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Types of connectors

You can get lost in the amount of charging options there are available to you, whether you are a homeowner or business looking to expand your EV vehicle fleet, we have options for you. EV chargers are categorised based on speed; ultra-rapid, rapid, fast and slow.

What is the difference between AC and DC charging

Your electric vehicle can either be charged through AC (Alternating Current) or DC (Direct Current) charging connectors. 

The difference between these is that AC chargers have to have an onboard charger that converts power inside or outside of the vehicle before charging the battery, whilst DC chargers convert the power inside of the charger, and so, does not need an onboard charger.

There are two different AC power supply systems: single phase, and three phase. Single phase power systems have one neutral wire, and one power wire. Three phase power systems have three power systems, and are three times as efficient when compared to single phase power systems. However, due to increased efficiency, they are more expensive than the single phase power systems.

Luckily, you likely do not need to worry about this. The majority of fully electric vehicles can use both AC and DC power.

When charging your electric vehicle, you should really only charge it up to 80%. This is when the charging starts to slow down, and will become less cost efficient to charge the remaining 20%. This is also similar with a low battery – you shouldn’t really let it get below 20%. Having your EV at either 0% or 100% charge damages the battery, and decrease the overall life span of your vehicle.

AC Charging

Most common EV charger, as they are inexpensive and accessible. This charger ranges from 3-22kW , and can take between 3-12 hours to charge.

AC chargers are the most common type of EV charger on the market today. You’ll find them to be the most inexpensive type of charger and are widely accessible – so if you’re on a budget or need a charger installed at short notice, then AC chargers will be your best option. Of course, there are also limitations of AC charging, with most models topping out at only 22kW of power, compared to DC chargers that can often reach up to 300kW.

Types of AC chargers

• 3-pin plug
• Type 1 (single phase) is very common in American electric vehicles
• Type 2 (triple phase) is common for European and Asian electric vehicles

DC Charging

As stated above, DC chargers can often reach up to 300kW of power. You will come across these at motorway service stations for rapid charging. hese services are excellent for when you are on the go, and in need for a quick pick me up. This charger averages at 40-50kW, and only takes about 20-40 minutes to charge your EV to 80%.

Types of DC chargers

• CHAdeMO
• CCS
• Tesla Type 2

Rapid and ultra-rapid charging

The ultra-rapid and rapid chargers are the fastest type of chargers, and can get an electric vehicle up to 80% within minutes. These chargers are most likely found at highly trafficked areas, such as motorway services or main routes. They are designed to power an electric vehicle as fast as possible with the utmost convenience.

The ultra-rapid and rapid chargers are the fastest type of EV chargers. They can get an EV up to 80% in just a few minutes. Amazing, right? You will most likely find these at highly trafficked areas, like motorway services or main routes – as almost all use DC power. These chargers have been designed to power an electric vehicle as fast as possible with the least inconvenience.

CHAdeMO

The CHAdeMO (meaning CHArge de MOve, or charge for moving in English) charger has a 10 pin structure, ensuring that you can quickly charge your EV within 25-75kW power. This charger originates from Japan and is exceptionally popular within the east asian region. This is particularly true in areas such as, the home country – Japan, and South Korea. This charger type has not gained traction in European and North American vehicles, and you are unlikely to obtain one in these areas.

Combined Charging System (CCS)

The Combined Charging System, otherwise known as CCS, has two models: the combo 1 and combo 2. To make things simpler for you, these are simply enhanced Type 1 and Type 2 chargers. They have additional pins under the original Type 1 or 2 charging structure that speeds up the charging process.

Combo 1

Combo 1 supplies AC energy through the pins within the Type 1 format (the upper half of the connector) and DC energy through the additional pins underneath. You will primarily find this model North America and South Korea.

Combo 2

Similar to Combo 1, Combo 2 uses the Type 2 format (the upper half of the connector) to supply AC energy, and to supply DC energy with the additional pins underneath. You will find that this model is commonly used within the European continent.

Type 2 (three phase)

The Type 2 model charges at around 25-75kW DC power from 10 pins. You will find that it takes 20-60 minutes to charge your EV with this charger. Much like the CHAdeMO, you will find this charger in the east Asian region and, again, is not commonly integrated in European and North American electric vehicles. 

Tesla Superchargers

Tesla Superchargers charge at 72-250kW AC and will fill a battery within 20-40 minutes. Despite this, they are the slowest rapid connector as the use AC energy. As stated above, this slows down the charging speed as there has to be an onboard converter to convert the power to DC.

