Schneider Electric has introduced Schneider Charge, a Level 2 residential electric vehicle (EV) charger with integrated dynamic load management for homes in the US and Canada.
The charger uses Schneider Electric’s SmartAmp technology to monitor household electrical demand and automatically adjust EV charging output as other loads change. The system is designed to allow Level 2 charging within the available capacity of an existing electrical service.
SmartAmp uses included current transformers to measure household load in real time. Charging output can be reduced when other equipment draws more power and increased again as capacity becomes available.
The load-management function continues operating without a Wi-Fi connection.
Integrating this capability into the charger eliminates the need for a separate energy-monitoring gateway. Schneider Charge is designed for managed-load installations in accordance with UL 3141 where accepted by the local authority having jurisdiction.
Specifications include:
- 11.5 kW / 48 A Level 2 charging output
- J3400 North American Charging System (NACS) or J1772 connector options
- Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 1.6 compliance
- UL 3141-certified load-management system
- 25-ft charging cable
- Hardwired installation, with a plug-in version planned for early 2027
OCPP 1.6 provides a communications interface that can be used for future grid-service applications.
Charging can be monitored and scheduled through the Schneider Charge app, while the onboard load-management system handles real-time adjustments to available charging power.
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News