Having the right EV charger can do wonders for your electric vehicle. These devices are crucial for maintaining your car’s quality and ensuring it stays at peak performance. 

But with any electrical device, there are several factors you need to juggle before making a choice. When it comes to EV chargers, you’ll need to decide between a tethered or untethered option. 

Not sure which one to choose? We’ll break down these options to help you decide whether you need tethered or untethered EV chargers.

What Are The Basics of EV Charging Stations?

Before we get into tethered and untethered EV chargers, let’s look at the basics of EV charge points and how they work. This will give you a better understanding of choosing the right option. 

An EV charger is a piece of equipment that supplies electrical energy for charging plug-in electric cars. It doesn’t matter if you have a hybrid or battery-powered EV, as every electric vehicle needs a high-quality charger.

Just as there are various options for fuel-powered vehicles, you can also choose between multiple EV chargers for your car. Similar to how you would plug in any other electrical device to a charging port, you need to do the same with your electric vehicle. 

Keep in mind that each type of car model will require a specific kind of charger, so make sure always to remember that information. 

You can easily install an EV charging point in your home for even more convenience. If you’re worried about them taking up too much space, there are several options with a sleek and minimalist design. 

How To Choose Between Tethered And Untethered EV Chargers?

A flexible EV charger can solve many problems, so you must choose between a tethered or untethered option depending on your needs. 

Both options come with benefits, but there are some factors to pay attention to. So, let’s take a closer look at these options. 

Tethered EV Chargers

Here are some quick pros and cons of tethered charging

The Pros of Tethered Chargers

• It takes less time to set up charging for EV
• The in-built cable is often of higher quality than the EV
• You don’t have to worry about forgetting or misplacing the cable

The Cons of Tethered Chargers

• The cable could affect the visual appeal of the charger and make it look bulky.
• It can be hard to keep the cable organised and neat.

A tethered EV charger means the cable is permanently connected to the charging unit. Many homeowners find this configuration convenient because you will always have the cable on hand. You just need to roll out the cable and plug it into your car. 

Unfortunately, there are some downsides to a tethered EV charger, most of which have to do with the cable’s length. The manufacturer's standard is a 5-meter cable which could affect how you park the car at home. 

Off-street parking is nearly impossible with such a short cable length. But if you’re using tethered public charging, you won’t run into any cable length problems. 

Untethered EV Chargers

Let’s look at the pros and cons of untethered EV charging. 

The Pros of Untethered Chargers

• Tidier installation that takes less space
• Often much cheaper to install than tethered options
• Easily upgrade to a better cable if needed.

The Cons of Untethered Chargers

• You don’t have a lot of options when it comes to these types of chargers
• You can risk losing or forgetting your cable
• Adds an extra step to the EV charging process

In an untethered charging point, there’s no cable provided with the station. Instead, you must get your own cable and manually attach your car to the charging port. In most cases, you can purchase this cable when you purchase your car. 

It’s always helpful to have an extra cable on hand, even if you have tethered option. Some public EV chargers are untethered, so having an extra cable can help here. 

Since these chargers include an extra step, you might wonder why anybody would want an untethered changing point. 

The good thing about these chargers is that they offer more flexibility. You can charge any electric car because its socket is universal. Also, you’re not limited by the cable length; just measure from your ideal parking distance and buy the appropriate cable. 

For homeowners, this charging station provides a cleaner look because you don’t have the messy visual of cabling. 

Ultimately, the cabling choice comes down to user preference, so make sure to consider this factor before purchasing your home EV charger.

Other Factors To Consider When Choosing an EV Charger

Apart from untethered or tethered charging ports, you must consider a few other factors before choosing an EV charger. Some of these factors could even help you decide between a cabled or cable-free charging port. 

Decide Where To Install It

The location of your EV charging station is crucial to its function. In a domestic property, you will likely install this device in your garage or driveway, ensuring enough space and access. 

Also, this is where the charger’s cable length will come into play. Ensure that the EV charger is located close to the electrical panel to avoid any power interruptions in the future. 

If you’re unsure where to install your EV charger, you can always consult a qualified electrician for helpful advice. 

Consider The Charging Speed And Cost

As mentioned, the charging speed affects how much you pay for an EV port. It could also affect the size of the EV charger unit.  

Generally, the higher the KW output of the charging port, the faster your EV will be charged. 

With all the different chargers, you can see that “fast” is the ideal option for households because it’s not too expensive to install and provides ample energy to your vehicle. 

With these ports, you can get between 7 KW to 22 KW, depending on the capacity and model of your EV. You can leave your car plugged in overnight and enjoy a stress-free drive the next day.    

Choose Between A Single-Phase or Three-Phase Charger

Standard residential power outlets are usually single-phase AC devices, but commercial outlets can supply electric cars with three-phase AC. 

The main difference between these two is that the single-phase option only provides a third of the power given by a three-phase model, which means it will take three times longer for your EV to charge. 

So, if you plug your EV into a general single-phase AC outlet, it could take 8 to 12 hours to charge from zero to full capacity.

If you own a single-phase charger, you can easily upgrade the cable to three-phase charging, making your EV more versatile. 

Other High-Quality Features

With rapid innovation in the EV industry, consumers can expect even more advanced chargers in the future. 

