Electric Vehicle (EV) charging is the process of replenishing batteries of electric vehicles with a plug-
in charge from an external source and therefore, charging cables are a vital element of owning and
operating an electric vehicle, with the technology and electricity infrastructure surrounding EV
charging constantly evolving.<\/p>\n
Across the UK, and within our home city of Birmingham, many drivers are slowly but surely turning
to electric powered cars.
One of the main benefits of plug in EV charged cars and vans is that they greatly help towards
reducing our dependence on ozone damaging fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel. Full Electric
vehicles produce zero emissions whilst being driven so do not further damage air quality within our
delicate environment. This is especially important in built up areas, such as Birmingham, where air
pollution is a significant problem that causes proven health risks. Hybrid Electric Vehicles HEVs have
a smaller internal combustion engine so still emit harmful carbon dioxide, albeit to a far lesser extent
than a pure 100% combustion engine vehicle. They do not require an external charge however given
their batteries are charged through regenerative braking.<\/p>\n
Given the high cost of petrol or diesel means it can often be more cost-effective to fully charge an
electric vehicle, rather than to fill up a traditional internal combustion vehicle with fuel. Additionally,
the maintenance costs of a 100% electric vehicle, due to their reduced reliance on moving parts, is
generally lower than that of a traditional combustion engine vehicle, which therefore contributes to
further cost savings.<\/p>\n
The EV charging infrastructure is also becoming more widely available, making it easier for electric
vehicle owners to charge their vehicles. Charging stations can be found in various locations around
Birmingham such as public parking lots, shopping centres, and motorway service stations on the M6,
M5 and M42. The government and private companies are also heavily investing in the development
of EV charging infrastructure, which means that more charging stations will be available in the future
in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
You will find EV Charging points installed at homes or at the workplace, enabling people to charge
their vehicles whilst they are parked. This is especially beneficial for those who have long commutes
or do not have access to public charging stations. Home and workplace charging can also be carried
out via an App, allowing the vehicles owner to schedule charging times and hence taking advantage
of off-peak electricity rates. This means that there is no need to plan a trip to a petrol station or wait
in line to fill up with fuel. EV Chargers are typically sold competitively through electrical wholesalers
with one such stockist being CWS in Great Barr, Birmingham, B42 1DY.<\/p>\n
It is worth noting the three main types of electric vehicles are BEVs are known as Battery Electric
Vehicles, PHEVs are known as Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles and HEVs are Hybrid Electric Vehicles.
Similarly, there are many types of home and workplace IP rated EV chargers installed externally on
walls, driveways, car parks and forecourts across the UK, and because they are subject to all types of<\/p>\n
weather, they are supplied with long manufacturers warranties. They can be expensive pieces of
equipment, so a host of products exist to protect them, such as protection barriers and posts. Names
such ROLEC, OHME, Project EV are market leaders in the manufacture of EV chargers, and they are
distributed though electrical wholesalers such as CWS in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
Many Chargers are now Solar power compatible and can be electronically cable locked to prevent
unauthorised use. Single gun is the most popular but dual gun options are great for families or
organisations with two vehicles or more. Stand-alone charging cables normally come in 5m, 7.5m,
10m or 15metre lengths, but some charging units are tethered, thus meaning a charging cable is
permanently attached to its charger. EV Chargers are available in AC or DC options, with the DC units
able to rapid or ultra-rapid charge your vehicle. The choices can be mind boggling but by talking to
an electrical company, such as CWS Electrical Wholesalers, they can guide you through the maze of
questions you might have.<\/p>\n
Majority of EV Chargers are now Pro-Earth which are much preferred by Birmingham homeowners
and electricians. They negate the cost of installing a separate earth spike and range in power from
7.3Kw to 300Kw or more, with single or three phase electricity supply options.
When choosing an EV Charger, consideration should be given as to the requirements of BS7671 and
specifically, the management of PEN faults. Different earthing configurations exist within properties
in Birmingham, and it may not be possible to export the earthing arrangements of your property to
your new EV charger. As a result, your installer may be required to install a dedicated earth rod
adjacent to your charger, or alternatively, install additional PEN fault protection. Thankfully
however, majority of chargers nowadays come equipped with pro-earth technology built in, thus
negating the need for additional earth protection. Again, before purchasing an EV Charger, do
discuss with a qualified electrician or CWS Electrical Wholesalers on 0121 439 8010.<\/p>\n
Electricity is required to power the EV charger itself and hence installing a 3core or 5core power EV
Ultra cable, and dependant on the length of the cable run needed to reach your charger, will
determine what conductor size of copper cable your electrician will install. EV Ultra cable will go
from your Fuse-board (consumer unit) or Distribution board directly to the EV Charger. If all or part
of this cable run is under ground, your electrician will install an XLPE insulated, SWA Steel Wire
Armoured (aka armoured cable) which affords it mechanical protection \u2013 SWA cables are also UV
rated and come with various options, such as PVC outer sheath, or Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH)
black outer sheath.<\/p>\n
Should a non-armoured multicore EV Ultra cable be used and be clipped to a wall along its entire
length, without passing through a wall, your electrician may not deem it necessary to RCD protect
the cable. With non-armoured cables and for flexibility in regards bending radius, electricians
sometimes opt for double insulated PVC cable such as NYY-J, or H07RN-F Tough Rubber Sheathed
cable, again in UV rated Black.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if clipped direct, a non-armoured cable passes through a wall at any point, it will
require RCD protection. CWS Birmingham now stock an integrated EV power\/data cable known as
EV Ultra. It is installed between your consumer unit and your EV Charger and besides its three or five
power cores, it has an integrated Screened Cat5 or Cat6 data cable built in. This eliminates the need
for a separate stand-alone Duct Grade Cat6 data cable, which appears to be the preferred choice for<\/p>\n
installers over screened Cat5 cable, noting however that some electricians still prefer to run power
cables separate to data signalling cable. Importantly, your electrician will best advise whether
separate RCD protection is required because there are so many other safety factors involved, they
will also advise on the best cable to use.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, EV charging is an essential component of owning and operating an electric vehicle in
Birmingham. Furthermore, Birmingham Electricians are undertaking additional training to be able to
competently install the infrastructure required for this transition and this also comes with the need
for testing equipment such as Kewtech or Megger MFT Multifunction Testers. With the future of
transportation being electric and EV charging being an integral part of that future, this has also
created additional revenue stream for these skilled workers. WMD Electrical Training in Great Barr,
Birmingham are a major regional provider of EV training courses for Birmingham Electricians.
If you require any further information, please contact CWS Electrical Distributors in Birmingham on
0121 439 8010 or WMD Electrical Training on 0121 356 2737<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging is the process of replenishing batteries of electric vehicles with a plug-in charge from an external source and therefore, charging cables are a vital element of owning andoperating an electric vehicle, with the technology and electricity infrastructure surrounding EVcharging constantly evolving. Across the UK, and within our home city of Birmingham, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n