Story and photos by Randy Peregrino
During the 10th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit held October 20 and 21 in Pasay City, all eyes were on the many EV models and types exhibited by its respective manufacturers. But amidst the spectacle, exhibitors also showcased various units of what’s considered an essential requirement for every EV—the chargers. On display were various chargers for different applications with a variable range of charging outputs or levels.
Compact wall chargers
These chargers are considered the standard and most convenient to install for home, office, or parking space applications. With a compact design, these chargers have less output power and thus require several hours of charging, depending on the remaining EV battery juice.
First is the AC MAX. Delta AC chargers have a power output ranging from 7 to 22 kW. Featuring a compact design, global charging interface support, user authorization capability, and easy installation, its AC chargers are ideally suited for both commercial and home charging. With its IP55/IK10 and compact design, AC MAX provides high adaptability to outdoor and space-limited sites. By supporting ISO 15118, network connectivity, and compatibility with OCPP, AC MAX reserves the interoperability for system integration and can be an ideal solution for commercial and residential charging sites.
Ideal installation sites are homes, apartments, condos, movie theaters, museums, hotels, restaurants, department stores, malls, coffee shops, supermarkets, workplaces, parking spaces, roadside ports, convenience stores, coffee shops, supermarkets, fast food restaurants, and banks.
Currently, Delta supplies the AC Max wall charger to Hyundai and Mitsubishi in the Philippines for their EV and PHEV models.
Another compact version is the Wallbox intelligent chargers, which delivers a broad range of possibilities.
First is the Copper SB charger, conceived to deliver versatility and elegance to EV owners and business parking lots. The manufacturer claims that any driver can charge their vehicle’s battery by simply plugging in the cable. The myWallbox platform is able to monitor the status of the charge, users, energy consumption, and many other options. Next is the Commander 2 charger, designed for more interactive charging with all the controls accessible. Then there’s the smart EV charger designed for power at home, the Pulsar and Pulsar Plus chargers, designed for smart EV charging with high power and minimal footprint. According to the manufacturer, the Pulsar range is ideal for everyday use at home. With its compact and minimalist design, it fits in any garage and features a wide variety of options through the myWallbox app.
All the units’ charging power ranges from 7.4 kW to 22 kW (depending on the voltage rating source). The connection type is sockets type 1 and 2, and connectivity support is via a 3/4G network, WiFi, ethernet, and Bluetooth. The user interface is accessible via touchscreen operation and supports RFID card identification.
On the other hand, the Wallbox Commander 2 charger is designed for more interactive charging with all the controls accessible. Currently, the country’s distributor of Wallbox chargers supplies PGA Cars’ EV models.
Standalone fast chargers
For faster charging, the standalone units are the ideal solution catering to more extensive demands of charging operations. The sizes of these charging units are almost comparable to the traditional gasoline and diesel fuel pumps, and unlike the compact chargers, standalone fast chargers use more electric power, resulting in faster charging times.
One such unit on display was the Delta City Charger 100W series. Its manufacturer describes it as a high-efficiency urban charging service, supporting simultaneous charging output and load distribution to optimize the use of the charging site. City Charger is compatible with OCPP, which allows further backend system integration like user management, remote control, and energy management.
The features and benefits of this fast charger include 50kW/100kW simultaneous charging and dynamic load distribution that optimizes charging service, RFID, credit card, and ISO 15118 user identification. Moreover, OCPP and network connectivity enable system integration, and modular design ensures high availability, IP55, and small footprint provides high adaptability and 94% power efficiency for energy-saving.
The recommended sites and applications for this type of charger are fleets, highway service stations, and public charging stations. Charging speed depends on how many EVs are plugged in at the time. The charging port supports the CCS2 interface.
Also on display at the 10th PEVS were the standalone chargers from BTC Power. The company is the leading manufacturer of EV charging systems in North America. Interestingly, all its units are made here in the Philippines, and the manufacturing plant is in Mactan Economic Processing Zone, Cebu.
First is the GEN 4 EV Charger 180kW All-in-One DC Fast Charger as the smart alternative for EV charging innovation. Featuring optional liquid-cooled cables, the 180kW AiO DC Fast Charger can provide an 80% EV battery charge in as little as 10 to 15 minutes, offering the capability to serve more customers in less time.
Key features include CCS-1 and CHAdeMO Connector Options, simultaneous charging, liquid-cooled cables for 500A continuous charging, 15” or 32” optional touchscreen, credit card and RFID payment options, modular system for future upgrades, integrated cord retraction.
Finally, there’s the slimmer L2 Dual Port that also supports authentication via RFID or credit card and mobile payment methods like QR code or app. The systems also allow for multi-tiered energy pricing (time-of-use tariffs) and multi-tiered parking pricing for currents up to 70A, which allows ultimate freedom in choosing the right pricing strategy for each use case. Features include dual ports rate for 30/40 Amps (each), SA J1772 charging protocol, NEMA 3R housing, and a 7” color LCD screen.