As is well known, hardwired and plug-in are the two main types of home wall-mounted EV chargers. There are significant differences between these two types in terms of their forms. Hardwired EV chargers must be connected to the home’s electrical system. In contrast, plug-in EV chargers only need to be plugged into a suitable power outlet to function. If you want to choose the best one between these two types, you need to consider many factors. The following is the specific content of the differences between them.
1. Comparison of the Pros and Cons of Hardwired and Plug-in EV Chargers
1.1 Convenience
If convenience is your main concern, plug-in EV chargers are a good choice. Plug-in EV chargers can be placed in an electric vehicle and carried with you. When the electric vehicle needs to be charged, you just need to find a suitable socket, and the plug-in EV charger can start working. However, hardwired EV chargers are installed in the home electrical system. You need to park the electric vehicle at home to complete the charging process. Therefore, plug-in EV chargers are more convenient than hardwired EV chargers in terms of convenience.
1.2 Output Power and Charging Time
The output power of an EV charger can reflect its charging speed. According to relevant data, the output power of plug-in EV chargers is generally around 9.6kW. On the other hand, hardwired EV chargers have an output power of 19kW to 20kW, which is about twice that of plug-in EV chargers. Therefore, hardwired EV chargers have a much higher charging speed than plug-in EV chargers.
When it comes to charging time, you can use the following formula to calculate it:
Charging time (h) = Required energy to be replenished (kWh) / Output power of the EV charger (kW)
Assuming that the required energy to be replenished is 50kWh, a hardwired EV charger would need about 2.5 hours, while a plug-in EV charger would need about 5 hours. Therefore, under the same conditions of energy replenishment, the time required by a hardwired EV charger is almost half that of a plug-in EV charger.
1.3 Labor Costs
First of all, the installation of hardwired EV chargers involves professional electrical knowledge. You cannot do this job by yourself. You need to hire a professional electrician to do it, which will cost you some money. In addition, if a hardwired EV charger needs to be replaced due to aging or damage, you also need to hire a professional electrician to do it. All these will generate a lot of labor costs.
However, if you choose a plug-in EV charger, you do not need to pay for the labor costs associated with installation. Moreover, when a plug-in EV charger is damaged or aged, you only need to buy a new one.
1.4 Safety
Hardwired EV chargers are safer than plug-in EV chargers. This is because hardwired EV chargers usually have more electrical protection measures compared to plug-in EV chargers. These measures include overload protection and short-circuit protection. When an EV charger experiences a power surge or short circuit, these protection measures can promptly disconnect the circuit. This greatly reduces the probability of electrical accidents. In addition, the fixed installation method also reduces the wear and tear on the EV charger.
On the other hand, plug-in EV chargers are frequently plugged in and out during use. This increases the wear and tear on the EV charger. Moreover, they may work in harsh environments, such as high temperatures or rainy conditions. In such environments, the internal structure of the EV charger is more likely to corrode and get damaged. This also increases the possibility of electrical accidents such as thermal runaway and short circuits.
2. Common Questions about Hardwired and Plug-in EV Chargers
2.1 What Should You Pay Attention to Before Installing Hardwired and Plug-in EV Chargers?
First of all, you need to determine whether your home electrical circuit can support the EV charger. You should assess the power demand of all electrical appliances or devices in your home, including the EV charger. Make sure that the total power demand does not exceed 80% of the maximum power that your home electrical circuit can support. (Leaving a safety margin of 10%-20% can prevent overloading caused by surges.) If it does exceed, you can choose a plug-in EV charger with a lower output power. Of course, you can also ask a professional electrician to upgrade your home electrical circuit so that it can handle a higher power load.
Secondly, if you are installing a hardwired EV charger, you need to consult your local power company to find out if you need any permits. If you install it without these permits, you may violate local regulations. However, you can also ask them about rebates related to the installation of EV chargers. This can help you save some of the installation costs.
3. Conclusion
Carefully considering factors such as output power and safety can help you make the right choice. This ensures that the EV charger meets your needs. Of course, before making a choice, you must consider the maximum load that your home electrical circuit can handle to avoid overloading. If you have the idea of buying a suitable EV charger, you can contact us in time. We can recommend a suitable EV charger for you based on your situation.
