Zero SR

[GoldOxide_imp]

I was thinking about that, Tev. So, you guys don't have to upgrade your household electrics to charge EVs, right?

The reason Europe runs 220-240V is to double the voltage and halve the amperage, so the wire gauge can be smaller / cheaper. Smart in some ways, though I'm not a fan of the huge, awkward isolating plug/receptacle standards.

So, although the voltage is double, the circuit ampacity is half...so kVA is about equal.

US: 120V * 20A * 80% safety derating = 1.92 kVA
EU: 240V * 10A * 80% safety derating = 1.92 kVA

The reason Europe runs 220-240V is to double the voltage and halve the amperage, so the wire gauge can be smaller / cheaper. Smart in some ways, though I'm not a fan of the huge, awkward isolating plug/receptacle standards.

So, although the voltage is double, the circuit ampacity is half...so kVA is about equal.

US: 120V * 20A * 80% safety derating = 1.92 kVA
EU: 240V * 10A * 80% safety derating = 1.92 kVA
Mmmm, give me more coulombs per second - I'd say.

 

[Tev62]

I was thinking about that, Tev. So, you guys don't have to upgrade your household electrics to charge EVs, right?

Yes and No. Our standard household sockets are rated at 13A which can act as a charging cable but they would be a little slow for a car, fine for an electric motorcycle on an overnight though. As a car owner you would get a 32A charging station fitted but the price is reasonable as they are just connecting it into the house's normal "consumer unit" so no big upgrades required. Nissan were putting these 32A units in peoples houses for free on offer for a couple of years. I say free, you had to buy their car of course!