Tesla CCS

You might notice that the Tesla CCS has the same charging model as the CCS Combo 2 connector. Due to the growing number of CCS charging stations, Tesla has adapted this model into their EV to increase convenience for EV owners.

Tesla Type 2

The Tesla Type 2 has the same model as the Type 2 connector.

Fast charging

This charging type charges at around 43kW AC and can generally charge an EV within 20-40 minutes. These chargers are slower than rapid and ultra-rapid chargers as they use AC power, and have to use the onboard converter to convert the AC power to DC power.

Type 1 (single phase)

The Type 1 fast charger uses at about 7 AC power, and may be on older electric vehicles. This charging type is becoming increasingly unpopular within modern vehicles, and you may notice is harder to find.

Type 2 (three phase)

The Type 2 fast charger is extremely popular, and very well may be the one you use. The charger uses 3-19kW of power and is up to 3 times faster than the type 1 connector. This model has been implemented into the vast majority of modern EVs.

Slow charging

Slow chargers provide 3-6kW and can take up to 12 hours to change your electric vehicle. Many use these chargers overnight and whilst at work.

3-Pin Plug (single phase)

The 3-Pin Plug, something we are all familiar with, provides 2-3kW AC through 3-pins and takes around 12 hours to charge. If you have used this charger before, you will know that it is the slowest and least efficient method of charging. However, this charger is the most accessible charging type – there is no additional setup or installation needed to charge your EV using this method.

Type 1 (single phase)

The Type 1 slow chargers are slightly better than the 3-Pin Plug charger. They use up to 3kW AC of power and take upwards of 12 hours to charge.

Type 2 (three phase)

The Type 2 slow charger has 7 pins to produce 3 – 7kW AC of power.

The brands Avail EV stock

Check out brands we stock.

The difference between home chargers and public charging points

Public charging points:

• Almost all public charging points are tethered – meaning you will likely not need to use your own charging cable. You will find these charging stations in public spaces, shopping centres and at workplaces for your convenience. Rapid and Ultra-Rapid charging stations have charging cables readily tethered to increase time efficiency.
• Public charging points are almost certainly Ultra-Rapid or Rapid chargers. These are placed in highly trafficked areas for easy access.

Home charging point:

• Home charges come in a variety of tethered and untethered options.
• They are extremely convenient, and very easy to access.
• The majority of chargers can be smartphone controlled, and have access to the internet.
• They are lockable, to prevent theft and increase your safety.
• They can be installed inside or outside your home. The chargers are waterproof to prevent water damage and avoid additional expenses.

Our best electric car chargers

Take a look at our 5 Best Electric Car Chargers, or get in touch today.

As trusted and accredited installers of electric vehicle chargers with years of experience installing, and scrutinising, the leading models and brands, we know EV systems inside-out. These days, EV chargers offer a lot more than just superfast charging, and with an abundance of features to consider, looking for the right solution for you can be quite the mission.

At Avail, we have narrowed-down our range of EV chargers to comprise of only the highest-quality, fastest, and smartest vehicle charging systems on the market, and our team of home charge experts use their in-depth knowledge in these EV charging systems to offer a completely bespoke approach to each and every customer, recommending a solution tailored to personal requirements, lifestyle and budget. Interested to know what we consider? In this article we have hand-picked five of our favourite, market-leading chargers to pull apart, detailing what we have learnt about the systems from our first-hand experience and what, in particular, we love about each one. 

Wallbox – Pulsar Plus

The Wallbox smart EV charger is one of our bestsellers, simply designed to give your electric vehicle a powerful smart charging system in a compact size (less than 10cm wide!). This charger is enhanced by multiple functions found on a very user friendly ‘myWallbox’ app, such as information about consumption, charging time, energy cost or your charger’s uploaded sessions. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus even features voice control enabled with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant devices, for those who prefer to speak to their technology!

Price Range

£ – From £445.00, or only £795 without the EV grant.

Avail Love

The LED halo feature, with intuitive colour coding to reflect charging activity – green for ready, amber for locked and so on.

Features

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
• Power: 7.4 kW / 22 kW(3 phase)
• Smart scheduling: Available using the myWallbox app
• Installation: Pulsar Plus is certified water and dust resistant with IP54 and IK08 protection ratings, allowing for safe installation indoors or outdoors.
• Voice control: enabled with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant devices
• Charging cable: 5m (or 7m upgrade)

Design

Compact and discreet, in their own words ‘smaller than a toaster, lighter than a laptop’. The Pular Plus is available in white or black, and both are modern, stylish and would fit perfectly in any garage.

