How do you select an EV Charger suitable for your Home and Car?

Are you perplexed about the process of charging your electric vehicle and how much it can handle? In this short article, we attempt to educate you on what aspects of the EV vehicle you should pay attention to when selecting your home EV charger.

 

Facebook user's query on the type of EV charger selection of the community of EV owners.

Factors that affect the selection of EV Charger

Pricing cost  of the EV Charger Unit

It all boils down to the budget available for purchasing the EV charger unit. Despite all of the features we’ve mentioned that are predominantly what you should be looking for in an EV charger, our selection of EV chargers doesn’t cost an arm and a leg even with the features combined.

EV Charger Brand	Price Category (RM)
E1 Charger	1399++
BMW	2200 ++
Mini electric Chargers	6000 ++

 

 

7,11,22 kW EV Chargers: what does the kW represent?

Initially, it may be unclear, but we’ll make it easier for you to understand the types of chargers available for home EV charger installations. The (kW) represents how much power your EV charger can supply to your EV. The precedent still holds that the larger the number, the faster your vehicle charges. There are, however, differences among them, which are listed in the table below:

Type charger  (kW)	7kW	11kW	22kW
Level of Charge	Level 2	Level 2	Level 2
Type of Power supply	(AC)	(AC)	(AC)
Amperage (A)	32 A	16A	32A
Operational household voltage	Single Phase  (230V) / Three Phase (415V)	Three-Phase (415V)	Three-Phase (415V)

 

Why is the amperage of 7kW higher than the 11kW charger?

The 11kW operates on a three-phase voltage supply and can deliver more power with a lower current of 16A. Compared to the 7kW of 32 (A), even if installed in a three-supply system, the limitation of the total power output would remain 7kW.

 

I’ll take the fastest household EV Charger then (22kW)!

Hold your horses; depending on your household supply, it is strongly suggested that it be installed only in households with an incoming supply of 415V (Three-Phase) due to how the EVSE pulls more current than the single phase can supply.

• The average single-phase household fuse in Malaysia is usually within the range of 32A/ 40A/63A.
• Based on that information alone, compared to the power draw of 22kW on a single-phase calculation below, we can confirm our affirmations that it would essentially disrupt your household electrical supply due to excessive power draw.

The current demand of 22kW on a Single Phase :

22,000 (W) / 230V = 95.7A

 

How do 11kW and 22kW EV Chargers work on a three-phase, then?

The current draw is split into the three phases or wires of the household electrical system, allowing them to reduce the total current draw on each phase.

For an 11kW Charger :

I (Current) = Power (W) / Household Incoming Supply (V) x Balanced Three Phase System   = 11,000 / 415 V  x 1.73   = 15.9 A per phase

 

For a 22kW Charger :

I (Current) = Power (W) / Household Incoming Supply (V) x Balanced Three Phase System   = 22,000 / 415 V  x 1.73   = 31.8 A per phase

 

If we compare the current draw to the average per-phase fuse limit of a three-phase, within the range of 63A/100A per phase, we will have no problems assimilating an EV charger of such caliber with a three-phase system.

By the calculation logic, I should be able to install 7kW on a single phase.

It is technically possible, but taking the total power draw of other electrical appliances would severely reduce the EVSE's available capacity, leaving no buffer for the EVSE, which could interrupt electricity supply to the household through a trip from the MCB or RCCB. We suggest you upgrade your household’s fuse from 32A to 63A or 100A for the best possible outcome.

 

On-board Charger (OBC) of your EV

There's still the limitation within your EV’s OBC that needs to be considered before you finalize your selection of EV Charger. Your EV has a dedicated management system called OBC that helps regulate the charging process between the EVSE unit and the battery. Think of it as a communication mid-point for both electrical devices necessary for charging interaction; the (AC) power delivered from the EVSE is converted to (DC) as the battery of the EV only stores it in the form of DC.

 

Single-phase or three-phase intake OBC

The onboard chargers built into the EVs aren’t all the same, as they are configured to best fit the narrative for daily use patterns, hence why the popular EVs are generally limited to 7kW and 11kW.

