Highest KW AC Charger?

[Ragman]

Question for those out there with fleets or similar needing slightly "faster charging".

Back story - we have been charging with Level 2's and recently installed 25 kw DC chargers. Fallen in love with the 22-23 kw "net" speed and the increased up time this gives our trucks - however the DC charger shuts down when "done" and does not reactivate for pre-conditioning/departure times. This is a BIG issue for us as its still below freezing here and the trucks are used around the clock - having a preconditioned battery is essential.

We do have a Ford 80 amp, it works "okay" but I would like to get the extra 5+ kws of the Lightnings possible 23 kw (dual 11.5 kws) and we have the power/space to go to a 150 amp breaker (120 useable). I have not found a charger above the 19.2/80 amp FCSP (or other) in North America - I see UK ones that are three phase. Does anyone know of a UL/ULC rated one available?

Thanks

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[Zprime29]

From Wikipedia entry for SAE J1772:

 

[Maquis]

The on-board dual chargers max out at 19.2 KW (gross input). North American trucks cannot use European 3 phase EVSEs.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

What brand DC chargers are you using. Have you communicated with the manufacturer to ask for support to have them reconfigured so they can be activated when the truck tries to begin preconditioning? You won’t get better than 19.2 kW on AC.

 

[Ragman]

The on-board dual chargers max out at 19.2 KW (gross input). North American trucks cannot use European 3 phase EVSEs.

Thanks Maquis, I'm a Min/Max person hence the use of Lightnings in first place. Too bad we've left "power" on the table from a charging perspective. I'd found this one from EU (made in Taiwan) was pondering bringing in to "try".

 

[Ragman]

What brand DC chargers are you using. Have you communicated with the manufacturer to ask for support to have them reconfigured so they can be activated when the truck tries to begin preconditioning? You won’t get better than 19.2 kW on AC.

The "inquiry/request" is in, once I get the response will see I have little faith after some earlier back and forth at install/commissioning.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

The "inquiry/request" is in, once I get the response will see I have little faith after some earlier back and forth at install/commissioning.

Sounds like you should consider finding a different DC charger supplier.


That EU EVSE has a different output plug and it’s not compatible with the Lightning’s J1772/CCS1 charging standard. I wouldn’t waste the money. It won’t even power on, or if it does it’ll fry some components. The frequency is 50Hz rather than the 60Hz the grid provides and your appliances expect.

 

[RickLightning]

Your SRs, and your 2024, max out at 48amps AC charging, unless you ordered your 2024 as a fleet order with 80amp. The max AC charging on a 2023 ER is 80amps.

 

[Ragman]

Your SRs, and your 2024, max out at 48amps AC charging, unless you ordered your 2024 as a fleet order with 80amp. The max AC charging on a 2023 ER is 80amps.

Yep, hence the 25 kw DC experiment - however it's MUCH cheaper to fleet order with Dual chargers (or now shopping 22/23 off leases) given the price spread on a 25 kw DC vs a FCSP.

Living, learning, sharing so others don't feel the same pain lol!

 

[Maquis]

Sounds like you should consider finding a different DC charger supplier.

AFAIK, our trucks do not have the capability to precondition using departure times on DC.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I see that you have 5 Lightnings in your signature, you could employ a "lot jockey" to move the fleet to DC ports, once each is topped up for the next day of service, move the truck(s) to a J1772 EVSE at 32/40/48 amps would give you sufficient power to allow overnight & departure conditioning to work for all the trucks.

If you don't have the payroll for a dedicate yard person, maybe offer an incentive to one of your employees to hang around after hours to shuffle as needed.

On average I've only seen battery conditioning running about an hour or so, get your early bird employee to do the AM shuffle.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

AFAIK, our trucks do not have the capability to precondition using departure times on DC.

Yeah, you’re correct.

 

[tls]

Tesla onboard chargers will accept 277V single-phase and older Tesla EVSEs were rated for it. That's 22kW. I don't know if Ford's equipment - in the truck or their branded Siemens EVSE - can handle 277V without blowing up and I don't think I'd try it.

 

[P-38]

Are you at 240VAC for commercial voltage in Canada or 208VAC?

If you are at 208 getting to 240 would make the 80amp charger slightly faster. Maybe an autotransformer to boost it up, more losses but faster charge time and get preconditioning.

I'm poking the maintenance team at my work to adjust the taps on the 480 to 208 transformer as we are at 199 at the panel (even less at the truck)and going to the high side of inspec for 208 would net me like 3kwh over 8 hours...

 

[Maquis]

Tesla onboard chargers will accept 277V single-phase and older Tesla EVSEs were rated for it. That's 22kW. I don't know if Ford's equipment - in the truck or their branded Siemens EVSE - can handle 277V without blowing up and I don't think I'd try it.

When the Mach-E first came out, the voltage limit was +5% (252). Some people with had supplies of 255-256 and the cars would t charge. Ford did a software change to raise the limit, but I don’t know the new limit, but I’d bet it won’t allow 277.

ETA - he’s in Canada so instead of 480/277, it would be 600/346 anyway.

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