Best for

Almost any household but especially those with limited space that are looking for a simple, easy to configure EV charger.

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Easee – One

The Easee One was developed specifically for the UK domestic market, and offers lightening-intelligence with smart control, a high level of security plus powerful charging. The Easee One is weather resistant, and with 11 sensors and clever temperature measurement it is a safe choice for outdoor home charging. This EV charging system is universal and can be tethered or untethered at the touch of a button, a great choice for homes with multiple EVs, especially as you are able to have up to three charging units on one fuse.

Price Range

£££ – Competitive pricing available

Avail Love

The Easee One is available in five different trendy colours, and should you change your mind, you can simply replace the cover. 

Features:

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi & 4G internet
• Power: 7.4 kW
• Smart scheduling: Available using the Easee app
• Installation: Indoor/outdoor resistant to snow, sun, wind or rain, with IP54 certification. Optional mount or post.
• Voice control:  None
• Charging cable: 7.5m

Design

The Easee One is futuristic and sleek, a simple design with the addition of replacement covers so you can spruce it up to match your exterior.

Best for

We think this EV charger is a great choice for those looking to mount outdoors, and those with one or multiple electric vehicles, looking for a responsive, durable and stylish charging solution.

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MyEnergi – Zappi

The Zappi is a top-selling British-made solar EV charger, so is a fantastic solution for those with a solar panel system at their home making use of green charging! Those that don’t have solar panels can still use their Zappi charger connected to their electricity supply, and with a brilliant, easy-to-use app you can control your EV system from your smartphone. Zappi is one of the few chargers that offer a pin-security feature, locking your charging system with a  5-digit pin code to ensure even more protection over your energy when you aren’t home.

Price Range

££ – From £570, or only £920 without the EV grant

Avail Love

Zappi’s dedication to eco living using power connectivity, for those with solar/wind generation, allowing you control over the source of your energy, whether it is green energy or a mix. Plus multiple charging modes, including eco charging when connected to the regular electrical grid.

Features:

• Connectivity:Wi-Fi & Ethernet
• Power: 7 kW or 22 kW (22kw require a three-phase household electrical supply.)
• Smart scheduling: YES using add-on option
• Installation: Indoor/outdoor with the option to mount to the wall or a pedestal
• Voice control:  None
• Charging cable: 6.5m

Design

The Zappi is available in either white and grey, or black and grey and features a small LED screen on the front which offers lots of important information to the user.

Best for

We think the Zappi is a no-brainer for those with solar/wind generation, and those looking to make further commitments to a greener future.

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Pod Point – Solo 3

The Pod Point Solo 3 charger is a UK-made, highly efficient EV charger, available in tethered or tethered and with a range of options in power and cable length. The Solo 3 offers over the air updates, so as soon as there are new features available you will be able to update your system, instead of the requirement to purchase new software. Connecting your Pod point to Wi-Fi also means that you can access remote support, should you need it.

Price Range

££ – £525 or only £875 without the EV grant

Avail Love

The Pod Point EV charger offers clever power-balancing, meaning that you can be sure that your electrical supply doesn’t get overloaded during times when your home is using a lot of energy, and charging returns to the fastest route again once power becomes available, making it possible to not only run all of your appliance, but even install a second charger if need be.

Features:

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi
• Power: Choose from 3.6kW, 7kW or 22kW (22kw require a three-phase household electrical supply.)
• Smart scheduling: YES using Pod Point App
• Installation: Indoor/outdoor
• Voice control: No
• Charging cable: Available as 4.8m or 7.5m

Design

The Solo 3 is sleek and stylish with a colour light which indicates the status of the charger, for ease of use.

Best for

We think that the Solo 3 is an efficient solution for busy households, and those that balance many electric applications at certain times of the day.

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EVBox Elvi

EV Box offer both commercial and domestic charging products, and their Elvi model is a great option for households and small businesses requiring multi use, with enhanced security features and key fob activation. Compatible with every electric vehicle, EVBox offer intelligent and connected charging, providing real-time charging session insights as well as remote control and monitoring.

Price Range

££ – Competitive pricing available

Avail Love

We love EVBox’s stripped back approach to charging, the Elvi offers an effortless charging experience, simply plug in to begin charging and pull out the plug to drive.

