Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in Australia, and as a result, the demand for EV charging stations is also on the rise. However, as with any electrical installation, there is a risk of fire if the installation is not carried out correctly. In this blog, we will discuss the fire risk associated with EV chargers, the correct installation methods to avoid fires and how fast your car will charge.
Understand the Fire Risks
The primary cause of fire associated with EV chargers is Electrical faults. Electrical faults can occur due to a variety of reasons, including faulty installation, incorrect wiring, undersized components and overloading. These faults can lead to overheating, which can cause a fire.
Another cause of fire associated with EV chargers is the use of counterfeit or insufficient charging equipment. These chargers are often made with substandard materials and can be dangerous to use. They can overheat, cause electrical faults and potentially start a fire.
Correct Installation
Having EV chargers correctly installed by qualified installers such as Clean NRG – who offer EV Charger Installation in Perth, is essential to prevent fire risk. Here are some tips to ensure that your EV charger is installed correctly and to safety standards.
Hire a Qualified EV Installer – It is essential to hire a licensed EV Charger installer to install your EV charger. Installers such as Clean NRG have the necessary knowledge and expertise to install the charger safely and correctly.
Choose the Right Charger – Make sure you choose the right charger for your EV. Different EVs require different chargers, so it’s essential to choose the right one to avoid overloading and overheating. Clean NRG can assist by sourcing and installing a high-quality, tested and trusted EV charger.
Use Genuine Charging Equipment – Always use genuine charging equipment from a reputable supplier. Using counterfeit equipment can be dangerous and increase the risk of fire. Beware of online stores. Here at Clean NRG all of our EV Charging Equipment is guaranteed genuine, safe and tested to meet Australian standards.
Monitor the Charger – Good quality EV chargers monitor themselves and will send you a notification if there is any issues ie high or low grid voltage etc. they go into a protection mode please action your notifications
Protect You and Your Family
Clean NRG uses Australian Electrical Standards-approved chargers and accessories when installing EV chargers in your property, using trusted EV charger brands including Tesla, Fronius, SMA, Senec, Wallbox and Fimer all with Australian warranties the risk of fire is virtually Zero
EV chargers are an essential part of the infrastructure needed to support the growth of electric vehicles in Australia. However, it is important to have these chargers installed correctly to prevent fire risk. By following the tips above and hiring a licensed Perth EV Charger Installer such as Clean NRG, you can ensure that your EV charger is installed safely and correctly and that your vehicle is safely charged, so you can start your day on the right foot each morning.
So how Fast will my new Electric Car Charge
This is the most asked question, and the answer is a little complicated so let’s make it as simple as possible and talk in averages. Firstly there are AC and DC Chargers, AC is the most common and can be found in Homes, Businesses, Council Car parks etc. DC chargers are the Fast chargers in big shopping centres and regional charging stations. The Cars have separate AC & DC plugs, Let’s focus on AC charging. Electric cars have limits to how fast they charge on AC it’s generally around 11kw per hour but this varies. Some new cars will handle 22kW per hour and over the years this is likely to climb.
Most wall-mounted EV chargers from Clean NRG will deliver 22kW per hour so for now the chargers are running at half speed because of the electronics in the Car.
It is important to size the cable and breaker for the maximum load, because, in a few years, you may have a car that takes 22kW per hour. If the Cable and Breaker are undersized you may have a problem. We say do it once and do it well.
We are lucky in Perth Western Australia as not only do we have lots of sunny days, but we also have lots of homes with 3-phase connections. 3 Phase homes can deliver the full 22kW per hour if need be, however, on single-phase homes it’s 7kW per hour.
So for example a base model Tesla Model 3 has a 60kWh battery and a 400 km range. If I was to be charged from dead flat (which we don’t recommend) at 11kW per hour it would take 5.5 hours. That’s around 70 km per hour, if you have single phase it’s around 45 km per hour.
Of course, the idea is to charge your car during the day while your Solar panels are making power. Clean NRG can set this up so your car will trickle charge during the day with your excess solar instead of virtually giving your excess power to Synergy. You can store it in your car, all controlled with an app on your phone.
Contact Clean NRG today to discuss our EV Charging solutions.