We partner with approved Smart Home Integration Partners. These local experts in smart home energy will provide support or maintenance for your dcbel system.
dcbel Ara does not support custom integrations with other peripherals. It is sold as a complete solar and blackout bundle.
Smart panels are great for monitoring and controlling energy loads and power generation without needing a secondary subpanel or additional hardware like an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS). There is some redundancy between these and our home load sensor, Tempo, which reduces EV charging loads if your home energy consumption is running high. It should be noted that Tempo’s logic prioritizes home loads – it would never shut off one of your home breakers to service your EV charging, for instance. Some smart panels offer this service, which could be useful to homeowners who have large, non-essential loads like a pool, HVAC, heat pump, etc.
Your system comes with an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) and Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
If you’d like to get dcbel for your home, we encourage you to complete our no obligation reservation form. This will help us identify interested markets as we move forward with our product rollout. After completing the form you’ll be added to our waitlist and receive updates on availability in your country.
dcbel Ara starts at $4,999 USD.
dcbel only connects customers with Smart Home Integration Partners (SHIPs) when their delivery date draws near. We do this in order to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to customer service. Our SHIPs take the time to first understand what you hope to achieve, whether it be a net-zero energy home, partial offset or a minor monthly bill reduction. They will then design a system that fits your home’s unique characteristics, considering factors such as the amount of sunlight your home receives throughout the day, the way it is wired, and the distance between your parking spot and potential installation point, to name a few. I guarantee that your SHIP site visit session will exceed your expectations: they will spend as much time as necessary to ensure all your questions are answered.
A few weeks prior to your planned dcbel delivery, a local SHIP will contact you to book a site visit and review your energy needs.
dcbel Ara can currently fast charge and solar charge any electric vehicle or PHEV.
dcbel Ara comes with a DC fast charging connector for your CCS or CHAdeMO-enabled vehicle. Our Pure DC technology delivers one mile of range per minute of charging while being safer for your battery than Level 3 Fast chargers. Unlike Level 2 chargers, dcbel is not limited by your vehicle’s AC specs and delivers 15.2 kW to your EV. Because Ara is also an inverter for your solar panels, you can charge your EV with solar power.
dcbel Ara can currently fast charge and solar charge a Tesla through the use of an adapter.
Currently, only an EV that is built to the CHAdeMO standard can be used as a backup generator during a power outage. The most popular compatible vehicle is the Nissan Leaf (2013 model or later). As more carmakers enable this feature, dcbel can integrate the bidirectional charging protocol changes via over-the-air updates.
A dcbel unit can be installed and connected in 2-4 hours at a cost starting at $200. However, like any available residential energy product on the market, installation costs and complexity can vary based on where you are located and the unique characteristics of your home, like the age and size of your electrical panel, the location where you want dcbel to be installed, your home’s unique configuration and how it was electrically wired when it was built.
All dcbel installations are performed by dcbel accredited Smart Home Installation Partners (SHIPs) who will also be able to install solar panels and any additional storage capabilities you might benefit from. A few weeks prior to your planned dcbel delivery, a local SHIP will contact you to book a site visit!
We partner with approved Smart Home Integration Partners who are local experts in smart home energy. They can help you size and plan for your solar and EV charging system, as well as install solar panels, wire your home and make sure all your energy needs are met.
Orchestrate Energy OS is the name of the operating system used to run dcbel Ara algorithms. It is the intelligence that allows Ara to leverage your local time-of-use (TOU) rates, factor in micro-weather forecasts to optimize your energy dispatch based on available sunlight, minimize battery degradation, and learn from your consumption patterns to reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint. Orchestrate automates the decision-making for you, so you’ll never have to worry about whether it’s best to use, store, or sell your power.
No, dcbel Ara is designed for a standalone residence with a single electrical service entrance. It should not be installed in a multi-unit dwelling or in a series.
Yes. dcbel Home Energy Stations are typically installed in the garage or on an exterior wall and don’t mind the rain, snow or sun.
It’s true! Think of an EV as a massive backup power source on wheels. With dcbel Ara, you can leverage this incredible resource to power your entire home for dozens of hours during a blackout.
dcbel Ara is our flagship Home Energy Station that contains a DC bidirectional EV fast charger, a Level 2 EV charger, a solar inverter, a stationary battery charger/inverter, and smart home energy management all rolled into one.
Yes, dcbel Ara can charge your EV using energy generated from your solar panels during a blackout. The built-in Automatic Transfer Switch and Uninterruptable Power Supply ensures this process can take place safely.
In order to generate and consume power during an outage, you will need a charged electric vehicle (EV) or home battery in addition to solar panels. The EV or stationary battery will provide the necessary voltage and frequency references for the solar inverter.
Unfortunately, dcbel is not compatible with microinverters like those used in Enphase systems. dcbel performs the DC to AC conversion using its patented digital multilevel inverter technology and thus requires a DC input.
dcbel Ara Home Energy Station already includes a solar inverter. Replacing your current inverter with Ara would allow you to leverage solar EV charging and take advantage of all home energy management benefits provided by the built-in AI.
dcbel Ara can function as a solar inverter for a standard residential solar installation. Your Smart Home Integration Partner will help you with permitting and ensure you have all the equipment you need.
dcbel Ara functions as a home battery charger/inverter. It is compatible with all batteries that have a 400V DC nominal voltage like the LG Chem RESU.
No. dcbel Ara has been designed to work with grid-connected homes.
The present maximum load that dcbel can back up is 7.6kW (32A at 240V).
dcbel can work with a 240V single phase or +120/-120V split phase.
dcbel has two 7.6 kW MPPT inputs, but it also allows for 7.6 kW of AC charging which can be fed by solar or the grid. In total, dcbel can manage at least 22.8 kW (3 x 7.6 kW) continuous and above that for max / peak power.
dcbel’s bidirectional power flow feature is built on an award-winning power electronics innovation called the dcbel Digital Multilevel Inverter. It is recognized as the Best New Approach to Electrical Engineering by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),and it has also been recognized as the world’s only digital bidirectional inverter/rectifier with the most efficient continuous power conversion.
dcbel Ara should be connected to a 120-volt main breaker panel. Installations do require either a critical load panel or smart panel which can arbitrage critical loads.
The capacity is 15.2 kW, and the discharge can be up to 15.2 kW, but may be limited by the battery’s capacity.
dcbel is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with offices in San Francisco and manufacturing sites in the Canadian province of Quebec.
Our goal is to research and develop technology and design products that will help us fulfill our commitment to making clean, efficient, and sustainable energy accessible to all — because everyone in the world deserves energy without compromise.
dcbel is always interested in partnering with qualified resellers and installers. If you are interested in becoming a dcbel partner, please complete the Partner Form on our website and a team member will be in contact with further instructions.