How can EV customers access DC fast charging?
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By | 26 Apr 2022

How can EV customers access DC fast charging?

More people are buying and driving electric vehicles, but one of the main deterrents for potential EV owners is how long it takes to charge them and how can EV customers access DC fast charging? Most EV drivers charge overnight at home, and there are numerous locations to charge such as work garages, grocery shops, and restaurants, but for Americans used to waiting 5 minutes to fill up a tank of petrol, it seems like a long time.

We've learned that electric automobiles are great vehicles because of their widespread use. The issue is that our country's electric vehicle charging infrastructure is in desperate need of repair. We must prepare for DC Fast Charging Profitability as we build out the EV charging station infrastructure.

What is DC Fast Charging?

When it comes to weighing the benefits and drawbacks of electric cars (EVs), charging speed is a critical consideration. The amount of time it takes to charge an electric car can have a considerable impact on a driver's daily routine. To that end, there are now three charging speeds available for electric vehicles: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, often known as DC fast charging (DCFC).

How can EV customers access DC fast charging? DCFC is the fastest of the three levels, making it excellent for long-distance travel with frequent stops for recharging. DCFC could be the key for EV users to take longer road trips and travel further along America's highways in a more practical and time-efficient manner as EV ranges get longer and EV infrastructure becomes more common.

How to differentiate Between Chargers?


Level 1 chargers

They're designed for home use and overnight charging, with a full charge lasting up to a day. They're cheap, widely accessible (from Blink and Amazon, for example), and simple to install in a residential garage. They have a charging speed of roughly 4 miles of range per hour.

Level 2 chargers

These are faster, but they are more expensive to install, and they charge a car at roughly 25 miles per hour. Most companies, multifamily dwellings, parking lots, and public garages use them. The Blink IQ 200 Level 2 chargers are cutting-edge, future-proof, and capable of charging some cars up to 60 miles per hour at 80 amps. 

DC Fast chargers

They're uncommon since they're costly. How can EV customers access DC fast charging? Level 3 chargers are what they're called, while some Tesla chargers also go by that designation. In half an hour, they can frequently charge a car to over 80%. They also cost almost twice as much to use as a Level 2 charger. Some 5-star hotels and restaurants provide them as a complimentary bonus.

How Direct Current Fast Charging operates?

There are three types of DC rapid charging available right now:

  • Combined charging system (CCS)
  • CHAdeMO
  • Superchargers for Tesla

Each one has its charging port connection. CCS is the most popular form, while CHAdeMO is still used by some automakers. Most DC charging stations, on the other hand, may charge through CCS or CHAdeMO from the same unit. Tesla Superchargers are solely compatible with Tesla automobiles, however, with an adaptor, Tesla vehicles may utilize CCS or CHAdeMO fast chargers.

The amount of electricity an EV battery can accept during charging is limited. The maximum power rating, also known as the acceptance rate, is measured in kilowatts (kW) and varies greatly from vehicle to vehicle. Many current EV vehicles have a 50-kW charging rate; however, some later EV models can handle charging up to 270 kW. And, since battery size has grown dramatically since the first EVs were introduced, DC chargers have gotten ever larger outputs to keep up, with some currently capable of up to 350 kW.

Because both EVs and EV chargers have a wide range of power ratings, there may be some uncertainty over compatibility. Fortunately, the vehicle's kW restrictions and the charging station's kW power do not have to match. In other words, a 200-kW charger will operate flawlessly with a 150-kW electric vehicle. The automobile and the charger will "communicate," with the charger only delivering what the car can handle. It would charge at 150 kW in this situation. The car's battery management system oversees monitoring the charging process and allowing the vehicle to accept as much energy as it can.

The same may be said for the opposite situation. A vehicle with a maximum charge rate of 200 kW, for example, may be charged using a 150-kW charger, although at a slower pace than its full capacity. It will charge at 150 kW in this instance as well.

How can EV charger customers access DC fast charging?

When a car battery's charge level exceeds 80%, the DCFC rate lowers dramatically to prevent the battery from being overcharged. As a result of this criterion, numerous EV manufacturers will frequently make claims regarding how long it takes to fast-charge the battery to 80% capacity (rather than 100 percent).

Electric mobility is being propelled ahead by DC charging:

Charge times should be reduced

DC fast chargers power most passenger electric vehicles up to 80% faster than standard AC power charging stations, requiring between 15 and 45 minutes—making charging on the road quick and straightforward.

Obtain a consistent flow of customers

EV drivers are looking for reliable charging stations as the number of EVs on the road grows. EV charging is a great approach for businesses targeting this well-to-do market group to win new consumers and keep them coming back on a regular basis.

Encourage long-term transformation

One of the primary impediments to electric car adoption, range anxiety, is decreased with more DC fast charging stations accessible, presenting your company as a forerunner in the electric mobility shift.

Features in general

Sustainable

Range anxiety is one of the most significant impediments to EV adoption. Your company will be a catalyst in the electric mobility revolution as more DC fast chargers are installed on the road.

Safe

Safe DC charging charges your EV to 80 percent capacity at full speed, then cuts the power to avoid affecting the battery's performance.

Accessible

EV drivers will be able to integrate charging into their daily routines as more DC fast chargers are made available to the public (e.g., charging whilst eating lunch or doing the groceries).

Easy

DC fast charging stations, like their AC charger counterparts, are simple to use simply tap to pay, plugin, charge, and go.

Convenient

You don't have to worry about whether a single charge will be enough for your entire travel because you can charge on the fly.

Fast

Fast charging stations boost charging rates substantially with power outputs ranging from 50 kW to 350 kW.

How can EV customer’s access dc fast charging?

With DC power charging, a variety of factors influence the charging speed of an electric vehicle. However, because the AC/DC converter is housed within the charging station, charging an electric car with DC fast charger is much faster than charging with AC.

The current charge of the battery, the weather conditions (EV batteries charge slower in the cold), the battery's charging capacity, and, of course, the power output all influence the charging speed of a vehicle while using DC charging.

Read more: What is an EV charger and how does it work?

The current charge of the battery:

Charging slows down dramatically for the final 20% of the charge due to steps to extend battery life and guarantee safe charging. Because DC fast charging charges an EV's battery to 80% capacity in a shorter period than AC charging and then slows down for the remaining 20%, the time it takes for your vehicle's battery to reach 100% capacity may be the same as the first 80% charge.

Climate conditions: 

The temperature may affect the EV's charging speed of your electric vehicle depending on where you charge it. Because lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power electric vehicles, are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, they might slow down charging times.

Power output: 

Obviously, the charger's power output will affect charging times. At 100 kW and 350 kW power, 15 minutes of charging time may provide an extra range of 130 km and 480 km, respectively. One hour of charging a passenger car at 50 kW adds 278 kilometers to its range.

Furthermore, when it comes to charging times, we always emphasize that the automobile is the "master." Some cars are capable of handling greater power than others. A Tesla Model 3, for example, can absorb 250 kW, but a Nissan Leaf can only accept roughly 50 kW.

Conclusion

The need for DCFC is growing as electric vehicles become more popular in the United States. DCFC may significantly reduce range anxiety, permit long-distance driving, and encourage individuals who do not have access to home charging, such as apartment and condominium dwellers, to consider purchasing an electric vehicle. DC rapid charging stations give level-3 charge to automobiles, allowing them to go 100 kilometers in 10 to 12 minutes.

Efficiency: DC charging stations are increasingly integrated with renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, enhancing the sustainability of EV charging.