A prominent name in the manufacture of electrical wiring devices, Legrand has officially announced the launch of their first Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger for residential applications, the Plug-In Home Level 2 EV Charger. This comes following the debut of Legrand’s first commercial EV charger roughly three months ago.
A plug-and-play solution, Legrand describes its Plug-In Level 2 EV Charger as an uncomplicated, compact, yet powerful solutions. The non-networked unit can be operated immediately by being plugged into any 50A power outlet, indoors or out.
“We’re about delivering access to power, wherever and however people need it,” states Scott Bausch, VP and General Manager for Legrand’s wiring device business. “With more drivers making the switch to electric vehicles, the need for simple, safe and fast ways to charge EVs at home is growing rapidly.”
According to data by IEA on the profusion of electric vehicles in the market, the share of electric cars in total sales has more than tripled in three years, from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022. These sales are expected to continue strongly into 2023, according to IEA.
Just this year alone, over 2.3 million electric cars were sold in the first quarter, about 25% more than in the same period last year. However, outlets such as Wall Street Journal have indicated that commercial EV charging stations are in short supply. Business Insider states that the US will need eight times more EV charging stations than it currently has by 2030.
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Baseline, the unit comes equipped with an SAE J1772 Connector, the North American standard, which allows the charger to interface with most commercially available EVs—an adaptor is required for Tesla modes, notes Legrand.
The unit provides an output of 9.6kW, making for a considerably faster charge than Level 1 models, which, Legrand estimates, will take the EV’s battery from 0 to 100% in 8-10 hours. It also delivers an extended range of up to 38 miles per hour of charging.
“On top of safety and speed, we also wanted to provide a charger that simply wasn’t going to get in the way,” adds Kevin Kohl, Legrand’s Director Product Management, User Experiences, who took the lead on this project.
“For many people, their garages and driveways don’t have a lot of room to spare. The unit itself is sleek and compact so that it can provide convenient charging access without adding bulk to the space. Its cord is 18’ long, so that it can easily reach multiple spots and get where it needs to, but it then easily rolls up and stores on the unit’s included hook and holster. Perfect for keeping it tidy and out of the way when not in use.”
Energy Star® Certified for efficiency, Legrand’s EV charger can also qualify users for potential rebates and tax credits. Eligibility details can be found on www.energystar.gov.
Legrand’s Plug-In Home Level 2 EV Charger is available now (US Only). A hard-wired version for residential applications is also already in development and expected to launch later this year.
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