Vehicle List	On-board-charger Phase (AC)	Comments
BYD Seal, Atto3, Dolphin GWM Ora GoodCat	Single Phase (7kW)	These vehicles are under the list of the single-phase configuration for an On-board charger that limits the charge from the EV Charger (AC)   Single Phase (OBC) for 7kW (32A) : 230V x 32A = 7.3kW   Single Phase (OBC) for 11kW (16A) : 230V x 16A =  3.6kW
Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5	Three Phase (11kW)	Three Phase (OBC) for 11kW (16A) (3 phase)  = 230V x 16A x 3 =  11kW
Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW i3	Three Phase (22kW)	Three Phase (OBC) for 22kW (32A) (3 phase) = 230V x 32A x 3 = 22kW

 

How does the onboard charger of an EV work?

The on-board charger of an EV also regulates charge from DC EV Charging. As you’d probably guess, electric vehicles possess different charging curves that highlight how well the OBC manages the charging from AC or DC. The OBC moderates the battery taking charge through stages of:

• Initial charging: At the start of the charge, it ramps up current to the battery until a certain voltage number has been reached, usually reaching 70-80% of charge capacity.
• Constant voltage of which it reaches near total capacity of the battery, and the current drops gradually to preserve the cells of the battery

The intelligent features of an EV Charger

Many models are available in the market for an EV charger, each with its respective features, from design to additional functionality, that set it apart. Realistically, however, what are the aspects of an EV charger should you be looking for? Here are some features that we think might benefit you:

• Auto-load balancing—This feature allows your EV charger to adapt to the current load of your electrical system at home and adjust the current it’s pulling while charging your EV. This great feature will help avoid trips from the circuit breaker.
• Wi-Fi capable – It should be a staple for modern devices to have connectivity as we spend most of our time on the phone. This introduces the possibility of remotely connecting to the EV charger and managing the charging process for your EV,
• Application support—Knowing that there is an application made specifically for the electrical appliance you own makes interacting with it via software easier.
• Over-the-air updates—As important as having a top-of-the-line EV charger sounds, constantly updating it to facilitate or add functionality automatically is better for the end user.

 

Safety features and quality of an EV charger

There are many EV chargers in the market, and there are differences in quality. However, we can assure you that our selection of EV chargers doesn’t fall off in that aspect as they undergo rigorous in-house quality testing in bulk. We take full control of the quality assurance made by our products and don’t rely on third-party MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) testing services to approve our EV charger product lineup. Among the tests that we put our chargers through are :

• Inspection of the components within the EV charger itself
• Testing the product functionality post-production, ensuring that everything works even after the production stage.
• Stress testing the product with strenuous use that mimics real-world usage
• Verify safety through the boards of SIRIM with approval stickers.

Safety features of our E1 charger

Trust that when you select our EV chargers, you’re bound under a product and installation service that deeply has its roots coveted in safety for both our customers and the product itself. The E1 charger has all the aspects of safety that you should look for within an EV charger; among them are:

• Overcurrent protection – Triggers to quickly disperse overcurrent situations that could arise to damage the electric vehicle’s battery or the EV charger itself.
• Temperature control – Actively monitors the temperature while charging your EV and properly reduces power output if the temperature exceeds a certain level where it is deemed unsafe.
• Short-Circuit Protection—The current flowing through the charging process is constantly monitored. Any abnormality in the current is identified and will cut off the supply immediately.
• Ground Fault Protection—Proper grounding is necessary for every electrical device. The same applies to our E1 EV charger to mitigate problems that might spike, such as electrical shocks.
• Surge Protection – If a surge occurs, our E1 chargers can handle the voltage spike that could potentially damage your EV battery by diverting the excess voltage from the equipment and its connected components.

 

All You Need to Know About EV Sifu

We provide and have an extensive history of experience installing EV chargers regardless of the residential property type you reside in, landed or strata high-rise. Our commitment is purely fuelled by our customer's satisfaction and safety when introduced to EV chargers.

Allow us to handle the nitty-gritty work of the installation process and worry not. We handle our installation process with the highest regard for safety and comply with regulations and guidelines by Suruhanjaya Tenaga, which includes electrical components that are certified by SIRIM.

We’ve operated and installed many chargers, including Tesla, BYD, BMW, Kia EV, Mini Cooper, and Audi, and you’d best believe it’ll be the same for the upcoming Proton e.MAS.