Some excellent features to look out for include:

• Monitoring: With this option, you can easily monitor your EV’s charging through a smartphone, tablet etc. 
• Locking: If you’re worried about someone using your EV charger without permission, you can lock it through this function. Some chargers come with traditional lock and key systems, while modern chargers use an app to lock the system. This app uses an entry code and facial recognition for added security. 
• Earthing: Most EV chargers need an earthing rod placed into the ground for added safety. But some modern chargers have an in-built earthing component that prevents electric shock and overloading. 
• Better Control: Some EV chargers allow you to control remotely. This feature is included in smart EV chargers, allowing you to set schedules. 

What Are The Different EV Charging Levels?

Not all electric chargers are built the same. Some EV chargers are much faster at topping up your car, while others have a higher energy capacity. 

In general, charging is categorised in three common ways - Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The best way to think about them is that the higher the charger level, the higher the energy output and the faster your car will charge. 

Despite these levels, there are still some variations based on the type of battery and the vehicle’s charging capacity. 

Let’s break down the different charging levels to see how they work. 

Level 1 Charging

Level 1 charge refers to when you plug your electric car into the socket with a general AC power plug. 

Since a general household socket only delivers 2.3 kW of energy, using a Level 1 charger is one of the slowest ways to recharge an EV. In some cases, this energy will only take you 6 to 8 kilometres per hour. 

These chargers also have no communication between the power panel and the car, which can significantly jeopardise the safety of your vehicle. 

Due to these reasons, you should limit your use to Level 1 charging in emergencies. 

Level 2 Charging

In level 2 charging stations, you will usually find AC charging mounted to a pole, the wall or positioned in the ground. These charging stations commonly deliver energy between 3.4 kW to 22 kW. 

You can find residential properties, public parking, and commercial and business locations. With its maximum charging output of 22 kW, an hour’s charging can give you an excellent driving range. 

With its higher charging capacity, smart connectivity options, and multiple safety features, Level 2 charging is ideal for many. 

Level 3 Charging

Often these are also called DC fast charging stations. Level 3 chargers use DC energy to power a car’s battery directly. These don’t require an onboard converter to work properly. 

As a result, Level 3 charging stations provide high-powered charging at a faster rate. This capacity makes them ideal for public locations instead of residential ones. 

However, the charging time might vary according to the EV’s model and the power outlet. In general, you can expect a fully charged EV in mere minutes with a level 3 charger.

Understanding AC vs DC Charging

When you charge an electric vehicle, the alternating current or AC from the power grid must be converted into direct current (DC) to power your car. 

If you opt for a DC charger, it will automatically do the conversion. If you install an AC charger, your vehicle will convert the current to DC but at a slower rate. This is why most AC chargers top at 22KW, while DC chargers go up to 100KW or more.  

Even though this makes DC chargers more pricey, they provide better performance overall than the AC models. 

What Are The Different Types of EV Charging Speeds?

As we’ve mentioned before, EV chargers come at various speeds. Here are four of the most common speeds available for EV chargers. 

Slow EV Charging Points

Slow charging stations are often one of the most economical options. These are only ideal if the car is parked for several hours, such as overnight or during your working period. 

While some slow charge points reach 3 K, most usually fall between 2.3 to 6 KW. Another critical thing to remember about these is that Slow EV chargers come untethered, so you need to get a cable to connect them to the charge point. 

Fast EV Charging Points

These charging stations perform slightly better than the slow ones. Fast EV chargers are ideal if you leave your car for a few hours. 

These devices come in a range of 7KW to 22KW, and you can easily find them outside your home too. 

Rapid EV Charging Points

If you want a high-speed DC charging station, there is a device to opt for. Here you can find power ranging between 50 KW to 100 KW. This means you’ll have a fully charged vehicle in less than 30 minutes.   

Despite these high speeds, rapid chargers are not suitable for household installation because of their costly installation. On the other hand, you can easily find these types of charge points in public spaces. 

Ultra-Rapid EV Charging Points

Nothing can beat an ultra-rapid EV charge point. These devices top up your car in minutes, charging up to 100KW or more.  

What Are The Best EV Chargers?

Once you’ve decided between tethered or untethered EV chargers, you can choose the right device for your EV. If you want all the best EV chargers in one place, visit Meteor Electrical. 

Here you will find Garo’s innovative EV charging range, offering only the best charging points for every customer. Whether you want a charging solution for offices for your household, Garo provides only the best. 

Here are some excellent options available at Meteor. 

1. Garo Standard EV Charger

The Garo Standard EV Charger boasts a 7.4kW socket and a Type 2 tethered lead. Some incredible features in this charger include DC monitoring, installed DLM, a motorised interlock, and a LAN connection. 

This option also includes DLM software that protects the main fuse in an installation by reducing the EV’s charging current when the total load is high and increasing it when the total load is low. With this standard charging station, you can take great care of your EV. 

1. Garo 7.4 kW Type 2 EV Charger

The GARO Standard Domestic Wall Charger with a fixed cable has a Type 2 connector 7.4 kW capacity. You can also avail of this option with or without an energy meter. 

Its main features include Mode 3 charging, an RFID reader for additional security, and WiFi communication. You also have access to a DLM installed to protect the main fuse and a motorised interlock that prevents the cable from being removed while charging. 

In addition, there is back-office software available from third-party OCPP software providers. With this tethered option, you can enjoy convenient EV charging anytime. 

Find All Your EV Charging Solutions At Meteor

Check out Meteor Electrical to browse through even more EV charging options. Here you can also find various accessories to support and upgrade any standard EV charging station.