Dual Connector EVSE?

I recently bought a 2019 LEAF and am going through the process of installing a level 2 charger, but it looks like I will need a service upgrade and a new panel. I am thinking that if I am going to go through all of this expense, I might as well plan ahead for a second EV that my home will surely have in the next few years, but I cannot find any information on a dual connector home EVSE, i.e. an EVSE that can charge two cars at once.

What does everyone else do? Should I just plan on two individual EVSE devices mounted on the side of the house? Should I plan on running two 50 amp cables or a single larger cable? What are people doing in this situation?

Dual L2 EVSE's may exist but I've never heard of one.
It seems that EV batteries are getting bigger with each new model. And the chargers on these new models are increasing the KW that the cars can take. I think the L2 Tesla charger will supply 50 some odd amps, which mean you'd need a cable and breaker suitable for 60 amps. So if you REALLY want to future proof, you might think about installing two 60 amp cables.
That was a bit much for me when I installed my EVSE. I installed a 50 amp cable and purchased a 40 amp charger. That's still more power than my current car can take. Hopefully I'll be ok for the next few years. At the end of the day, it's all about charging time. More amps = shorter times. I'm ok if I get a car with a 60KW battery and it takes 10 hours to fully charge.

theothertom said:

Dual L2 EVSE's may exist but I've never heard of one.
It seems that EV batteries are getting bigger with each new model. And the chargers on these new models are increasing the KW that the cars can take. I think the L2 Tesla charger will supply 50 some odd amps, which mean you'd need a cable and breaker suitable for 60 amps.
...
I'm ok if I get a car with a 60KW battery and it takes 10 hours to fully charge.

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Off the top of my head, I can't think of any residential dual L2 EVSEs but Chargepoint's CT-4000 series are dual: https://www.chargepoint.com/products/commercial/ct4000/. We have dozens of these at my work. You wouldn't want one of these at home as the gateway station (w/the cellular radio) is over $7K and there are recurring subscription fees to Chargepoint. The non-gateway stations (communicate via wireless LAN w/the gateway) are over $6K.

They've had CT-2000 series dual handle legacy stations for years (https://www.chargepoint.com/support/guides/). We had a few of these at my work.

Tesla wall connector can supply up to 80 amps while on a 100 amp circuit: https://shop.tesla.com/us/en/product/vehicle-accessories/model-s_x_3-wall-connector.html. You tell the EVSE what amperage of circuit it's on via a dial inside. We have a bunch of these at my work set up as master/slave pairs (load sharing arrangement). Each pair's on a 100 amp circuit.

Tesla has actually been scaling back on the OBC for the US market: https://www.tesla.com/support/home-charging-installation/onboard-charger. It's only 32 or 48 amps now. In the past, from S, X to 3, you could've had these amperages of OBCs: 40, 48, 72, or 80. (https://web.archive.org/web/20180831121010/https://www.tesla.com/support/home-charging-installation#on-board-charger has an example of an old KB article. When the S was new, it came with 40 amp OBC and you could order a 2nd OBC for 80 amps total.)

Battery capacity is measured in kWh, not "KW".

OP could assemble a J1772 Hydra. Search this forum and "TMC" for J1772 Hydra. (I found this thread by its developer: http://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=14012&hilit=hydra.)

Clipper Creek makes some EVSEs that can share a circuit. If one car is charging, the EVSE allows the full circuit capacity, but each EVSE only allows half of the circuit capacity if two cars are charging. As an example, you can get two 40-ampere EVSEs and connect them to one 50-ampere circuit. One EVSE will allow 40 amperes if the other unit is not supplying current, otherwise each unit limits current to 20 amperes.

If you have plenty of electric service capacity, two separate 50-ampere circuits would be a better choice.

^^^
Thanks! Totally forgot about that.

https://www.clippercreek.com/share2/
https://www.clippercreek.com/new-power-sharing-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/

I've had 2 EVs in the garage for 2 years (a Tesla and a LEAF until recently; now 2 Tesla's). I can't think of any time where I've really needed to charge both at the same time. Albeit I do get to charge while at work, but even if I didn't have that, I'd easily be able to keep both cars charged off 1 EVSE (I have a 50A circuit with a NEMA 14-50 to support charging at 40A)

I would suggest you not go to extra expense in this case until you really need it.

Good morning and congrats on the new leaf. We are also a two EV family (smart ED cabriolet and a Leaf). Although we rarely need to charge both at the same time we did set up two EVSE's. We usually leave the leaf outside as it leaves more room in the garage. (one car townhouse garage) So we set up one 120 volt EVSE outside. Surprisingly we use the 120 volt as much or more than the 240 volt 40 am unit inside. Either way its charged when I get up in the morning. The outside one is connected to the 120 volt Christmas light plug. It came with the car (smart ED) so no expense in buying it. Here are a couple pics. Hope it helps.

First the 240 volt Juicebox in the garage.



And the outside 120 volt setup.

Thanks for the feedback. I park in the driveway not the garage, so I think I will do a large service upgrade and panel in anticipation of a second car, but only run one cable to the EVSE for now.

martyscholes said:

Thanks for the feedback. I park in the driveway not the garage, so I think I will do a large service upgrade and panel in anticipation of a second car, but only run one cable to the EVSE for now.

Click to expand...

I did my service panel upgrade in conjunction with a solar install, since the electrician was out coming anyway. If you've ever thought of getting solar, there really isn't a better way to kill two birds with the same stone. And if you've not thought about gettting solar, there is no better way to (eventually) fuel your vehicle and light your house for free.

I have a 20a circuit in the back middle of my garage that gets frequent use from my 18a EVSE and a 50a outlet off to the back side I use if I want to "quick charge"(30a) my '13. I also have 2 other outlets off the 50a feed, one in the front of my garage on the opposite wall as the 50a outlet and one directly outside the garage to be able to charge a vehicle parked outside the garage.
I can use the 20a outlet independent of the 50a circuits and any combination of EVSEs off the 50a circuit as long as I don't exceed 40a. Most of my EVSEs are adjustable, which makes sharing a circuit much easier and safer.