eMobility – charging electric cars with the power of the sun
eMobility is a rising trend – electric cars are the missing piece in the puzzle of self-reliant photovoltaic systems
More and more new cars in Germany have electric drives. But where do drivers go to charge them when their power levels are low? The number of public charging stations in the country will increase several times over by 2030. Many drivers are still holding back on buying an electric car because they think there aren’t enough charging stations. Yet the ratio of vehicles to charging stations right now, in 2022, is actually favourable for owners of electric cars.
According to the forecasts, there will be twice as many electric cars per charging station by the end of the decade as there are now. This represents a great opportunity for the solar power industry. A huge number of charging options need to be set up, and the most ecological way of powering these is with a photovoltaic system. The EU has set itself the goal of reaching a ratio of electric cars per publically accessible charging station by 2030. The installation of charging facilities will also be subsidised by state and municipal governments.
However, this situation represents more than just an opportunity to use commercial photovoltaic systems to charge electric cars – charging stations and wall boxes can also act as a guarantee of self-reliance, especially in the private sector. It should go without saying that an electric car can only have a positive impact on our environment if it is charged using renewable energy – preferably electricity generated by the owner’s own roof, of course.
The number of newly registered electric cars had nearly quadrupled in 2020 compared to 2019! More than 190,000 new, fully electric e-cars were registered in Germany. The electric mobility sector continued to grow dynamically in 2021. Numerous new models from various manufacturers are contributing to the increasing number of new all-electric vehicles spotted on the roads. The number of registered purely electric cars was around 687,200 on April 1, 2022. If plug-in hybrid cars are also added to the number of registered electric cars, the number of electrically powered passenger cars in Germany already exceeded the one million mark in 2021. Alongside Norway, Germany is already the most important driver for European electric car development. This is also supported by purchase premiums and subsidy programs for private and public charging points.
The benefits of combining a photovoltaic system with an electric car charging station
Cross-sector symbiosis | Combining heat, mobility and electricity is a guarantee of affordable, simple and convenient energy solutions |
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Self-reliance | Incorporating an electric car charging station is the perfect way for drivers to increase their power independence. Using your own electricity doesn’t just feel great – it also means you can reduce your electricity bills or even wipe them out completely. |
Business | Providing facilities for charging electric cars makes businesses more attractive to potential customers and employees |
Subsidisation | It is easy to get started in this sector right now, thanks to subsidies for the installation of charging stations |
Frequently asked questions about how to install charging stations and wall boxes for electric cars, and how they work
eMobility is a new concept to many people. A lot of these people ask the same questions when first learning about the topic, so we’ve prepared a few answers for you here. First, let’s clear up some of the basic concerns many customers have when deciding whether or not to buy an electric car with a compatible charging station.
- What charging power can I expect from a charging station or wallbox?
A wallbox usually charges with 11 or 22 kW. A vehicle with 60 kWh storage capacity would therefore be charged in approx. 5:30 h (11 kW) or 2:45 h (22 kW). As a vehicle is usually only moved for one to two hours a day, there is enough time to fully charge the vehicle at home.
- How is billing and payment handled at public charging stations?
Electric car drivers basically have three options.
Option 1: Charging station operators provide drivers with a charging card/RFID card that they can use to authorize themselves at the charging station.
Option 2: Drivers pay and authorize their charging processes directly on site via charging apps
Option 3: Adhoc payment enables payment on site by debit or credit card
Please note that not every option is always available.
- Do I need a special permit to install a wallbox?
Charging stations with a charging capacity of up to 11 kW only need to be registered with the responsible grid operator. Charging stations with an output > 12 kW require approval from the grid operator in addition to registration.
- Can I install a charging station or wallbox in a rented apartment?
Yes, in principle it is also possible in a rented apartment! However, there are some specific legal and organizational aspects that need to be taken into account:
- As a tenant, you need the consent of your landlord to install a charging station or wallbox in your parking space or in an underground garage. The landlord cannot arbitrarily refuse permission, but may impose conditions or stipulate a certain type of installation.
- If you live in a condominium owners' association, the other owners must be informed of the planned procedure at the owners' meeting.
- As a rule, you must agree that you will remove the charging station at your own expense when you move out if the landlord or the homeowners' association demands this.
- How can I protect my charging station or wallbox from unauthorized use?
The RFID authorization function, which is installed in many charging stations, prevents unauthorized use by third parties. Charging processes are then only authorized by your configured RFID cards.
- Are charging stations and wallboxes high-maintenance?
Charging stations are not particularly high-maintenance, but they should still be checked regularly. Errors can be tracked via the diagnostic systems that are usually installed. In addition, the software should always be up to date to prevent errors.
- Can I share my charging station or wallbox with other users?
It is possible to share a charging station with several users. Charging quantities can be easily tracked and allocated using individually assigned RFID cards. As long as different RFID cards are used, this happens fully automatically.
- What are the technical requirements for installing a wallbox?
The technical requirements depend on many factors, such as the power of the wallbox and the existing electrical installation in the building.
