Enteligent, a California-based startup, is taking pre-orders for what it calls the world’s first solar DC-to-DC electric vehicle chargers. The unit can take power from a photovoltaic array and send it directly to the car’s charging port, cutting energy losses by up to 20% compared to a conventional setup that goes from DC to AC and then back to DC. There’s no need for a separate inverter, although the charger can be integrated into an existing photovoltaic circuit.
Enteligent is accepting pre-orders for this groundbreaking innovation: the world’s first DC-to-DC solar electric vehicle chargers. This pioneering technology enables a direct connection between a solar panel array and a vehicle’s charging port, significantly reducing energy waste by up to 20% compared to traditional systems that convert DC power to AC and back to DC. Notably, the charger eliminates the need for a separate inverter, while also allowing seamless integration into existing solar panel setups.
The startup is also introducing its TLCEV T1 solar DC-to-DC electric vehicle charger. This product reportedly cuts energy losses by up to 20% compared to traditional setups that involve AC converters. The charger supports direct connections to solar inputs and delivers efficient energy usage without intermediate conversion.
According to Enteligent, customers can connect the EV charger to either one or two solar inputs, each operating within a voltage range of 340 to 600 volts and a maximum current of 20 amps. The charger’s maximum power output is rated at 12.5 kilowatts, all of which can be delivered directly to the electric vehicle’s battery without the need for an AC-to-DC converter.
The system is similar to public DC fast chargers but operates at lower power and is limited to daylight usage, as it relies on solar energy. However, Enteligent notes that its technology is compatible with any DC power source, including backup battery systems, offering a potential solution for nighttime or low-sunlight conditions.
The TLCEV T1 comes equipped with a CCS1 connector, with options for CCS2 or NACS plugs also available. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing solar systems with an inverter by using a double-throw switch, enabling users to direct the photovoltaic output to either the charger or the inverter as needed.
For users without an inverter, the startup’s solution provides a fast and effective method to charge an electric vehicle solely using renewable energy. This approach can potentially streamline permitting processes, as there’s no need to connect the photovoltaic panels to the grid.
To pre-order the solar EV charger, a refundable $250 fee is required, with an “early bird” price of $2,249. After pre-orders close and production scales, the price will increase to $2,499. However, the timeline for these changes and the delivery estimate are not currently available on the company’s website.
Enteligent recently secured $6 million in funding and announced plans to supply a 25 kW DC-to-DC bidirectional charger, one of its other products, to a major logistics company for charging electric delivery vehicles.