Home charging station: how to connect an electric car at home

The development of electric vehicles in Ukraine is going by leaps and bounds, with 43,854 electric vehicles in the country as of mid-autumn 2022. The vast majority of owners understand the benefits of home charging of an electric vehicle, which is both safer for the battery and more affordable. But the issue of installing a home station is still not fully understood. So let's take a look at the pros and cons of all the options.

The cost of electricity in Ukraine is currently UAH 1.68 per kilowatt*.hours, so for charging a 48 kW battery*h, you will have to pay UAH 80.64 and get about 250 km of range. And if you charge at night at the night rate (UAH 0.84), it will be even cheaper - UAH 40.32. So the benefits of such charging are clear. But the speed is still in question.

Choosing the type of home charger

There are several different types of chargers available for home use. All of them are usually based on AC power, which is gentle on the battery of an electric vehicle. Therefore, this option is always the best for regular battery charging. The choice will depend on the capacity of the network installed in the house, the capabilities and desire of the owner. 

Level 1 - A simple 220-230 volt socket to which an electric vehicle is connected using a special cable that is usually supplied with the electric vehicle. In fact, it is a separate mobile device that is equipped with all the necessary protective devices.

This method can power an electric vehicle at about 3.5 kW per hour, meaning that the network will deliver no more than 16A. The older the network is, the lower the power will be. And if you do the maths, for example, a 36 kWh battery will take about 12 hours to charge. If the route for the day is no more than 100 km, then it is possible to recharge and hit the road overnight, and fully charge the battery on free days.  

Connecting to a conventional network still requires a separate cable to the meter, which will not depend on the main line of your house or apartment, and will have a separate machine with a protection device. And a mandatory requirement will be the presence of a ground connection. Not imaginary, as in many old houses, but real. This will protect against possible electric shocks and guarantee the connection of the electric vehicle, otherwise the system will simply block and the charge will not be transferred to the battery. 

Level 2 - is a separate special three-phase socket with a current of 16-32A. From such a power outlet, the car will be able to receive up to 11-22 kW per hour, depending on the network and the electric vehicle itself. This way, charging can be accelerated, which takes an average of 6-10 hours to fully charge, depending on the battery capacity. So the car can be fully recharged overnight. 

Connecting the station requires permission from the electricity supplier, a separate high-power cable, and the addition of safety devices and higher-capacity circuit breakers at the meter. And, of course, you need to remember that in Ukraine there are restrictions on the maximum load per consumer (REM). Usually, the supplier limits the power to 10 kW per house. And this should be taken into account.

The main disadvantage of such charging is not only the hassle of buying all the components and negotiating with the provider, but also the fact that during power fluctuations in the network, the charger can be knocked out and simply stop charging. You may not even notice this when you find out in the morning, which will be a very unpleasant surprise.

Home charging station - is a third and more professional approach. Order such a station is available from manufacturers such as ECOFACTOR. This is a device that is connected to a three-phase network with a dedicated circuit breaker on the meter and a current of at least 32A, but does not require additional protective fuses, as all this is already built into the body of the compact charging station. The station can be supplied with a cable, or it can be sold separately. 

Such a station has a capacity of 7 kW to 22 kW, which is what the grid and the car itself can handle. Sometimes three hours is enough to replenish the range of an electric vehicle from 10% to 80%. For example, a Nissan Leaf needs only 7 kW, but a Tesla for the European market can charge from 22 kW, like most European electric vehicles. So pay attention to the needs of the electric vehicle itself.

In addition, such a device can regulate the energy supply and will not leave your car or your home without stable power. And the owner can connect it to a network of stations and earn money from it, or provide an opportunity for others to connect to it. There are many more advantages, including the ability to return excess energy to the grid at home from the car, which is of great importance today. But this function must be supported by the car and the station itself.

Connection procedure

Regardless of the type of connection you choose, whether it's a three-phase socket or a home charging station for an electric vehicle, you will need to take steps to arrange the connection and install a dedicated line that is best suited to power a powerful device such as a car. The complexity, timing, and cost will depend on the characteristics and condition of the electrical network in your home.

Steps to connect home charging station:

• checking the installed network for power, consumption volumes, and the presence of grounding (done by an electrician or indicated in the house documentation);

• negotiate with the electricity supplier (e.g. DTEK or local suppliers) to increase consumption and install a dedicated line and connect a high-powered grid (three phases if the house has one phase); 
• order if necessary the station itself (ECOFACTOR or other manufacturers) or purchase all the components (cable, automatic machine, stabiliser, switch);
• find professional installers or a company that works with high-voltage networks and can lay cables (this can be DTEK itself or professional specialised companies), install the necessary safety devices and connect the socket or charging station.

The procedure for installing an electric vehicle socket is clear and requires overcoming bureaucratic procedures and submitting a large package of documents. The complexity will depend on the condition and capacity of the power grid in the house.

New modern houses with an area of more than 100 square metres are wired with a three-phase network by default. Therefore, in this case, you need to agree with DTEK or your electricity supplier to connect an increased power supply. After all, consumption will increase when an electric vehicle is connected, as well as the load on the power grid.

We submit documents to the municipal service or another service company:

• passport;
• documents confirming the ownership of the house/apartment;
• the electrical wiring plan for the premises: if the house has just been built, such a document may not be requested, as it can still be changed during the performance of internal work.

The procedure for replacing the power supply from a single-phase to a three-phase network will be more complicated and depends on the condition of the wiring itself. The package of documents is the same, but an electrical plan will be required. 

Such bureaucratic procedures are actually done for the sake of overall safety and control of the load distribution on the supply line in general. Before increasing the load, representatives of the controlling organisations must make sure that the existing wiring is in good condition. If it turns out to be too old, the services will refuse to increase the capacity, and may even reduce the existing load. In this case, you will need to completely change the wiring. The best thing to do is to try to negotiate an agreement to make everything for a three-phase power supply along with the transfer of the new power grid and start it up immediately. Unfortunately, in most cases, representatives of power grids refuse such parallel work, and you have to take extra steps and coordinate the network for increasing phases after installation. 

It should be remembered that work on high-voltage networks should be carried out by professionals - installers from the city power company or another service company who have the appropriate certificates. After the installation, representatives of the city service are called again to check and finalise the connection. And these steps apply to both the installation of a simple three-phase socket and the connection of a home station.

You need to be smart about choosing the most home charging station. Here, saving money is not good. Don't go for home-made or Chinese offers, of which there are many on the market. Moreover, today the Ukrainian market has professional manufacturers, including ECOFACTOR. They guarantee really decent, reliable, time-tested options. Some importers and dealers of car brands offer charging stations from official electric vehicle manufacturers. Then you can order such stations in showrooms. 

The reliability and safety of an electric vehicle home station is especially important when you plan to use the reverse function: that is, the car transfers excess energy and starts powering the house itself during a power outage. It is important to make sure that the car supports this function. Therefore, it is equally important to find out the technical data of the electric vehicle in detail.