Here are some important technical requirements that generally need to be met.
- Power connection: A sufficient power supply is required to supply the wallbox with energy. In most cases, a high-voltage connection (400 V, 16 A or more) is required to provide the necessary charging power.
- Fuse and cable protection: The existing electrical system must be able to cope with the additional load of the wallbox. It may be necessary to extend the fuse and cable protection.
- Professional installation: The wallbox should be installed by a qualified electrical contractor to ensure correct wiring and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Residual current circuit breaker (RCD): A residual current device (RCD) is important to protect people from electrical accidents. The wallbox should be connected to its own RCD.
- Measurement in compliance with calibration law: If the wallbox is to be used for billing charging processes (e.g. in apartment buildings or commercial buildings), it must comply with calibration law and measure the charging processes accurately.
- Communication interfaces: Some wallboxes have communication interfaces such as LAN, WLAN or modem to enable connection to external systems for control, billing or access control.
- Installation location: The installation location of the wallbox should be easily accessible and comply with legal requirements, e.g. with regard to the minimum height above the ground and protection from the weather.
- Alfen
The Dutch manufacturer has a wide range of self-developed products. With extensive experience as a system integrator, Alfen is working on the power grid of the future: reliable, sustainable and innovative.
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Alpitronic
Alpitronic was founded in 2009 with the aim of becoming a reference for power electronics in the South Tyrol region. In recent years, the company has proven to be a very successful service provider in the development of electronic systems with a high degree of technological innovation in the electromobility market.
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Fronius
More than 70 years of company history, experience and expertise have gone into Fronius – one of Austria’s leading technology and innovation providers with a clear vision. 24 hours of sunshine. Now also for electric cars!
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HUAWEI
Huawei offers a pioneering and holistic solution for photovoltaic systems. Huawei's charging solutions provide the highest efficiency, intelligent power optimization and best-in-class reliability in the solar energy industry.
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KEBA
Fits perfectly: The Austrian company has been developing and producing innovative automation solutions for a wide range of industries for over 50 years and covers all areas of application with its wallboxes. All KEBA wallboxes are manufactured climate neutrally in Austria!
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Kostal
"Making complexity simple" - under this slogan KOSTAL developed the first dipped beam, the rain sensor, the first switch strip and driver assistance camera for the automotive industry. Now with the fitting wallbox for electric cars!
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MENNEKES
The small electrics business that grew to become an international specialist – a passion for innovation, reliable, high-performance products, and an eye for quality have been the defining features of the manufacturer throughout its 80-year history.
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SMA
One of the world’s leading manufacturers of inverters and power storage solutions, SMA is famed for its innovations, ingenious technology and top-quality customer support – qualities it is now applying to the e-mobility sector.
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SolarEdge
SolarEdge’s wide-ranging portfolio leaves nothing to be desired, combining power storage solutions, inverters and performance optimisers with ingenious technology for a wide range of applications – now with built-in charging capabilities.
Which charging station is compatible with which inverter?
The following graphic shows you how the compatibilities of our charging stations and wallbox manufacturers relate to the inverters of the manufacturers in our portfolio.
Other questions asked by customers and installation engineers
- How do you choose the right charging station?
First of all, you should know your own requirements. Do I need a charging station that is compatible with my PV system to enable surplus charging? Do I need the option to protect myself from unauthorized use, for example through RFID access control? Do I want to control my charging processes via app? Depending on your answers, you will need different configurations. If you need advice, please get in touch with your contact person or call our service hotline directly.
- What connected load makes sense?
For home use, our product management recommends a charging station with 11 kW. The vehicle is usually at home all day and therefore has enough time to be charged. In addition, the 11 kW version only needs to be registered with the grid operator. From an output of more than 12 kW, additional approval from the grid operator is required.
- How are charging points protected?
Each connection point must be protected by its own residual current device of at least type A. The rated residual current must not exceed 30 mA. This is regulated by VDE 0100-722:2019-06. In addition, charging stations with a socket or a vehicle coupling must have a protective device against DC residual currents.
- Can charging stations overheat?
An internal temperature monitoring system is integrated into the charging stations to protect the charging station from overheating. For this purpose, the charging current is automatically limited to a safe level. Electronic overcurrent protection also protects the charging cable from overloading.
- Can electric cars be disconnected in the event of a power failure?
In the event of a power failure, the plug lock is released and the plug can be removed from the charging socket.
- What backend solutions are available
This depends on the choice of wallbox. Particular attention should be paid to the possibility of connecting an energy management system such as sonniQ.
- Can I retrofit charging stations that have already been installed?
This depends entirely on the manufacturer. As a rule, this is not possible, but there are exceptions, such as Alfen, which allow retrofitting.
- What does the size of the supply cable depend on?
The size depends on the planned charging capacity of the wallbox, the distance to the power source, the fuse protection and future-proofing. To determine the correct size of the supply cable, it is advisable to consult a qualified electrician. He should be able to carry out the necessary calculations.