When thinking about the EV charging market leader, Garo Electric is sure to come to mind. And for good reason too - Garo is known for manufacturing and distributing a diverse range of high-quality electrical products, components, and supplies. Read more about EV chargers. 

Garo puts the needs of the customer first and builds its products to be progressive, innovative, and most importantly brings a focus towards providing top solutions to the electrical industry. That is why Garo EV chargers are one of a kind. 

Garo has an expert development team that is continuously aiming for perfection. This is because of the high-quality products produced that don’t make it a surprise that Garo EV chargers can be found everywhere. From Volvo Car’s R&D facility in Sweden, to Charge and Drive Highways in Norway – Garo is everyone’s number one choice. 

In addition, Garo is not foreign to EV charging installations in high-profile organizations, and the continued success of their comprehensive EV charger range over the years stands as a testament to the quality of their products. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide with all you need to know about Garo EV chargers, and why EV Chargers are worth it. 

Charging EVs made easy with Garo

There are many people nowadays opting to buy EVs because of their environmentally friendly and economical nature. Plug-in hybrid EVs are also soaring in popularity because of their flexibility and how they are suited for both urban and country terrain. 

This is where Garo EV chargers come in – various kinds are suited for different situations. For example, if the user is charging their EV at home or at the workplace. 1-phase charging is usually the go-to option. It will only take around three hours for a plug-in hybrid EV to charge with the GLB Garo EV charger and a 16A fuse. 

On the other hand, EV charging stations like Garo’s LS4 are located in various public locations and use a standardized Type 2 socket outlet. Their output can vary from 1 phase, 3, 7kW, to 3-phase, 22kW AC. However, quick charging stations that support DC will have a power output range from 50kW to 350kW in comparison.  

What is a Quick Charger?

Quick charging or DC charging allows EVs to charge faster than the usual speed. Compared to AC which delivers alternating current, DC chargers convert AC before it reaches the EV and delivers direct current to the battery of the vehicle. 

It is precisely because the current is already converted to DC by the time it hits the EV that makes it is possible to deliver power at a much faster rate. This makes DC chargers a great option for short-stop locations. 

Garo offers two DC charger models – the QC45 which can rake up a charge of 50kW from 0 to 80% in under 30 minutes, and the QC20 which gives 20kW of charge from 0 to 80% within an hour. Both Garo EV charger devices come equipped with a CHAdeMO, CCS/Combo, and AC sockets.  

Garo GLB Wallbox EV Chargers

The GLB Garo EV charger comes in two basic types – with a fixed cable and a Type 1 or Type 2 connector. GLB Garo EV chargers can also be supplied with a Type 2 socket outlet should the need arise. The socket itself is interlocked, which is an added safety feature.

This way, you won’t have to worry about what type of car you are dealing with since your EV charging options will come with flexibility. You can either keep the EV charger wall-mounted or opt for a GHL stand. 

What you get with a GLB Garo EV charger is a compact device that is easy to install, user-friendly, and completely safe to operate. It includes RFID functionality through which you can decide who gets to be in control of your charger. You get an output of 7.4kW on a single phase or up to 22kW on three phases. 

With its added smart system and multi-standard build, you can choose between a Type 1 or Type 2 fixed cable or Type 2 docket outlet, as well as monitor and charge the car remotely. All you will need is its smartphone app. By changing the programming settings according to what suits you, the EV will charge automatically with the smart system in charge. 

To top it all off, the GLB Garo EV charger also comes with a technology called dynamic load management (DLM) through which the EV charger is able to protect the main fuse by reducing the EV charging current when the total load is too high. 

Here’s a quick Wallbox EV Charger review by Meteor Electrical.

GLB Wallbox – with Socket Outlet

• Comes with or without an energy meter. 
• Comes with one Type 2 EV socket outlet.
• The device is equipped with Mode 3 communication which is compatible with all brands of electric vehicles. 
• The EV charger can be mounted on the wall or be placed using a GHL stand. 
• Installation is fairly simple and includes a drill template.
• Has the options of local load balance, RFID reader, and WiFi or LAN communication.

GLB Wallbox – with Fixed Cable

• Comes with or without an energy meter. 
• Comes with a Type 1 or Type 2 connector.
• The device is equipped with Mode 3 communication.
• The EV charger can be wall-mounted or placed on a GHL stand.
• Installation is easy and includes a drill template. 
• Has the options of local load balance, RFID reader, and WiFi or LAN communication.

Additional accessories available from Garo include a stand form home charger. This can be used when there are no walls suitable for the installation. This stand can be installed on concrete floors or on a Ø60 mm tubular post if need be (note: it is sold separately).

GLB Garo EV Charger & Energy Metering

Both of the GLB Garo EV chargers you can buy are tailored to function with central energy metering via GSM. This system works best in places like apartment buildings, companies, and municipalities. 

