In recent years, the popularity of Electric Vehicles has increased, mostly due to the need to adopt sustainable transportation coupled with its low running costs. With this shift towards EVs (Electric Vehicles), a strong EV charging ecosystem is crucial. In this blog, we will explore the inner workings of EV charging stations and what drivers can expect when charging up their vehicles.
The Basics of EV Charging
The heart of Electric vehicles is its high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. This battery needs to be charged to keep the car moving. Here, Electric vehicle Chargers supply electric energy to the battery.
Let us break down how they work in simpler terms:
- Connection: Once you connect your vehicle to the charger using a compatible charging cord, this is usually a regular electrical grid. It is like plugging in a giant extension cord to charge your car.
- Communication: An Electric vehicle needs DC Current to charge up. So, the EV charger, through a special device inside it called a rectifier, converts the AC electricity from the grid into a DC that can charge the battery. Here, vehicles communicate to ensure compatibility and safety before the charging begins.
Types of EV Charging Stations
All the chargers have the same basic configuration, but the difference lies in the power supplied and the design of the Charging connectors. Before starting to charge, we need to know how much power our EV needs to get charged and which connector is suitable.
Let us understand the three main levels of EV charging stations, each offering different speeds of charging:
- Level 1 Charging: It Utilizes a standard 120-volt outlet, used for slow overnight charging or EVs (Electric Vehicles) with smaller batteries.
- Level 2 Charging: It provides 240 volts of power and is used for significantly faster charging at public charging stations.
- Level 3 Charging (DC Fast Charging): It is the quickest option available, adding up to 100 miles of range in just 15 to 20 minutes. However, only some EV models can accept this level of charging.
Different EV charging stations may have a similar setup, but the charging cord and the vehicle’s outlet can differ. There are four main types of charging ports:
- J1772 Type 1: Common for both Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
- CHAdeMO: Typically used for DC fast charging.
- Combined Charging System (CCS): Another DC fast charging option.
Understanding the EV Charging Process
Once the vehicle and the EV charger at the charging station are connected, the charging process can begin. Here is how it typically works:
- Authentication: To Start charging, public electric vehicle charging stations require authentication, which is taken through multiple mediums like RFID, a mobile app, or contactless payment such as Statiq Wallet.
- Communication: To configure the charging settings, including voltage, current, and charging rate, the EV charger communicates with the electric vehicle. This guarantees effective and secure charging.
- Charging: The charging starts by supplying the needed voltage and current to the EV battery. Here, real-time progress is reflected on the mobile app.
- Autocut: When the battery reaches a predefined level of charge, EV chargers automatically cease charging. Alternatively, the user can manually stop charging.
Conclusion
EV Charging technology is continuously evolving, and its process is getting simplified. As we continue to learn about the EV Charging journey, the shift to Electric Vehicle will become easier.
