Whilst EV charging stations are being installed in significantly larger numbers than ever before, electricians and electricians in training need to be mindful of what happens if these wallboxes end up becoming obsolete.
The sales of electric cars are soaring, in no small part thanks to increasing petrol prices, greater choices of cars, incentive schemes and discounts which make EVs comparable, if not slightly cheaper on the road than new petrol or diesel cars.
An emerging problem caused by the rapid development of EVs and electric car grants, however, is that some of the earliest models of EVs and wallboxes are in danger of becoming obsolete, something not aided by the sealed nature of their design.
Why do EV boxes become obsolete? What can electricians do to help? And can they offer some kind of futureproofing for EV owners in the future?
Why Do EV Charging Stations Become Obsolete?
Obsolescence is a major concern for homeowners, because nobody wants to spend money and hire an electrician to install a dedicated piece of technology, only to have to tear the entire unit out and replace it a few years later.
The rapid development of EVs and charging infrastructure, combined with sealed units that can only be opened by a manufacturer if at all, can compound these concerns.
Whilst there are many reasons for obsolescence, here are three of the main ones.
Post-Warranty Component Faults
Most EV chargers are sealed units, but whilst that can provide some benefits by avoiding potential damage and tampering, it also means that if your charger develops a problem or blows a fuse, it cannot be fixed except by the manufacturer, if at all.
This will hopefully change if right to repair policies are put in place, but for now, manufacturers are incentivised to make it difficult, if not impossible, to fix your own chargers.
Faster Charging Standards
Whilst there are more standardised chargers now than there were in the 2010s, the development of increasingly fast chargers and the implementation of bespoke rapid chargers from companies such as Tesla and BYD has led to changes in the cables and plugs used.
In the future, it is possible that a more effective charging standard will be developed that requires a new type of wire and plug, which in turn may force a homeowner to change their wallbox when they change their car.
Obsolete Smart Charging Infrastructure
Manufacturers have tried to avoid issues with obsolescence by having wallboxes that are capable of receiving firmware updates, which improves the software that helps manage your charging systems.
These often work very well, but there are always risks that the servers are shut down, and you lose access to your charger.
Some manufacturers have contingency plans to ensure that this is not the case, but the Fisker Ocean debacle highlights the dependence on centralised servers.
How Do EV Chargers Futureproof Themselves?
Thankfully, there are ways, besides choosing the right wallbox, for EV chargers to be more futureproof, and an electrician will help work with customers to ensure that happens.
- Smart Controls – Being able to manage how a car is charged and when is vital to save money.
- Over-The-Air Updates – Efficiency updates, better interfaces and compatibility with more EVs are made possible through software updates.
- Solar Charging – Making chargers compatible with solar chargers helps to save money during the day.
- Load Balancing – This helps store excess electric power for use when it is needed, turning wallboxes off as and when required.