Schneider Electric just launched a new smart residential EV charger with a focus on simplifying installation and adding more affordable Level 2 charging options for homeowners. The Schneider Charge is now available in U.S. and Canadian markets.
“For electricians and contractors, Schneider Charge is designed to make installation simpler and more efficient,” Bonacorsi said. “By building load management into the charger, we’re making home EV charging easier to install with less complexity and disruption for homeowners.”
Inside the Schneider Charge
The Schneider Charge comes equipped with Schneider Electric’s dynamic load-management technology, which, according to the company, allows the charger to monitor household electrical use in real time and automatically adjust charging speed when other appliances need power. What makes the Charge unique, however, is that all the equipment needed for load management is housed in the charger itself.
The charger can do this even when a Wi-Fi connection isn’t available.
This, according to Schneider, allows the device to support managed-load installations in accordance with UL 3141, where accepted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). The charger is also equipped to work with modern and future EVs, being available with either a NACS (J3400) or J1772 connector to support a wide range of EVs.
When connected to a vehicle, the charger has a 11.5 kW/48A Level 2 charging output. The charging cable itself is 25 feet long and designed to be hardwired into a home’s electrical grid, however, Schneider has stated that a plug-in version is planned to be introduced in early 2027.
Schneider Charge also has installation support through Qmerit, a home EV charger installation and electrification services provider.
Why Integrators Should Take Note
Many modern homes were not designed to support high-power applications like EV charging. For homeowners, that can turn a Level 2 charger installation into a larger electrical project, with service and panel upgrades often costing $2,000 to $6,500 or more, depending on the home and installation requirements.
“As homeowners buy EVs and add high-power electric technologies, many are realizing their existing electrical systems were not built for that level of demand,” said Shawn Bonacorsi, Head of Electrification Solutions, Schneider Electric, North America Operations.
One of the ways around that is better load management, which itself can involve its own slew of additional upgrades to make possible. Schneider Charge bakes the load management capacity into the charger into itself, making what the company says is a safer, simpler means of installing an EV charger in a home, making it one of the stronger retrofit options for integrators already working on energy projects.
Availability
Schneider Charge and Schneider Charge Pro are available through Schneider Electric authorized distributors.
