Does an Electric Vechicle Charger installed outside need a disconnect

[tom baker]

Scenario: Electric Vehicle charger installed outside, about 25 ft from its source (a building) next to a parking stall.
The charger is fed with a 40 amp branch circuit, 240 volt single phase. These devices are about 1 ft square, 4 ft tall, with about a 15 ft supply cord for the EV charging

Does this charger require a disconnect (and grounding electrodes)?
Consider:
It meets the Art 100 definition of a structure
225.31 and 32 require a disconnect )disconnect then requires a grounding system per 250.30

225.32 gives us exception 3 for lighting poles, that the disconnect can be located elsewhere.

Soon thousands of these chargers will be installed by cities and businesses.

Being installed by parking stalls they become a bumper magnet and if damaged, how do we access the disconnecting means? How do we turn off the power if the charging cord is cut and stolen?

 

[hillbilly1]

I have worked with the enginners for several different manufactures of these, they have a disconnect inside the unit, but it is not accessable without removing a panel. On the level III chargers we have a disconnect within site because they require a seperate service at the locations we are installing them.

 

[hurk27]

If this vehicle charger is not considered electrical equipment and is in fact a structure then I have to agree that 225.31 would require a disconnect, at or close as possible to where the conductors enter the structure 225.32.
You might be able to use exception 1 if it applies?

If this charger is considered an appliance then it can be located within site, or use a breaker lock 422.31(B)?

Think of this:
How many pools we install a lamp box for fiber optic lighting only using a breaker lock or the "within site rule"?
when does an appliance change from a appliance to a structure? is it based upon size? or what? these lamp box's also fit the definition of a structure.

 

[augie47]

NEC does not seem to help us much. If it were 60 amps or more than 150 volts to ground, 625.23 would require the disconnect to be installed in a readily accessible location. My under standing is that many of the larger units have service rated disconnects built in.
If we consider it a "structure" per NEC definition, as noted it would need a service rated disconnect (225.31,32,36). With one 40 amp circuit, it would appear the exception to 250.32(a)(1) would allow the install without a grounding electrode,
I agree with concern that the charger might be a "bumper", but so might an added
disconnect.
I fear there will be no "standard" in these installations.

 

[Eric R 1973]

I think I would spend some time looking at Art 625.23