Schneider Electric has unveiled a residential EV charger that automatically adjusts charging based on home energy use.

Through its Square D brand, it has launched Schneider Charge, a smart level-two residential EV charger for the USA and Canada.

Many homes were not designed to support high-power applications such as EV charging. For homeowners, that can turn a level-two charger installation into a larger electrical project, with service and panel upgrades often costing $2000 to $6500 or more, depending on the home and installation requirements. Schneider Charge is engineered to make home EV charging simpler and more affordable by helping homeowners add safe, reliable level-two charging within the home’s existing electrical capacity.

Featuring SmartAmp, Schneider’s dynamic load-management technology, Schneider Charge monitors household electrical use in real time and automatically adjusts charging speed when other appliances need power. That helps homeowners increase charging output without separate monitoring devices or additional system components.

“As homeowners buy EVs and add high-power electric technologies, many are realising their existing electrical systems were not built for that level of demand,” said Shawn Bonacorsi from Schneider Electric. “Schneider Charge helps remove that installation hurdle by enabling safe, reliable level-two charging within a home’s existing electrical capacity, making EV charging simpler and easier at home where most charging takes place.”

Schneider Charge pairs built-in load management with installation support through Qmerit, a home EV charger installation and electrification services provider. Together, Schneider Electric and Qmerit (qmerit.com/se-charge/) help homeowners navigate the home charging process from charger selection to professional installation.

Everything needed for load management is included in the package, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices or gateway systems. It is designed to support managed-load installations in accordance with UL 3141, where accepted by the authority having jurisdiction, and is available with NACS J3400 or J1772 connector options to support a wide range of EVs.

SmartAmp uses included current transformers to monitor household electrical load in real time and automatically adjust charging speed as demand changes, even when wifi is unavailable. By integrating load management directly into the charger, SmartAmp helps simplify installation and reduces the need for separate monitoring devices or gateway systems.

“For electricians and contractors, Schneider Charge is designed to make installation simpler and more efficient,” Bonacorsi said. “By building load management into the charger, we’re making home EV charging easier to install with less complexity and disruption for homeowners.”

The Schneider Charge app lets homeowners monitor charging in real time, adjust settings and schedule charging during lower-cost hours.

Charging output is 11.5kW/48A level two. OCPP 1.6 compliance supports future grid service programmes. Its hardwired design is for residential installation; a plug-in version will be introduced early next year. It has a 7.6m cable.

To learn more, visit se.com/us/charge.

French firm Schneider Electric (www.se.com) enables buildings, data centres, factories, infrastructure and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience and sustainability. The portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services and expert advisory. It has 160,000 employees and a million partners in over 100 countries.