Electrician here, no it would not need to upgrade your panel to add a charger. If you have an intermittent load, like a car charger, you can add it on to your panel provided you don’t run it along with your other high power, intermittent loads (clothes dryer, oven).
Just because you have a job doesn’t mean you are good at it.
I have an an electric car that has a 66kwh battery and I track everything. It’s not even in the top 3 categories of usage in my house. It only runs a few hours when I plug it in, which is 1 or 2 times a week. It also only charges at night, because the car has this super advanced technology where it can tell what time it is.
Every time these stories come out all of you people come out of the woodwork with your “the grid can’t handle it” bullshit, but it seems you all haven’t got the slightest fucking clue or are just being disingenuous. All you do is regurgitate long debunked Facebook myths and repeat them for every new story that mentions EVs in any way hoping to convince some more suckers.
The power company in my region is literally telling people in advertisements they should install heat pumps and buy EVs. Why the fuck would they do that if it would collapse their infrastructure?
It’s almost not worth the hassle for level 1 charging because it’s so slow though. Might as well put in a level 2, and even then, you’re not often charging every night unless you’re putting serious miles on your EV daily. I’d say one level 2 charger for four occupants/EVs would be reasonable.
If everyone trickle charges every day it’s make a more even draw from the gird which is easier to supply. The equipment is also cheaper for the car/parking space owner.
It is my understanding that “level 1” charging is 110V 12A 60Hz AC? AKA just plug it into a normal residential wall socket like a toaster? I wonder which one presents more of a load on the power grid, charging an EV like that overnight, or owning a water bed.
Usually yes, level 1 is plugging into a typical 110V socket. You can also adjust the amperage draw on some chargers. I can go from 6 to 12 A in 2 A increments on the one that came with my ioniq 5.
Level 2 is 220V and 25-80 A (<20kW).
Level 3 is technically anything above 20 kW, but usually 50 kW is the floor. These are the EV-specific fast chargers or Tesla’s Superchargers.
An EV on level 1 (or 2) is a continuous load, so I’d imagine probably easier to handle than an intermittent load.
Im west coast Canada where central heat is more of a new home thing, every previous home has baseboard heat in every room. This is true in condos and town homes also. So every winter the grid handles every non new single family dwellings use of baseboard electric heat. I don’t see this being an issueto have an EV that can charge in late hours or at lower draw if needed
Also, on 2400w an EV can charge a significantly large amount overnight. You mightn’t need a charge point in the first place.
2400W x number of occupants is still some series draw on their main panel.
Their point still stands that their mains would need an upgrade.
Electrician here, no it would not need to upgrade your panel to add a charger. If you have an intermittent load, like a car charger, you can add it on to your panel provided you don’t run it along with your other high power, intermittent loads (clothes dryer, oven).
Car Charger wouldn’t be an intermittent load,
You literally can not charge a car 24/7, so if it is not a continuous load…
So by your definition there is only
Jesus, thankfully I also size electrical systems and I would never hire you.
Just because you have a job doesn’t mean you are good at it.
I have an an electric car that has a 66kwh battery and I track everything. It’s not even in the top 3 categories of usage in my house. It only runs a few hours when I plug it in, which is 1 or 2 times a week. It also only charges at night, because the car has this super advanced technology where it can tell what time it is.
Every time these stories come out all of you people come out of the woodwork with your “the grid can’t handle it” bullshit, but it seems you all haven’t got the slightest fucking clue or are just being disingenuous. All you do is regurgitate long debunked Facebook myths and repeat them for every new story that mentions EVs in any way hoping to convince some more suckers.
The power company in my region is literally telling people in advertisements they should install heat pumps and buy EVs. Why the fuck would they do that if it would collapse their infrastructure?
It’s almost not worth the hassle for level 1 charging because it’s so slow though. Might as well put in a level 2, and even then, you’re not often charging every night unless you’re putting serious miles on your EV daily. I’d say one level 2 charger for four occupants/EVs would be reasonable.
If everyone trickle charges every day it’s make a more even draw from the gird which is easier to supply. The equipment is also cheaper for the car/parking space owner.
Places without heated parking RIP
Tons of parking in sweden is open air, and we do fine with charging.
If it’s -20c the car will get just enough of a charge to offset the battery discharging to keep it warm. Lots of places are limited to 120v outlets.
Lol, can you stop just making things up. It’s like you’ve heard one anti-bev podcast and decided you’re an expert
Why are you keeping the car on while it’s charging?
Evs have to discharge to keep the battery warm, it can’t freeze. It’s a default feature on ANY EV.
It is my understanding that “level 1” charging is 110V 12A 60Hz AC? AKA just plug it into a normal residential wall socket like a toaster? I wonder which one presents more of a load on the power grid, charging an EV like that overnight, or owning a water bed.
Usually yes, level 1 is plugging into a typical 110V socket. You can also adjust the amperage draw on some chargers. I can go from 6 to 12 A in 2 A increments on the one that came with my ioniq 5.
Level 2 is 220V and 25-80 A (<20kW).
Level 3 is technically anything above 20 kW, but usually 50 kW is the floor. These are the EV-specific fast chargers or Tesla’s Superchargers.
An EV on level 1 (or 2) is a continuous load, so I’d imagine probably easier to handle than an intermittent load.
Im west coast Canada where central heat is more of a new home thing, every previous home has baseboard heat in every room. This is true in condos and town homes also. So every winter the grid handles every non new single family dwellings use of baseboard electric heat. I don’t see this being an issueto have an EV that can charge in late hours or at lower draw if needed