Despite being a cleaner, quieter, and less expensive means of transportation, electric vehicles (EVs) are not yet widely used. Even if the electric vehicle (EV) revolution is about to be unleashed, the pace of adaptation remains gradual. The terms “ecosystem” and “cost” summarize the rationale. However, improvements in battery technology and government programs are projected to cut down the price of EVs in the future, making them a more viable option for consumers.
The part of your electric vehicle (EV) that facilitates charging by connecting to your house’s power grid is called a charger. A home EV charger is usually small, discreet, and installed on the wall. When you plug in your vehicle and turn on the power, the Charger takes care of everything else. They may even be placed outdoors if that’s what’s necessary since they are resistant to the elements. These chargers are now intelligent, connecting to your phone through Wi-Fi or a cellular network so you can manage to charge sessions from an app.
Where is the EV Charger in electric cars?
Most electric cars contain onboard converters that can change the Alternating Current (AC) from a conventional socket or a more significant capacity outlet into the Direct Current (DC) needed by the vehicle. You could use any standard 3-pin plug to charge your vehicle, but a dedicated home charging device is the quickest and safest option.
Electric vehicle (EV) owners may choose from three types of EV chargers: slow, quick, and rapid. In-home Charger for electric vehicles (EVs) is more potent. Your car’s battery may be recharged using a 3-pin plug at around 2.3-kilowatt hours. Public Fast Chargers, such as those found at gas stations, may charge at 50 kW or more, allowing your car to be replenished in a matter of minutes rather than hours, as opposed to the hours it could take to charge using a standard home charger. Faster charging times are available at certain public EV Chargers compared to what you’d get at home.
How to choose between 7.4kW, 11kW, and 22kW home EV chargers?
Calculating how long a charger will take to charge your car’s battery is as easy as dividing your battery’s capacity by the Charger’s maximum charge rate. Kilowatt hours are used to quantify the storage capacity of automotive batteries. In one hour, the battery can provide that much juice.
Electrical power is measured in watts, and one thousand watts is a kilowatt.
These kilowatts indicate the maximum amount of power a charger can safely provide to a car in one hour. 7.4-kilowatt hours (kW) is the amount of energy needed to fully charge a car in an average home’s Charger in an hour. So, for simplicity’s sake:
- If a car has a 74kW battery and is being charged by a 7.4kW Charger, the whole process will take around 10 hours.
- If you have a 50 kW car, it will only take 5 hours and 15 minutes to charge it using an 11 kW EV charger of a Level 2 charging station.
- An electric vehicle gets a “rapid” charge from a charger of 7kW to 22kW in around 4 to 6 hours.
- Finally, a “fast charger,” defined as 50 and 120 kilowatts, will fully charge your vehicle in about an hour.
Why is slow charging suitable for your EV?
Slow charging is preferable when charging an electric vehicle overnight at home because of the extra time it provides. Electric vehicles must be plugged in for more extended periods than conventional vehicles. They need a more significant current, both of which may be more effectively met by a dedicated charging station.
A complete charge on a 3 kW unit will typically take roughly 10-14 hours. However, this may vary depending on the charging unit and the charged EV. It may take much longer to fully charge the battery of a vehicle with a bigger battery, particularly if the battery is completely depleted. Although you may charge your EV slowly with a regular 3-pin connection, you should invest in a specialist EV charging device installed by a professional.
Why fast and rapid charging your EV need?
Fast charging is a lot more time-efficient than standard charging. It’s the best method to charge an electric vehicle while sitting idle, and it’s a great option if you’re going to be out anyhow and planning to keep your car parked for a long time.
To quickly recharge a vehicle, rapid chargers employ either a direct or alternating current of high power. Twenty to thirty minutes is all it takes to charge an electric automobile 80%. You can’t have one in your house because of the enormous electricity they use. You may instead locate them in rest areas along major highways and other public charging hubs.
It is essential to mention here that frequent rapid DC charging may shorten the life of lithium-ion batteries. However, the good news is that EVs have built-in power limits to prevent the battery from being overworked. And if the vehicle detects that the battery is being charged too quickly, it will immediately reduce the charging current.
