Below are three important factors that need considering when investing in electric car charger installations, helping you to make the right decision/s so you don’t get caught out.
One: Apples and Oranges
Technology is changing all the time, especially on green technology such as electric car chargers. Like most technology driven products, the greater the functionality, the more investment is usually required. This is especially the case with electric car chargers that utilise ‘Smart Technology’.
Smart Technology - not only makes your charger more relevant to grant incentivisation but makes the charger much more flexible because different tariffs can be set for different users, reports on usage can be analysed and phone app integration makes charging effortless.
Charge speed (commercial environments) - can make a big difference if time is of the essence. This also requires suitable power supply, but if you have good supply then its worth paying for a faster charger i.e. Rolec Autocharge
Multiple charges simultaneously (commercial environments) - is worth the investment if you have limited space. This also is dependent on your power supply, but if you have the supply these units can make a big difference to the quantity of cars it can charge during the work day. Both the Rolec EV Basic Charge and the Rolec Securicharge can be installed to accommodate multiple charges simultaneously.
When you are comparing products, it is important to compare products that have the same functionality, capability as well as quality.
Two: Product Quality and Spare Parts
Quality - its important to consider product quality because although it is tempting to make your decision solely on price, a good quality charger will last longer and is less likely to fail. In some instances, cheaper car chargers can be a false economy.
Spare parts - is an important factor to consider and is often overlooked. Making sure the charger is from a reputable manufacturer and there is a good supply of spare parts should be a priority. There is nothing worse than paying for a charger and it ends up sitting there idle for weeks because the installer is unable to get hold of the spare parts.
THREE: INSTALLER RELIABILITY
Reliability - is crucial to a successful install. It is obvious but ensuring you do your due diligence by checking for references / case studies, as well as certifications and memberships (such as Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), Consumer Code for Home Chargepoints (EVCC), National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NIC EIC - Approved Contractor, NIC EIC - Domestic Installer) are all important.
It is tempting to base decisions solely on price, but chargers should be an investment and future proofed with smart technology, flexibility and ease of use. Made by a reputable company so you know the charger is good quality with spare parts availability, so you know its supported is crucial.
Finally, some installers will provide ‘lip service’ so do your homework and ensure you are confident that A) they will install the charger/s to an excellent standard and B) once they’re installed they’ll be supported so there is minimum downtime.