Features:

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Power: Choose from 7.4kW, 11kW or 22 kW
• Smart scheduling: Available using the EVBox App
• Installation: Indoor/outdoor, wall or pole-mounted
• Voice control: No
• Charging cable: 6m

Design

The Elvi is a modular design with just three components: the wall dock, the station, and the cable. Available in white or black, both feature an LED ring that lights green when activated.

Best for

The Elvi by EVBox is a great choice for those that would like to access the system with multiple users/vehicles, and for any household not wanted to get bogged down in the technicalities and simply want to plug in and out.

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Comparison table

Compare all five models here:

	Size	Connectivity	Power	Smart scheduling	Installation	Voice control	Cable length	Design Options	RFID Reader	Solar Integration	Power Balancing
Wallbox Pulsar Plus	166 x 163 x 82 mm	Wi-Fi & Bluetooth	7.4 kW / 22 kW (3 phase)	Available	Indoor/outdoor	Inbuilt	5 m or 7 m	White/black	–	Available*	Available*
Easee One	256 x 193 x 106 mm	Wi-Fi & 4G internet	7.4 kW / 22 kW (3 phase)	Available	Indoor/outdoor	–	7.5 m	White/black/red/blue/grey	Yes	–	–
Myenergi Zappi	439 x 282 x 122 mm	Wi-Fi & Ethernet	7 kW / 22 kW (3 phase)	Available*	Indoor/outdoor	–	6.5 m	White & grey / black & grey	–	Inbuilt	–
Pod Point Solo 3	330 x 290 x 112 mm	Wi-Fi	3.6 kW / 7 kW / 22 kW (3 phase)	Available	Indoor/outdoor	–	4.8 m or 7.5 m	–	–	–	Inbuilt
EVBox Elvi	186 x 328 x 161 mm	Wi-Fi & Bluetooth	7.4kW / 11kW / 22 kW (3 phase)	Available	Indoor/outdoor	–	6 m	White/black	Yes	–	Available*

*Available: upgrade may be required.

Still need help finding the right solution for your household? Get in touch with our experts today.

What is a Zappi EV charger?

Electric vehicles and Hybrid plug-in vehicles all require an EV charger to maintain battery levels and keep vehicles fully charged. They are at charging stations and use an electric current from either a 240v outlet or the grid to power your car’s battery. While normal EV chargers use this method, zappi chargers use self made energy through solar and wind to create charge for electric vehicles. Zappi chargers have a sleek, smart and versatile design.

Domestic Solar PV system integration

With a domestic solar PV system integration, you can now use your surplus energy to charge your vehicle rather than storing or sending that energy back to the grid. If you are at home during the day you can charge your car directly from the solar panels as and when they produce energy. 

However, if you are not home during the day or would rather charge your car at night there is no need to worry as you can charge vehicles using stored energy that was generated during the day. This is done by having a solar battery system fitted alongside your solar PV system. By using wind or solar to power your vehicles and home, there will be a huge decrease in monthly household bills and your carbon footprint. With around 460,000 electric vehicles registered in the UK alone, having a zappi charger installation will increase your homes desirability for any EV users, even more so with a solar PV system.

Using Zappi chargers without Solar or wind

If your home does not yet have solar panels or wind turbines, there’s no need to worry as Zappi chargers can be used with and without solar or wind and will still be of substantial benefit to you. The charger comes with features such as, a unique e-sense functionality allowing you the ability to detect when the economy tariffs become available, program the zappi to switch to the best tariff or set timers for when tariffs such as octopus go become available. 

Features of the Zappi chargers

Along with having the ability to detect when the economy tariff becomes available, program the zappi to switch to the best tariffs and set timers for when other tariffs become available, there are plenty of other features which make the zappi unique in its design concept. Some of these features are;

• A boost function – keeping the battery at a minimum charge level
• Energy data logging
• Graphical back-lit LCD screen for ease of use
• An adjustable charge current limit – allowing an installation to a smaller circuit breaker 
• Adjustable import power limit – it can be set to limit power drawn by the house when charging

Convenience of charging at home

As mentioned previously there are many factors that make it easy and convenient for you to charge your vehicle at home. Starting from the cost of house bills and the flexibility you have when it comes to charging. 

With a Zappi Charger you’re now able to decide how quickly you want your vehicle to be recharged. There are 4 modes that come with the charger, these are fast, eco, eco+ and stop. 

