Enteligent now has a DC-DC Solar EV charger for pre-order

[SpaceEVDriver]

Yes, this would definitely work if you have invested (or are willing to invest) in the high voltage Hybrid solar systems. Great concept for new solar installs. I'm guessing a 400v battery might take some investment.

It's not much higher in price considering the advantages, but yes, it will be more expensive.
EG Solar has a 20 kWh whole house battery operating at 400V DC, 50Ah for $4800.
Their equivalent 20 kWh battery kit at lower voltage (two packs, 51.2 volts, 200 Ah) is $3200. After various other costs, I suspect the whole-system price will be within 10-20%.

I'll go with the higher voltage battery when I do add solar to my current home.

Sponsored

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I'm at 6,800ft, I'm sure it would be just fine. This is a very cool find on your part! I'm highly intrigued by this technology as I am trying to build a charge station that is solely dedicated to just charging my MME. I do not want it tied to the grid in any way.

Yeah, I'm at 7,000 and am not worried about altitude-related cooling for any of my devices...and I run a supercomputer in my garage.

 

[phidauex]

It is an interesting device, but I don't think it is intended for typical residential PV or PV+BESS applications - as described it could only be connected directly to a PV array, and that array couldn't be connected to an inverter at the same time.

Because the inputs are maximum power point tracking (MPPT), it can't be connected to the common DC bus of a hybrid system, because the MPPT algorithm will fail - the power electronics are expecting to use changes in operating voltage to cause a change in power, which is how it will regulate its output power. The equipment could certainly be designed to connect to a battery as the input, but it would require a different firmware to operate in fixed voltage mode rather than power point tracking mode.

I suspect this is designed for remote applications where you think you'll have a regularly used charging location that is too far away to connect to the grid, and where you don't want the complexity of a whole off-grid system. The industry analog now is PV water pumping applications where you connect the PV system directly to the pumps (which are designed for this), supply a large cistern, and pump when the sun shines. Less flexible, but far cheaper.

You could put up 2 covered parking spaces, with two of these chargers, and be off and running with daytime L2 charging with no other electrical work.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

It is an interesting device, but I don't think it is intended for typical residential PV or PV+BESS applications - as described it could only be connected directly to a PV array, and that array couldn't be connected to an inverter at the same time.

Because the inputs are maximum power point tracking (MPPT), it can't be connected to the common DC bus of a hybrid system, because the MPPT algorithm will fail - the power electronics are expecting to use changes in operating voltage to cause a change in power, which is how it will regulate its output power. The equipment could certainly be designed to connect to a battery as the input, but it would require a different firmware to operate in fixed voltage mode rather than power point tracking mode.

I suspect this is designed for remote applications where you think you'll have a regularly used charging location that is too far away to connect to the grid, and where you don't want the complexity of a whole off-grid system. The industry analog now is PV water pumping applications where you connect the PV system directly to the pumps (which are designed for this), supply a large cistern, and pump when the sun shines. Less flexible, but far cheaper.

You could put up 2 covered parking spaces, with two of these chargers, and be off and running with daytime L2 charging with no other electrical work.

On the one hand, in some places they are advertising it as daytime charging.

On the other hand, their FAQ and other literature suggests that whatever they're doing internally would allow direct battery operation...

On the gripping hand, they also state that a dedicated battery solution will be made available later in the year.

Until they release the installation manual, it's speculation as to whether it'll be simple to hook up to a battery and set some switches (virtually or physically) or if it would be necessary to wait for their updated product later in the year.

Whichever way this all works out, having to install less equipment out in the field and at the ranch where I often go would be welcome.

Sponsored