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By | 02 May 2022

Electric Vehicle DC Charger Types, Slow, Fast, faster

Today we will talk about How fast does a dc fast charger charge? Continue to read below!

EV charging infrastructure is being developed by electric utilities, oil and gas firms, automakers, and pure-play operators.

These companies may expand their company by providing solutions for diverse charging behaviors, such as charging at home, at work, and on the road. Slow AC, Fast DC charging, Rapid, and Ultrafast charging refer to the different rates and power outputs that electric cars can charge at.

Drivers will have to change their habits from filling up their gas tanks every week or two to "topping up" a charge – many of them daily – as part of the transition to electric transportation. As a result of this transformation, electric vehicle charging may now take place everywhere and at any time, transforming any EV charging station into a filling station.

Businesses are beginning to see the advantages of offering to charge for light-duty EVs, such as passenger cars and delivery vans, at their facilities as more electric vehicles (EVs) reach the roads. The numerous sorts of EV charging methods available, as well as the diverse demands they meet, might be a little less obvious at times.

How fast does a DC fast charger charge?

Speed of charging

Your EV is constantly communicating with the DC fast charging station to decide how much electricity to draw while charging. Finally, the ambient temperature (extremes are generally worse), battery temperature (a warm battery will be able to accept the most power), the current state of charge of the battery (lower is better), charging rate of the station, and an acceptance rate of your vehicle all influence how quickly your EV charges.

Levels of EV Charging

Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging (sometimes known as "DC Fast Charging" or "DCFC" for short) are the three categories of electric vehicle (EV) charging. They differ in terms of voltage, electrical power, and current output, as well as the type of connection utilized and the distance a vehicle can go after its battery has been charged for an hour. Chargers with a voltage of 110 or 120 volts are known as Level 1 chargers. They employ a J1772 socket, sometimes known as a "J-plug," to collect power from a conventional power cable hooked into a domestic outlet and transfer it to the car. Level 1 chargers deliver 2 to 6.5 miles of range per hour of charging, making them less than ideal for regular commuters who don't have access to another charging station. Level 1 chargers deliver 2 to 6.5 miles of range per charging hour, making them less than ideal for regular commuters who don't have access to another charging source. 

Level 2 chargers work with 208 and 240 volts and can give up to 80 miles of range per hour, depending on the charger's maximum power supply and the vehicle's maximum charge capacity. They charge up to ten times quicker than Level 1 chargers, giving any motorist who can charge for at least a couple hours a day a substantial amount of range. Most Level 2 chargers connect to a car through J-plugs, but they require a 208- or 240-volt circuit to take current from. Although most workplaces, multi-unit homes, and public spaces will require a residential service upgrade, most workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, and public spaces can readily tolerate the higher voltage required. At these types of sites, Level 2 chargers are typically placed as permanently installed charging stations, allowing several EV drivers to park and recharge. 

How fast does a DC fast charger charge? DC charging stations are the most powerful and quickest chargers available, with a charging range of up to 1,200 miles per hour with a voltage range of 400 to 900 volts. In most cases, an 85 percent battery charge may be obtained in about 30 minutes. The Combined Charging System (CCS), which may also handle Level 1 and Level 2 charging, is the most popular plug type for DC Fast Chargers. Some EV models, such as Tesla's automobiles, require specialized types of DC Fast Chargers, such as the Tesla Supercharger (though an adapter makes using other types of DC Fast Chargers possible). Drivers who don't have a lot of time to charge their vehicles would benefit from DC Fast Chargers, which are critical in reducing "range anxiety" among new EV owners who are concerned about running out of power while on the road. 

Types of EV charger

Slow AC charging

Is commonly utilized in residences, multi-dwelling units, and fleet charging places where cars have enough time to charge. The car takes about 5-8 hours to completely charge. The AC is converted to DC and fed straight into the battery using a converter.

Electric vehicles are charged "on the road" via DC fast, rapid, and ultrafast charging.

DC Fast Charging

How fast does a DC fast charger charge? The "first" of three faster ways to charge an electric vehicle is DC fast charging, which restores 80 percent of the battery's capacity in 30 minutes, allowing the vehicle to go up to 120 kilometers.

DC rapid charging bypasses grid power and injects charge directly into the battery through an AC/DC converter. DC Level 1 can deliver up to 80kW at 50-1000vDC, whereas DC Level 2 can deliver up to 400kW at 50-1000vDC.

Quick Charging

Every new electric vehicle charging system claims to be the quickest. Rapid charging is quicker than DC fast charging, although it is not as quick as ultrafast charging. How fast does a DC fast charger charge? Rapid charging will increase range by roughly 200 kilometers in 15 minutes. To extend the life of the vehicle's battery, it will charge up to 80%. Rapid charging is used for "on-the-go" charging and is available in two varieties.

Charging in a flash

The EV equivalent of filling up an internal combustion engine tank takes minutes with ultrafast charging. By charging for 15 minutes, you may add almost 400 kilometers to your journey. The battery life must be carefully configured to receive rapid charging to "accept" it. The battery is only partially charged while using ultrafast charging; the remaining EV battery is charged at a slower rate.

Software that automatically adjusts charge time depending on the "least stressful" charge on the battery for the period permitted must be linked with ultrafast charging hardware.

Is it possible for any electric vehicle to utilize a quick or rapid charger?

·         The quick answer is no because it is dependent on the type of connector used by your vehicle. The Type 2 connection is standard for most electric automobiles; however, older models may have a Type 1 or Commando connector. These can be found on certain AC fast chargers, although they are significantly less common.

·         Although your automobile may not be able to recharge at the highest charging speed allowed by each device, most AC and DC fast chargers use a Type 2 connection. The highest charging capacity of the entry-level Renault ZOE, for example, is 22kW. Connecting to a higher-capacity charger won't get you any closer to full charge; rather, the car will limit the amount of power it gets to protect the battery.

·         The maximum charging capacity of your electric car, as well as the connector types it takes, determine whether it can use DC quick charging. CCS and CHAdeMO are the two types of connectors used by rapid DC chargers. The latter is less frequent, appearing on just a few vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius Plug-In, and Kia Soul EV, among others

Read more: A guide to electric car home charging and charger installation

Is it more costly to utilize rapid and ultra-quick chargers than fast chargers?

Yes, in most situations. Quick and ultra-rapid charging tariffs are frequently more than slow or fast charging; however, pricing might vary based on whose charging network a given rapid charger is managed by, much as they do with gasoline or diesel.

Will my battery be harmed if I charge it too quickly?

Lithium-ion batteries, like any other type of battery, degrade with time in electric automobiles and plug-in hybrids. While laptop and mobile phone batteries can be destroyed if charged at high power for long periods, electric vehicle batteries will not. This is because manufacturers have included safety features to protect against harm caused by repeated quick or fast charging. For example, if the automobile detects that too much power is being delivered to the battery too frequently, the rate of charging can be immediately reduced.

Conclusion about How fast does a dc fast charger charge?

The electric grid provides alternating current (AC) electricity, whereas EV batteries store DC power. When you utilize Level 1 or Level 2 charging, your electric vehicle gets AC power electricity, which must be converted to DC before being stored in the battery. Your electric vehicle has an inbuilt charger for this purpose. DC fast charging, on the other hand, delivers DC power output directly to your EV's battery, with the AC-to-DC conversion taking place in the charging station before the electrons reach your car. As a result, DC fast charging may charge significantly quicker than Level 1 or Level 2 charging.

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