Convalt Energy is currently setting up EV charging stations In Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York markets, expecting to go live by June 2022. Our plan is to setup level 2 and level 3 charging stations.
A nationwide expansion strategy is currently under development. We expect to announce this strategy over the next few months!
A main hindrance to this growth is a lack of clear information on the economic, environmental, and utility infrastructure impacts of daytime EV charging with solar. However, Convalt has designed a plan that would install the optimal solution for EV car owners and the utility supplying the electricity.
Level 1 Charging stations use a normal 120-volt connection with a standard household outlet with no installation costs. Although this typically takes place the owner’s home, the disadvantage is a slow charging speed. Level 1 provides 1.4 kw of power, basically a conventional wall socket, and requires no additional circuitry, aside from the adapters required to connect the EV to the socket.
Level 2 EV chargers use a 240-volt power source (e.g., oven or clothes dryer). Charging times are much faster than level 1.
Many modern houses have these outlets. Level 2 charging normally occurs in workplaces, business locations (hotels, gas stations, private parking lots), and public locations (on-street parking space, garages, streets, public parking lots- wherever cars are likely to be stationary for hours at a time).
Level 2 charging starts at a power rating of 6.6 kW, increasing to 19.2 kW depending on the level of current that the supporting circuitry can sustain.
Most home Level 2 charging, and almost all commercial Level 2 charging, is limited to 6.6 kW because (a) the onboard inverter on most existing EVs cannot handle significantly more than this level and (b) boosting the current typically requires the installation of more expensive higher-capacity circuitry.
Level 3 DC fast-charging devices use very high voltage and can add 90 miles of range to an EV in 30 minutes. These chargers are extremely expensive. Regularly using Level 3 charger can ultimately hurt an EV’s battery; however, a Tesla survey found it doesn’t affect their EVs. Level 3 DC fast charging is not ideal for individual use. It is designed for public use (e.g., commercial locations).
Level 2 charging starts at a power rating of 6.6 kw, increasing to 19.2 kw depending on the level of current the supporting circuitry can sustain.
Most home level 2 charging, and almost all commercial level 2 charging, is limited to 6.6 kw because of (a) the onboard inverter on most existing EVs cannot handle more and (b) boosting the current typically requires the installation of more expensive higher-capacity circuitry.
AC power is supplied from the charging station to the on-board charger, which supplies DC power to the battery
The charger is off board the vehicle and supplies DC power directly to the battery.