With fast charging it allows you to recharge quickly by drawing as much energy as possible.

Eco mode aims to control the power going into you Zappi to match any of the surplus generation. However, if your surplus generation goes below 1.4kW zappi will still charge your vehicle by taking some power form the grid. 

Using ECO+ is the same as using ECO but when the surplus energy gets below 1.4kW your charge session will be paused so you do not take any power from the grid. Stop mode will prevent zappi from charging your vehicle.

If you want your car to be charged quickly then you should use the boost modes. The boost modes are Manual, Smart and Scheduled. Manual allows you to charge your vehicle with a set amount of energy, which can be assessed through the app. Smart mode enables you to tell Zappi how much energy you want to add to your vehicle and what your target time is. Zappi will start a quick charge at full power to test the charge speed and then will go back to the normal operation for ECO and ECO+.

Lastly with scheduled boost you can set up to four time periods when the Zappi will charge your vehicle at full power.  

Zappi installation costs

Zappi installation costs vary, you can find out more by sending us an email or calling our team on 0114 248 5822.

In the UK, an estimated 80% of electric vehicle charging happens at home, and with fuel costs on the rise again, there is no better time to say goodbye to petrol stations.

Using a home charger is the most convenient way to charge your vehicle, and there are a shedload of benefits to switching from a 3 pin plug socket to a smart charging system, including increased safety, savings and speed. 

The installation process of a home EV charger is fairly simple, especially when using a trusted installation provider who will walk you through your requirements during each step of the process. 

Choosing an Installation Operative

Whether you have chosen the type of EV charging system you would like, or are not yet certain, employing a trusted installation team is paramount. An EV charging system should only be installed by a qualified electrician with experience or training fitting EV charging systems. Having a system installed by anyone else is likely to invalidate your warranty and could cause serious problems that cost a lot more in the long run, or potentially put you and your family in danger. 

A highly-skilled technical team, like ours, will be able to direct you towards an EV system that will work for you, considering your property and vehicle/s as well as your budget and charging requirements and preferences.

Electricians have specialist regulations to adhere to when fitting charging systems, including informing the Distribution Network Operator, adhering to codes of practice regarding fitting location specifics, and fitting and testing RCDs to ensure systems are safe for users.  Electricians on the list of OZEV-approved installers can also arrange any government grant on your behalf if you’re eligible, making the whole process much smoother. 

Choosing where you would like your EV charging system

There is a lot to consider when deciding the location of your new system, not just in terms of convenience to the user, but the safety of the surrounding area and any potential hazards within the location. 

Limitations and conditions to be aware of

• The charge point must be located in your designated off-street parking, many choose their garage or driveway, which are great for ease of access and preventing hazards to passers-by (they are also waterproof, so no need to worry about the weather). If you have no off-street parking, having a charge point installed could prove difficult and will likely require planning permission.
• Typically, the charge point will be fixed at a height where it can’t be hit by a vehicle.
• Charge points cannot be installed within 2.5 metres of “SIM touches”. A “SIM touch” is a metal object connected to a power supply, such as an outdoor light in a metal case. Your EV charger installation team may suggest changing this fitting to a light in a plastic case so that your desired location can be used for the installation of your charger. 
• If you are renting the property and connected parking space, remember to get permission from your landlord beforehand. Planning permission might be required from your local authority if the charger will affect any public spaces.  

A trained installer will adhere to rules and regulations relating to the location of your EV charging system, to keep yourself and your neighbours safe. EV systems require a high level of electricity, so a site survey and careful consideration by technical experts is crucial, to prevent the potential for fire or electric shock. 

Preparing for EV charging system installation

There are a few things you can do to prepare, on the day of your EV charger installation, although the process is generally a fairly quick and straight-forward one. Installation typically take between 2-3 hours, however it can be longer should the installer stumble across any complications.

How to prepare on the day

• Ensure a clear and safe area around your desired charge point location.
• Ensure ease of access and a clear route between the charge point location and the electricity supply meter/distribution board.
• Be prepared to have the power turned off during installation.
• Have your WiFi password available for your installer.

After set up your technician will show you how to use your new system so having your car on-site might be helpful. A qualified electrician will perform any safety testing at this point, and, if required, discuss any future testing that should be performed at a later date.

Our Specialist Service

At Avail EV, we supply and install a wide range of OLEV approved charging points across the UK and have decades of experience working on large electrical projects. To discuss your project and obtain a free quotation from our installation experts, get in touch today.