Electric Vehicle Charging
Electric Charging Installations
From initial design and planning, we can deliver full fit out projects right through to hand over. Our multi-skilled teams are dynamic and get involved in different parts of each project, this approach improves knowledge within the team and makes everything run smoothly.
All our projects are carried out with our bespoke project management system which includes group chat communication, order processing and project management tools. This allows our office and site staff to be in immediate communication and process changes, orders and general progress instantly between managers and operatives.
Charging Electric Vehicles?
When it comes to charging electric cars, one of the big questions is how long does it take to charge electric cars? As you may know with all the different models, charger types and charging networks, the amount of time to charge electric cars depends. Although the average electric vehicle charging time can be from eight hours on a normal domestic power supply to less than an hour with a high-voltage rapid charger. The important thing to remember is that if an electric car suits your lifestyle, you will be able to charge it at times when you are not using it. Therefore, the length of time it takes to charge should not really be an issue.
Types Of Electric Vehicle Chargers
Different electric vehicle requires different chargers, and sadly there is not a single car-charging adaptor that allows you to plug in anywhere, unless you depend on the slowest form of charger supplied with most electric vehicles as a basic equipment, which will generally plug in to a standard three-pin domestic socket.
Commercial charger installations may look very different to one another. This is because they are manufactured and installed by different networks. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the speed of a car is what determines which type of charger and connectors you need. There are slow chargers, rapid chargers and fast chargers.
Slow Chargers
Most electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars allow you to charge overnight using a standard 13-amp three-pin plug. A typical maximum current draw of 3kW means a full charge generally needs up to eight hours. Slow chargers are suitable if you park off-street at home and are able to plug-in overnight or if you have a charge point at work you can connect to all day.
Fast Chargers
Fast chargers double the rate of charge you can pump into an electric vehicle battery. Fast chargers take three to four hours before it can be fully charged. Although fast chargers operate at up to 7kW and 32 amps, most 13-amp slow chargers can also be connected but will draw less amps and thus not charge at the faster rate. Fast Chargers usually use Type 2 ‘Mennekes’ units, that look much like the basic commando units with seven pin holes, and a flat top so you can’t plug them upside down.
Rapid Chargers
Cars like the Tesla Model S and Kia Soul EV have more advanced electronics that can take a faster charge than most rivals. Rapid chargers up to 120kW in the case of the Tesla, which is why you can charge a Model S battery up to 80 per cent of its full capacity in just half an hour. Tesla Supercharger Stations use a proprietary plug that means electric car brands can’t use them, but other Rapid Chargers use CCS and JEVS-type plugs, which are Japanese and Euro-spec connectors, and are compatible with bigger range of electric cars.
