- Schneider Electric launched a new smart Level 2 EV charger in the U.S. and Canada.
- The Schneider Charge delivers up to 11.5 kW and can be bought with either a NACS or J1772 connector.
- The connected charger competes with Tesla’s Wall Connector, which needs extra hardware to enable load management.
Schneider Electric is now selling a new home EV charger that can max out the installed power capacity of a house without tripping any breakers inside the main panel. That’s because the Schneider Charge comes with a pair of current transformer (CT) clamps in the box, enabling homeowners to enjoy dynamic load balancing from the get-go.
With dynamic load balancing, an EV charger can use whatever power is available from the main panel. So, if the main breaker is rated for 200 amperes and the house is already using 160 amps, the EV charger can deliver the remaining current to the car, as long as the total consumption doesn’t go over the safety limit. If the current draw of the household goes down to 100 amps, then the EV charger can use the extra amps to top up the car’s battery even faster.
Photo by: Schneider Electric
The concept is nothing new, but Schneider Electric has decided to bundle the necessary hardware from the start. By comparison, Tesla’s ubiquitous Wall Connector needs an additional Remote Meter to enable dynamic load balancing, which costs $210 on its own. Add the $535 for the charger itself, and you’re looking at a $745 bill for the hardware alone.
Meanwhile, the Schneider Charge retails for $695, making it a great option for homeowners who don’t have the luxury of a high-powered mains connection. It can output up to 11.5 kilowatts at 48 amps and has a compact enclosure that can be mounted indoors or outdoors, just like Tesla’s Wall Connector. Customers can choose between a NACS or a J1772 connector when ordering, and there’s also a smartphone app for scheduling and managing charging.
The included CT clamps need to be hardwired to the charger’s main board, which means a set of additional wires needs to be traced from the main panel to the charger. That’s not an issue when the charger is right next to the main panel, but it could prove problematic when the two units are in opposing corners of a property.
By comparison, the optional Tesla Remote Meter communicates wirelessly with the Wall Connector, making installation a little easier. What’s more, if one doesn’t need dynamic load balancing, Tesla’s charger is still one of the best options out there.
For now, Schneider Electric’s new Level 2 EV charger is only available as a hardwired model, with a 25-foot cable, but the company said that a plug-in version is coming early next year.
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Source: Schneider Electric
