Wednesday 15 July 2015

Bosch Now Offering Sub-$10K DC Fast Charger System In North America

CleanTechnica.com: The Bosch Power DCPlus DC fast-charger will soon be available in the North American market for less than $10,000, according to recent reports.

The 24 kW (kilowatt) Bosch Power DCPlus system (featuring the SAE J1772 DC Combo connector) will allow properly outfitted electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to very rapidly bring their battery up to an 80% charge.

Given that most of the other DC fast-charging systems on the market in North America are quite expensive (and most 50 kW, rather than 24 kW), the offering seems likely to prove appealing to those looking to have access to a faster charge than a Level 2 AC charging station can provide.

As the SAE J1772 DC Combo standard is now relatively common, the system is compatible with a good number of the more popular EVs and PHEVs out there right now.

It’s worth noting here that the systems are now available for order through General Motor’s Dealer Equipment Program. And, also, that the Power DCPlus is already enabled for the ChargePoint network — thereby allowing EV drivers to utilize the stations via a ChargePoint card and membership.

A couple of further details here:
The Power DCPlus is considerably smaller than other DC fast chargers, thereby lowering installation costs and increasing installation options (with regard to area, etc).
The Bosch Power DCPlus needs a 480V 3-phase input with 24 kW output.
System dimensions are 31″Height x 19″Width x 12″Depth. The system weighs under 150 pounds (68 kilograms), and is designed to be able to withstand relatively harsh weather conditions, thereby ensuring a long working life.