The way this works is that the meter values from the EV chargers are transmitted via the mobile phone network as emails with an attached file. These emails can be manually programmed to be sent daily or monthly. The interval for the meter values can also be selected in conjunction with installation by sending a text directly to the central unit. 

To make the installation and operation less complicated, the SIM card is already installed in the central unit on delivery. In the delivery, the communication traffic required to get the system going is already included. The communication for 1 or 3 years of free energy metering can then be purchased for a set price. 

Both of the GLB Garo EV chargers have meters featuring M-bus communication integrated within them. A bus cable is installed between all chargers and connects to the central unit, which is used to record all of the meter values which are then transmitted via GSM. 

Garo LS4 Public Charging

Garo’s LS4 EV ground mounted charger is easily the best charging station you can find for public places. It has a maximum power of 22kW and sports a sleek Scandinavian design and a user-friendly interface, this Garo EV charger is the best of its kind. 

Besides an easy installation process and low maintenance costs, Garo’s LS4 public charging station comes with a charge indicator in the form of a 360° lighting strip at the top. This makes it convenient to see the charge status of each outlet without having to get too close. 

Just like any other Garo EV charger, the LS4 is built to last and clears all the hefty installation requirements that are set in place for public charging stations. It has a simple plug-and-play mechanism where the EV can just be plugged if it is the basic version. With the versions equipped with RFID readers, the user flashing their card is all that it will need.

Moreover, the LS4 has an integrated communication system based on LAN networks and a back-office service can be accessed through the built-in RFID reader and the accompanying mobile app. Billing and charging station monitoring becomes easier thanks to this. 

Another solid option for a public charging station is the Garo 2x22kW Outlets Metered & Ethernet EV charging station. This Garo EV charger sports a voltage rating of 30/400, has two sockets (Type 11) included, and can either be grounded or wall-mounted.

It has an EV charging mode of 3, a 4G connection & RFID reader, and an external meter with load management. It is designed specifically for single and three-phase solutions and comes with a three-year warranty to boot. 

Just like the LS4, this Garo EV charger has 360-degree indicators that allow the end user to spot the charging station from a distance. This charging station comes with both single and three-phase connections. 

Here’s a quick summary of the various features that the LS4 Garo EV Charger comes with. 

• There is strong visibility with the clear 360 degrees charge indicator.
• The front side raking light enables visibility of all information. 
• The device is energy efficient and has long-lasting LED lighting.
• It comes with weatherproof EV outlets that provide an extended life span. 
• Comes with illuminated EV outlets that make connecting easier. 
• There is a simple installation process where the pole is fully assembled on delivery. 
• A service hatch that can be locked for increased security purposes. 
• Easy-to-follow installation instructions that are easy to maintain and monitor. 
• A special rubber membrane on the device, provides it with moisture and pest protection. 
• An adept temperature control alternative with a cold option that prevents cooling and condensation. 

Garo EV charger review

How well can Garo EV chargers fare when keeping connectivity in mind? Let’s find out in this Garo EV charger review. Taking a look at GLB Garo EV chargers (Wallbox) specifically, there are plenty of major benefits that come with them. 

First of all, the GLB Garo EV charger unit delivers exactly what you would expect from a communicative charger – it has an easy setup page that is accessible through any local network where the EV charger is connected. It can also be accessed through a USB cable. 

The Garo Wallbox unit also provides both 4G and LAN connection options for the network, supporting OCPP 1.5 and 1.6 communication standards. Regarding this, it is necessary to make sure the local network is secured so access to the configuration page is prevented. 

One thing that is noticeable enough to mention, however, is when accessing the unit for connecting the network cable for example, there needs to be enough room at the bottom of the device so that the front cover slides down the entire length of the cover properly.  

This Garo EV charger can be used on semi-public charging networks, but larger home charging locations are feasible as well. 

When it comes to ease of integration, the communication protocols the GLB Garo EV charger range provides are OCPP 1.5 (with SOAP), OCPP 1.6 (with SOAP or JSON), and the proprietary binary version of both OCPP versions. 

There is full coverage of the use cases of the OCPP standard and smart charging features that come with the OCPP 1.6. Integration is simple, and the only complicated aspect to deal with is the configuration of the numerous parameters to choose from. 

Where to buy Garo EV chargers?

Garo EV chargers sustain quality and reliability – now the question is, where to get one? Head over to Meteor Electrical – an industry-leading online electrical wholesaler. Find a comprehensive range of Garo EV chargers (both domestic and commercial) that you can choose from at reasonable prices available at their online store. 

From the Standard Domestic Wall Charger (both tethered and untethered), to LS4 charging stations – Meteor Electrical has it all. You can also find other Garo products such as a pillar for both single and double GLB EV wall chargers, and both single-phase and three-phase meters, digital and non-digital.