ChargePoint’s new Level 2 chargers are faster and go both ways
ChargePoint is ready to speed things up.
On Thursday, the EV charging company revealed new AC Level 2 EV chargers that it says effectively double the speed of typical Level 2 chargers. The new architecture also supports bidirectional charging, so owners can use their EVs to power their home or business if the need arises. The first new models are expected to arrive in the US later this year.
ChargePoint says its next-gen Level 2 chargers are rated for 90 amps and can deliver 19.2kW of power, allowing EV owners to charge their batteries from zero to 100 percent in “about four hours.” This is a noticeable increase based on today’s market.
Level 2 chargers are commonly used as home chargers for EV owners, plugged into 220-volt outlets and delivering 15 to 80 amps. The charging rate for most Level 2 chargers can vary dramatically, with a typical 240-volt, 24-amp unit putting out about 6kW of continuous power and faster, 80-amp chargers delivering speeds up to 19.2kW. ChargePoint’s popular Home Flex chargers, for example, are rated for 50 amps and 12kW of power. Today’s announcement represents a “generational leap” in the technology that powers its chargers, the company says.
The company envisions its new architecture being used for a variety of purposes, from residential home chargers, to chargers with multiple plugs for apartment buildings, to public chargers and chargers for commercial fleet owners. ChargePoint didn’t release a price list, but the company said that prices will start below $1,000 and move up from there depending on the model. The company supports both CCS and NACS ports.
Bidirectional charging is frequently considered the next big thing for EV owners. Several EVs sold today have bidirectional capabilities, and now, ChargePoint is producing chargers with the same abilities.
Bidirectional charging works exactly like it sounds: with unidirectional (one-way) EV chargers, electricity flows from the electric grid into the electric vehicle; with bidirectional (two-way) EV chargers, electricity can flow both ways. In essence, it treats high-capacity lithium-ion batteries not only as tools to power EVs but also as backup storage cells to charge other electric devices, an entire home, or even to send power to the electrical grid for possible energy savings.
Several automakers are selling their own vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging equipment so that people who own EVs with bidirectional charging capabilities can use their vehicles to power their homes during blackouts. ChargePoint says its new Level 2 chargers can do the same job, allowing EV owners to power homes or commercial buildings or transfer energy back to the grid.
The new chargers also feature dynamic load balancing, automatically accelerating charging speeds when power is not needed elsewhere in the residence. And they will be able to integrate with smart home systems, like solar charging, home batteries, and smart management systems.
In addition, the hardware has been significantly upgraded, ChargePoint says. The new Level 2 chargers will feature series wiring capabilities, enabling a fleet depot, a multifamily housing garage, or even a single-family home with two EVs to maximize charging without costly service upgrades.
According to the company, ChargePoint possesses 61 percent of the public Level 2 charging market, making it a dominant player in the EV charging space. The company says the new architecture complies with applicable regulations, including the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) and Eichrecht in Europe and Energy Star in the US.
ChargePoint plans to roll out its new Level 2 chargers starting with Europe this summer, followed by North America at the end of the year.