Driving an electric vehicle (EV) is known to be a more sustainable and cost-effective option of transportation. Most EVs either run fully on electric power or run on both electric power and fossil fuel.
For some EV owners, charging their car is as simple as plugging the charger in overnight. But for others, it is much more complicated as they don’t own a home charging station. So, how do these EV owners charge their cars?
1. Shopping Malls
EV owners who don’t own a home charging station often frequent shopping malls to charge their cars as they are able to kill time by window shopping, grocery shopping, or grabbing a bite to eat at their favorite restaurant. In Malaysia, there are a decent number of shopping malls who provide EV charging stations, such as Sunway Pyramid, iOi City Mall, Lot 10, and Sunway Velocity to name a few.
However, this might come with a high price tag as shopping malls could charge exorbitant rates for their EV charging stations. Furthermore, most malls only provide a couple of stations which are usually located in the preferred parking spaces of the mall. This means that not only will you have to pay extra to charge your car, but you’ll also be paying higher parking fees.
2. Workplaces
Some EV owners opt to charge their vehicles at their workplaces. Most companies don’t provide this service, but petrol stations often do. If you own an electric car and your office happens to be near a petrol station that has EV charging stations, then you’re among the lucky few! Charging your electric car while working allows you to save time and, essentially, kill two birds with one stone.
While this may seem like the most ideal charging situation, it is actually one of the hardest options on the list as most workplaces don’t provide EV charging stations nor are they close to petrol stations that do. If you work outside the Klang Valley, it is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to find an EV charging station that is within close proximity of your workplace as these vehicles are not common in rural areas.
3. Portable EV Chargers
Portable EV Chargers are known to be the best choice for drivers who experience range anxiety. With a portable EV charger; a.k.a. Power Bank for EV cars, drivers can stop anywhere they like and charge their vehicles. Portable EV chargers are direct current (DC) chargers which significantly reduce charging time, compared to alternating current (AC) chargers.
Unfortunately, many ‘unbranded’ portable EV chargers/power banks come with safety issues that result in battery damage with long-term usage. This is often the result of short charging times which decreases the batteries lifespan. But, portable EV chargers are still good to have as a backup in the event you can’t find an EV charging station and you’re running low on fuel and power. Just remember to charge your vehicles before long trips and only use portable EV chargers during emergencies.
4. Buildings and Business Premises
Some buildings and business premises, such as Uno Residence, Kuala Lumpur, Southkey Mosaic, Johor Bahru, and DoubleTree by Hilton, Putrajaya, provide EV charging stations for drivers to use. Drivers would either have to subscribe to a particular provider to use these stations or pay as used. It gives drivers the opportunity to charge their vehicles before running to their next destination.
Despite the increased number of electric cars in Malaysia, many buildings and business premises have yet to invest in EV charging stations. As a result, drivers might find it difficult to locate charging stations within the vicinity of where they need to be at any given time. Moreover, charging your electric car at these stations often takes up a lot of time and drivers would have to be on the premise for no less than 30 minutes.
The Smarter Choice: Home EV Charging Station
Instead of scouring high and low for an EV charging station, electric car owners should invest in a home charging station. But, why go through all that trouble when you can easily drive out and look for one?
For starters, owning a home EV charging station is more cost-efficient, despite the heavy initial prices of installation. In the long run, you’ll be able to save more when you charge your electric car at home as you would only need to pay your electricity bill instead of multiple different subscriptions for charging stations across the nation.
Owning a home EV charging station is always the smarter option because you are in-charge of its upkeep. This means that you know the condition of the charger and how well it’s maintained, ensuring the safety of your vehicle and prolonging the battery’s lifespan. Some public EV charging stations are better kept than others, so looking for one that’s well maintained could be a challenge.
Safety First, Call Professional Installers!
When deciding to install a home EV charging station, you must ensure that you call professional installers. Here are some reasons why this is so important:
Reason #1: Safeguards your house and car
Professional Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) installations keep your house and car safe. Failing to install EVSE properly could result in unwanted fires or other forms of damage to your house and car. EV owners must bear in mind that improper charging will cause your home wirings to overheat, which causes fire, chargers to work irregularly, battery failure and other technical issues. Avoid self-installation using non-compatible chargers as this often leads to various other issues that damage your electric car’s system.
Reason #2: Follows certified standards to ensure safety
Professional installers use certified EVSE with US/UK standards to ensure the safety of drivers. Genuine EVSE are compatible with most car models and comply with various types of quality assurance standards, such as CE, IEC EN 61851, EN 62196, DIN 70121, and ISO 15118. Additionally, certified EVSE come with earth leakage protection, LCD screens that display charging information, waterproof and dustproof certification, and charging protection that encompasses overvoltage, under-voltage, overload, short circuit, ground, over temperature, lightning, and onboard A-type leakage protection.
Reason #3: Keeps you safe when charging your vehicle
It is of utmost importance to use genuine EVSE as these products keep you safe when charging your vehicle. By getting professional installers, they will know what type of charger to install to prevent damage. EV owners must remember that socket and extension cables are not made for electrical charging as it’s not equipped to handle the voltage. Opting to use one will cause a fire, electrical shock, or burns and will most likely result in property damage, severe injuries, or, in some cases, death. Always be sure to check with certified EVSE installers before purchasing an EV home charging station.
Invest in a Safe and Certified EV Home Charging Station Today
ChargeSingh is an award-winning GreenTech expert with over 30 years of industry experience. Through our innovative technology, we designed EV home charging stations that are small, smart, and safe — perfect for the space and energy-conscious driver.
