Which is the best Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging station to install at your house? This is a question we get asked on a daily basis by new EV drivers or those considering the swap to an EV. Given the interest in EV’s being generated by existing models such a the Tesla Model S, BMW i3, Nissan Leaf as well as future models such as the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq and Renault ZOE we thought the team at EVSE New Zealand could break down things to the most simplistic level to the two key questions:
This is the most important question to answer as the EV you drive will determine which charger is most suitable. Currently, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mercedes, Volvo and Porsche all utilize a Type 1 (J7112) plug whereas Tesla, Hyundai, Renault & Jaguar use a Type 2 (Mennekes) plug.
At Home, most people will generally prefer an EV charger with a cable already attached given its convenience. If you have an EV, which you don’t plan on changing at any time in the future, then this is a great option for you. See our Home EV Charger page or electric vehicle charging station store for more information
But for instance, if you currently drive an older Nissan Leaf and have a Tesla Model 3 on order (congratulations), then we would suggest a Universal EV Charging system, which utilizes a Type 2 Socket and gives you the ability to charge any car with the appropriate EV Charging cable. With this option, you have a future-proof EV charging solution and also the ability to allow visitors to your place to also charge their EV.
In addition, the EV you drive will determine the EV’s onboard charging capacity, range and battery capacity, and hence the best power level of charging required. A handy tool EVSE New Zealand has created is our interactive car guide, which breaks this down for all the EV’s currently on the market in Australia.
Once you have decided if you are going for a Tethered Type 1, Tethered Type 2 or Universal EV charging station the next step is to determine what is the availability of the power of your home. Does your home have three-phase power, or is it an older house with only single-phase availability?
For some clients who drive a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) or a BMW i3 than single phase charging is more than enough for them, as this allows them to charge at their maximum charging speed, with the ability to charge up to 7.2kW.
For other clients such as Tesla drivers, they often prefer three-phase charging up to 22kW given the ability of EV to charge at faster speeds and the larger battery pack.
EVSE New Zealand offers a range of EV Charging stations with either a set capacity of the ability to configure the output of the EV Charger to match the home’s availability of power and can even be configured to work with Smart Home Automation, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Energy Storage systems.
Tell us about your car and home to see recommendations.
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