BOLT introduces smart EV charging socket for home

BOLT, an electric vehicle charging network, has launched a smart universal EV charging socket. The made-in-India BOLT LITE socket is compatible with all portable chargers coming with any EV and works with the existing AC power supply at home. 

The BOLT LITE charging sockets are available at an introductory price of INR 2,599 ($32).

BOLT LITE has been designed to address all the issues arising from ineffective home charging. It is compatible with two, three and four-wheel EVs, requires no additional infrastructure, and can be installed in under 30 minutes with little to no maintenance. 

It offers dual layer protection with an in-built MCB that automatically switches off electrical circuits during any abnormal condition in the electrical network, such as overload and short circuit conditions. Furthermore, the smart energy meter provides bifurcation for energy consumed by the BOLT LITE charging socket vs the home’s power supply via the BOLT app. 

BOLT LITE is IP65 certified and therefore provides complete protection from dust, oil, water and other non-corrosive material and can endure all weather conditions. BOLT LITE gives an efficient power transfer, and users get faster charging to help ensure their EV is fully charged overnight.

It is also IoT-enabled and helps connect EV users across the country. It comes with an energy calculator to monitor power consumption and gives users access to a lifetime of passive income. 

Owners can choose to switch the device status between ‘Public’ and ‘Private’, where ‘Public’ charging sockets are open to the public and are available for booking on the BOLT app. The charging sockets marked as ‘Private’ are exclusively for the use of device owners. 

Furthermore, BOLT LITE can be operated with or without the BOLT app and supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and WiFi communication. When set to private mode, BOLT LITE does not require the internet or the BOLT app to be operated.

Consumers can place an order for BOLT LITE via the BOLT website, any of the channel partners or dealers/distributors. BOLT has partnered with more than 25 OEMs globally, including seven out of the top 10 OEMs in India, to build a safe, smart and connected ecosystem for electric vehicles.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India has more than 1.3 million EVs on the road as of August 2022. This year’s EV sales have gone up over 3x compared to FY 2020-21. 

India targets to achieve EV sales penetration of 30 per cent for private cars, 70 per cent for commercial vehicles and 80 per cent for two and three-wheelers by 2030. India needs safe, smart and affordable EV charging solutions for homes to achieve this. The presence of safe EV chargers at home not only provides users with the convenience of charging their EVs but also boosts confidence among people considering purchasing them.

According to reports, more than 80 per cent of EV owners charge their vehicles at home due to the convenience and low cost of residential charging. Most EVs come with an onboard charger which allows users to plug their vehicles into a standard 15A charging socket directly. 

However, apart from being slow and least energy efficient, these sockets do not offer any direct safety or monitoring features and are not recommended for long-term EV charging. Unsafe charging at home using a standard 15A socket can result in sudden power surges, damaging the EV battery. 

News reports of EV batteries bursting into fire and creating blazes in India have been primarily due to the owner not knowing how to charge a battery safely. EV users also face challenges with power theft, access control and unidentified energy consumption in shared parking spaces.