Instavolt 120kw 400v chargers

[simcity]

I standby my original comment that all uk chargers above 50kw are 800v in the U.K. except for the old Tesla ones.

What do you mean by 'old' Tesla ones?

There are only two SuC variants in the UK, both are "400V":

- Tesla V2 with 150kW output; a Tesla special (AC and DC) Type 2 connector, power splitting across 2 stalls. Later these were retro-fitted with an additional CCS2 connector, about the same time as the Model 3 was introduced in the UK;

- Tesla V3 with 250kW output. Just a single CCS2 connector, dedicated power, no splitting power across stalls.

The 150kw booster is only useful for some in Europe

There are 15 Tesla SuC sites in the UK open to the public currently. It's pretty likely that there will be more opening in time.

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[simcity]

From an email just received from Instavolt tech support:

All of the chargers on our network operate at 400v and are capable of delivering charging outputs ranging from 50kWh to 150kWh.

 

[W1NGE]

From an email just received from Instavolt tech support:

All of the chargers on our network operate at 400v and are capable of delivering charging outputs ranging from 50kWh to 150kWh.

Thx for sharing and aligned to what I had guessed at.

Therefore the 400v DC to DC booster is a worthy and cheap option.

 

[simcity]

Thx for sharing and aligned to what I had guessed at.

Therefore the 400v DC to DC booster is a worthy and cheap option.

Agreed on the booster. Also as noted Tesla will eventually open up all SuC as well. So the 15 we have now will become 100+ sites. As they are 400V architecture for the foreseeable - it makes sense to keep that door open.

Years ago I upgraded my home / work charging to 3-phase - so the high power on board AC charger also made sense, especially with a sometimes 2-3 hour turnaround.

Not for everyone, but I’ve learnt the hard way with any EV to tick all the possible boxes when it comes to charging.

 

[BigBob]

Agreed on the booster. Also as noted Tesla will eventually open up all SuC as well. So the 15 we have now will become 100+ sites. As they are 400V architecture for the foreseeable - it makes sense to keep that door open.

Years ago I upgraded my home / work charging to 3-phase - so the high power on board AC charger also made sense, especially with a sometimes 2-3 hour turnaround.

Not for everyone, but I’ve learnt the hard way with any EV to tick all the possible boxes when it comes to charging.

Ditto. I've learned the hard way. Still i do have the much more expensive 22kw unit onboard, which i've never used. FFS.
Only complaint about my sales experience. FFS.

 

[simcity]

From an email just received from Instavolt tech support:

All of the chargers on our network operate at 400v and are capable of delivering charging outputs ranging from 50kWh to 150kWh.

They lied…always check the data plate!!

 

[W1NGE]

They lied…always check the data plate!!

What's wrong - seems ok to me?

Unlikely to output more than it inputs - 400V.

400V DC to DC booster takes care of the additional potential 70 kW on offer.

 

[simcity]

What's wrong - seems ok to me?

Unlikely to output more than it inputs - 400V.

400V DC to DC booster takes care of the additional potential 70 kW on offer.

Instavolt support said all their chargers were 400V only.

Dataplate clearly says on CCS output voltage is from 200-1000V

So at least that particular charger should be able to charge a standard Taycan without DC booster at full rate (under otherwise ideal battery etc conditions).

Which is why @CrossTComingSoon above was able to charge at them 'up to 115 kW' with a car without the DC booster. Something that was confounding otherwise.

 

[W1NGE]

Instavolt support said all their chargers were 400V only.

Dataplate clearly says on CCS output voltage is from 200-1000V

So at least that particular charger should be able to charge a standard Taycan without DC booster at full rate (under otherwise ideal battery etc conditions).

Which is why @CrossTComingSoon above was able to charge at them 'up to 115 kW' with a car without the DC booster. Something that was confounding otherwise.

Yes but that doesn't necessarily mean it is outputting at that level - its just a data plate of min and max values. Ambiguous for sure.

My guess is that due to the 400V CHAdeMO connector the unit will be running at 400V for both connectors. Nothing on the market will cope with 1000v (800v for the Taycan). Given that the EVSE is 120kW (max) does that not mean a max of 600v at a max of 200A?

Acid test is to try a car without the DC booster and one with to see if both pull the same power. My guess is that the booster would win.

 

[simcity]

Acid test is to try a car without the DC booster and one with to see if both pull the same power. My guess is that the booster would win.

Isn't that what @CrossTComingSoon posted above? Pulling 115 kW on a car without a DC booster.

To do so the unit would be outputting 800V (nominal). Otherwise it makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[W1NGE]

Isn't that what @CrossTComingSoon posted above? Pulling 115 kW on a car without a DC booster.

To do so the unit would be outputting 800V (nominal). Otherwise it makes no sense whatsoever.

That's where this all started but we were in doubt and short of using the EVSE we will never know for sure. The premise was / is that there are no 800v EVSEs < 150kW in UK - bold statement but I'll make it.

 

[simcity]

That's where this all started but we were in doubt and short of using the EVSE we will never know for sure. The premise was / is that there are no 800v EVSEs < 150kW in UK - bold statement but I'll make it.

Respectfully I think you're clutching at straws there. The unit is clearly marked as multi-voltage 200-1000 VDC on the CCS2 port and 200-500 VDC on the CHAdeMO port. Not the same on both.

We have a user that has confirmed he doesn't have a DC booster fitted /ordered etc and yet can pull 115 kW from an Instavolt unit.

The only logical conclusion I can see is that the unit will provide 800 VDC to a Taycan.

 

[W1NGE]

Respectfully I think you're clutching at straws there. The unit is clearly marked as multi-voltage 200-1000 VDC on the CCS2 port and 200-500 VDC on the CHAdeMO port. Not the same on both.

We have a user that has confirmed he doesn't have a DC booster fitted /ordered etc and yet can pull 115 kW from an Instavolt unit.

The only logical conclusion I can see is that the unit will provide 800 VDC to a Taycan.

It's a fair conclusion for sure and definitely not challenging your logic but reading back through the thread a few things re-surface and therefore raise a question.

The OP struggled at 63kW and another forum member has cited 115kW from another Instavolt EVSE but has no recollection of the DC booster option. Note that the spec he / she shared was from the standard car spec and not from their actual spec with options (which is where I think the confusion / missing data point is).

My Porsche Website - Technical Details (where your actual options are listed) - this example shows my 150kW option:

Then under Optional Equipment - E-Mobility - is where the DC booster is listed (nowhere else):

Whereas the only thing we have to go on was taken from 'Standard Equipment' under heading 'E-Performance' which as you'd expect lists the standard config:

For completeness the forum member posted:

Odd also that Instavolt would provide incorrect information to a specific question when asked and that there are potentially some anomalies out there. My nearest Instavolt 120kW is at McDonald's in Glasgow 2.45 hrs away) which look to be identical units but nothing on the Instavolt website detailing anything other than the power output.

So if @CrossTComingSoon hasn't lost the will to live after reading all of this perhaps he / she could recheck the options listed for their vehicle.

 

[simcity]

A car scanner app like VCDS plugged into the OBDII port ought to be able to see DC current being pumped into the battery during charge. Pretty sure these guys could see it in the latter part of this thread.

If you know what the charge rate is in kW, then its easy maths to work out if the EVSE is connected at 800V or 400V.

 

[CrossTComingSoon]

Still alive. I should clarify. There's nothing in "my Porsche" spec sheets other than the following as optional in first picture and standard in second.

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