhaust, so it reduces air pollution. EVs also have the advantage of being cheaper to run and maintain. Even renewable energy can be used to power an electric vehicle. People are often concerned about the amount of power required to charge their vehicles. It’s not like a smartphone that only requires a little power. This is a fully functioning vehicle and to drive 100km, expect to use -18 kWh of electricity. We now have electric cars, which is a great thing. There are many amazing ways technology has made it possible to save money. One of the greatest inventions ever made is the use of solar energy via a system. This system harnesses the unlimited energy of the sun. Solar power is becoming more popular around the globe, and Australia has the highest penetration of solar systems on homes. This allows many homeowners to charge an electric car with solar energy. Before you can begin, it is important to determine the solar system’s capacity. It’s a smart idea to determine how much energy your solar system can produce if you don’t have one yet but do own an electric vehicle. Even if you aren’t planning to use solar power for charging, it is important to include a future EV in your consumption calculations. While weather and electricity costs can affect your ability to charge your electric vehicle with solar power, calculations should consider a solar system big enough to use your home consumption and the additional electricity needs of one or even 2 Electric vehicles in the future.

What kind of electricity are EVs powered by?

Two types of power are available to charge electric vehicles: direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). While the electricity grid in Australia uses alternating current (AC), batteries can only store direct-current (DC) power. For example, a phone charger converts alternating current power from Australia’s electricity grid into direct current power so that your phone battery can store it. This is what makes AC charging different from DC charging for an electric vehicle. An AC charger can be used to charge your car’s battery. It converts AC power into DC energy. The converter from AC to DC is built into the DC charging station when you use it. The charging station draws AC power from a grid and converts it into DC. It then feeds the DC directly to your battery without using your car’s charger. So, remember AC comes from the grid. DC is in your battery. To convert AC into DC you need the charger. There is also DC charging available. So while DC chargers are generally larger and more powerful than AC chargers they can charge your vehicle much faster. A 350kW DC charger will start charging it fully in as fast as 20 minutes if the power supply is capable of ultra-rapid charging. To expand the EV battery life, nevertheless a slower charge rate seems to be the way.