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Check out the ‘world’s first’ DC-to-DC solar-powered EV charger

California-based solar EV charging tech company Enteligent is debuting what it claims is the world’s first DC-to-DC rooftop solar-powered hybrid bidirectional EV charger.

Enteligent is launching its new product this week at Intersolar North America 2023 in Long Beach, California. The solar EV charger, which draws power from rooftop solar, can supply 25 kW of fast DC charging – three times faster than AC Level 2 EV chargers – while also supporting vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities.

EV owners currently plug their cars into home chargers that are powered by an alternating current (AC) flow of energy generated from the electric grid. But EV batteries operate on a direct current (DC), requiring the power to be converted from AC to DC in the charging process. AC to DC conversion is inefficient and results in lost energy and longer charging time.

Enteligent says its charger’s DC to DC conversion results in 13% energy savings, and direct charging DC bypasses the EV’s internal conversion electronics, shortening charge time.

Here’s how Enteligent’s solar-powered EV charger works:

On February 1, Enteligent announced that it has raised $7 million in capital from strategic and institutional investors to fast-track commercialization of its solar EV charger.

Top comment by Pete Za

Liked by 5 people

I emailed the company to find more details about the product. It sounds intriguing for people who already have solar on their roof. I'm interested to find out if their system works as a grid-tie inverter as well. If so, then this could replace my current inverters and continue to provide power to my house when not charging the car, but when I plug in, it could direct the DC power directly to the car. I currently schedule my car to only charge between 9am and 3pm when the solar panels are generating enough power to not pull from the grid, so getting a 13% increase in efficiency while doing what I already do will be awesome if it's actually brought to the market.

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What do you think of Enteligent’s new charging product? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more: This modular off-grid solar EV charger can be installed in just four hours

Photo: Enteligent


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Avatar for Michelle Lewis Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at michelle@9to5mac.com. Check out her personal blog.