Most electric cars come with two charging cables: A normal Type 2 charging cable made for electric car charging with a charging box, and a more bulky solution with a regular plug at the end that you can plug into regular sockets – often called schuko.
The latter type has been an eternal headache, both for electric car owners and the authorities: The large lump on these charging cables contains, among other things, electronics to ensure that the course you connect to is grounded or not. If not grounded, stop charging.
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The problem is that large parts of Norway have a rather special Norwegian power grid (IT), where it can be challenging for chargers to discover whether there is grounding or not. Thus, charging can stop if everything is in order, or continue when it absolutely should not. This can lead to heat buildup or, in the worst case, fire.
Therefore, DSB (Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning) already established that charging from a standard socket on a fixed basis is not permitted, unless the socket is set up specifically for the purpose by a fitter who has carried out a risk assessment.
Now it will not be possible to avoid boxing
And now there is also an end to electricians being allowed to set up new sockets for electric car charging: The new installation standard NEK400 is now being upgraded:
The big change now is that both ordinary sockets and industrial sockets have been removed as alternatives for charging the car at home. Now you have to install a charging station to charge your car at home legally, reports NAF.
Thus, the charging box is the only alternative.
– A properly installed charging station is a much safer charging solution than an electrical outlet. It can withstand more power and charging stations have many extra safety features that make charging safer. All necessary safety functions are built into the system, says NAF’s charging expert Jan Tore Gjøby.
One of the most obvious advantages is that with a standard socket you do not have to charge with an output of more than 10 amps, corresponding to approximately 2.3 kW. This means that it will take close to two days to fully charge an electric car with the largest batteries.
In comparison, the charging power of a normal charging box is typically 7.2 kW (32 amps), but can typically be from 3.2 to 22 kW. It provides significantly faster charging.
In addition, charging boxes can usually control charging smarter, among other things to charge when the power is cheapest.
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Does not have retroactive effect
The change in NEK400 standard does not have retroactive effect. This means that if you already have a charging point set up for the purpose, it can still be used.
– There is also a transition period until the new year where the installer can choose what to choose, but it is clear that the charging box is recommended, says Gjøby to Nettavisen.
A charging box costs around 5000 kroner.
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