Schneider Electric’s new 48-amp home EV charger is designed to solve one of the priciest problems that can come with buying an EV: discovering that your house needs an electrical panel or service upgrade before you can charge at Level 2 speeds.

The new Schneider Charge uses built-in dynamic load management to monitor how much electricity a home is using and automatically turn the EV’s charging rate up or down. That means some homeowners may be able to add a charger without exceeding their home’s existing electrical capacity.

Schneider says panel and service upgrades can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $6,500 or more, depending on the house and the work required.

“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 at Schneider Electric’s North America operations. “Schneider Charge helps remove that installation hurdle by enabling safe, reliable Level 2 charging within a home’s existing electrical capacity, making EV charging simpler and easier at home where most charging takes place.”

The charger’s SmartAmp system uses included current transformers – sensors installed around electrical conductors – to measure a home’s electricity use in real time.

If other big electrical loads, such as an electric dryer or oven, start pulling more power, SmartAmp can temporarily reduce the EV’s charging speed. When demand elsewhere in the house drops, it can increase the charging rate again.

The load-management feature keeps working if the home’s wifi goes down, and it doesn’t require a separate monitoring device or gateway.

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