Discreet EV charging point?

[dishman]

As part of a renovation and extension is seems like an idea to install an ev charging point or two in appropriate locations.

In my mind as these cars become more and more common, doing it now rather than a retrofitting them will make for a tidier job and a bit of future proofing.

Are the EV pods the size they are because they are essentially a retrofit? They seem to have their own breaker housed within the pod.

Is it the pod that regulates any of the charging or the car? I would have assumed the latter.

Therefore, can a charging point consist of one or two discreet 32A IP rated round pin sockets housed in something more discreet or even recessed into the brickwork?

 

[JohnD]

you can use a meter box on the outside of the house, no-one will think anything of it. If you put a notch in the bottom you could lead the cables out while it is shut. You can get non-standard latches for them that an ordinary triangular key does not fit.

 

[winston1]

There are several different standards of charge point. Single phase, 3 phase and DC. You need the correct one for your car (which you don't have yet).

 

[dishman]

Interesting, I thought a standard had emerged for the mass produced sector, not tesla etc. Would the home user only have the choice of single phase and/or DC?

I also thought, apart from Tesla, there had been a standardised socket design.

 

[winston1]

Interesting, I thought a standard had emerged for the mass produced sector, not tesla etc. Would the home user only have the choice of single phase and/or DC?

Don't know. This is the 3 phase one used on many on street charging points.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_2_connector

My missis has a G Wizz which charges at home on a 13 amp socket in the porch, and on street using one phase of the above socket system.

 

[flameport]

Is it the pod that regulates any of the charging or the car?

Both, so just having a power outlet on the wall will not be possible.

Even if charging was from a 32A outlet, that is still a fail because a socket on the wall would require a separate power cable, or a cable attached to the car.

 

[JohnD]

Both, so just having a power outlet on the wall will not be possible.

Even if charging was from a 32A outlet, that is still a fail because a socket on the wall would require a separate power cable, or a cable attached to the car.

eh?

My missis has a G Wizz which charges at home on a 13 amp socket in the porch, and on street using one phase of the above socket system.

so surely any socket will do. Otherwise, if you drove to a friend's house, you might run down the battery and have to push it home.

 

[Adam_151]

Most vehicles will support mode two charging with a suitable cable (it has a control box which communicates with the vehicle), however most of the proper wall mount chargers are mode 3 and communicate directly with the car, 16A (or if both charger and car suitable, 32A charging becomes possible)

Some reading https://www.es-store.co.uk/documents/product/Guide_to_EV_charging.pdf

 

[dishman]

So I guess the best method for "future proofing" is to ensure there is a supply (with the correct cable thickness for an EV charge point) to the ideal location for an ev point and install a blanking plate (or even a socket) protected by a weather proof IP rated housing. Then if and (probably) when EV becomes the norm, it is available to fit the requisite EV pod.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Best method is to forget about it until you have an electric car.

 

[EFLImpudence]

... and how much your smart meter will charge you for it - if there is enough electricity to go round.

 

[nitro23456]

You can't future proof anything for long.

As others have said, if you dont even have the car forget about it. A much better use of your time would be to consider laying a new landing pad for when you get your spaceship in 2075.

 

[Tigercubrider]

Grand Designs used to be full of "future proofing" done by the designer and mainly consisted of cat 5 cables buried in walls. 10 years later different technology will exist

The best futureproofing is a duct with easy access.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

when EV becomes the norm

Everybody will have to drastically curtail their driving, as we simply will not be able to generate or distribute enough electricity for everybody to charge their cars.

 

[Adam_151]

I imagine it'll get to the point where new nuclear plants will have to be forced through planning, regardless of opposition...... it would be nice to think that by that time we would have a smart grid of devices that than talk and dynamic pricing to flatten out the peaks in the demand to allow nucleaer to meet the base demand, and also to allow available renewables to be taken advantage of when they are available. however I am very doubtful of this!