EV Charging Stations
Electric cars have become a more common sight on US roads. One of the biggest concerns for electric vehicle owners is knowing when, where, and how to charge their vehicles. Charging your electric car requires a little more forethought. However, with the growing demand for alternatives to gas-powered cars, public EV charging stations are becoming a more common phenomenon.
Understanding EV Charging Stations
In the simplest case, an EV charger takes power from a 240V outlet and supplies that power to the vehicle. The car is charged like any other device that you charge by plugging into a wall charger. Electric vehicles (EVs) can be charged in a variety of ways, depending on location and requirements.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructures or EV charging stations are of different types and designed for different applications. EV charger specifications and standards vary from country to country based on the EV models available on the market and the characteristics of the power grid.
Know Your Electric Vehicle Charger
Just like any other chargeable device, electric cars require an EV charger to keep the battery full. Therefore, whether you own an EV or you intend to add a public EV charging station to your commercial premises, you need to know how the EV charger works.
Three basic types of EV battery charging are available. They include:
Level 1
This is a standard 120-volt household socket. It takes the longest and is primarily practical for plug-in hybrids, which have significantly smaller batteries (about 8.8 to 18.1 kWh), or for gradually topping up an EV when there are no other charging options available.
Level 2
This requires 240 volts, which is quite common for most public charging stations or in properly specialized home charging units. Every EV has a Level 1 and Level 2 onboard charger, with the majority having a rating of 6.6 or 7.2 kW. Level 1 and Level 2 are both alternating current, and the higher the number, the quicker the battery can charge.
Level 3
Fast charging is only available at public charging stations and uses direct current (DC) at 480 volts or more. Due to the high installation costs, level 3 EV charging stations are still relatively uncommon even though they are developing quickly.
There are several sorts, including CCS for the majority of EVs, CHAdeMO for the Nissan Leaf and a few others, and Tesla’s exclusive Superchargers. One problem manufacturers and charging providers face is a lack of uniformity.
It is important to note that fast charging is not available on all EVs, as it requires a separate charging connector. The majority of fast-charging locations offer electricity at a 50 kW rate, although more recent ones are 100 to 150 kW, and a few can deliver more than 250 kW. Depending on the model, the majority of EVs that can accept rapid charging allow 50 to 150 kW. The energy flow is reduced to fit the vehicle’s capacity if the charging station can give more power than the automobile can handle.
Public EV Charging Stations
There are a few things to consider if you are thinking about parking next to EV charging stations. For starters, the station might be offered free of charge, might call for a key FOB or other access devices, or might demand credit card payment—much like other parking scenarios where you might only be permitted to park in a lot for free if you’re a customer or might have to pay as per the parking meter at certain times and on certain days. How to utilize the charging station should be made clear by the gadget and any displayed notices.
EV Charging Stations and Your Vehicle
In most cases, unless you have a Tesla or are looking to use a Tesla EV charging station, the J1772 connector is standard for most EVs. Think of it as a charging cable for your device. If you have a USB-C cable, but your device supports mini-USB, you’ll need an adapter to charge your device using a USB-C cable.
Tesla uses a proprietary type of connector from the device to the vehicle, so Tesla chargers cannot be used in non-Tesla vehicles, and non-Tesla chargers cannot be used in Tesla vehicles without an adapter.
Adapters are available and can be purchased online, but it’s important that you be aware of the type of charger they’re parked on. Additionally, commercial companies looking to provide EV charging stations on their property or in parking lots should understand that buying only Tesla chargers will put many EV drivers out of service.
Enerform Solutions for Efficient Charging
Enerform Solutions offers industry-leading financing options to help you install electric vehicle charging stations on your property. Our funding is exclusive and not common in the market. So act now while it’s still available. If you need more information, or help, about EV charging stations, please contact us today.