A Guide to Ev Charging Speeds: Slow, Fast, and Rapid Charging Explained
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By | 30 May 2022

A Guide to Ev Charging Speeds: Slow, Fast, and Rapid Charging Explained

One of the most often asked questions by EV owners is how long it takes to charge their vehicle. After all, nobody likes to have to wait for their battery to recharge before they can race to the store.

This article examines the three primary EV fast-charge stations choices for EV drivers: slow, quick, and rapid. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each charging technique, as well as the amount of energy used and typical charging time.

There is a simple technique to estimate how long it will take to charge your EV. Simply examine the power rating of the charger you are using. A charger of around 3 kW will provide a gradual charge, averaging 10 to 14 hours. In contrast, a charger of 7kW to 22kW will provide your EV chargers with a "rapid" charge, typically in 4 to 6 hours. Lastly, a 50kW – 120kW charger is considered a "fast charger" and will provide a complete charge in around one hour.

Here is further information about each:

1. Charging an electric vehicle slowly

Slow chargers may take a bit longer, but they are perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to charge an electric vehicle.

Slow charging is appropriate for usage at home, and businesses often provide slow charging stations.

Slow charging devices are referred to as "untethered." Therefore, you will need a wire to connect your vehicle to the charging station. The majority of EVs come with a wire that simply plugs into a standard outlet and has a 3kW charging rate.

Location-dependent slow charging rates vary between 2.3 kW and 3 kW. Typically, while charging at home with a 3-pin outlet, your vehicle will use 2.3 kW. (10A). However, lamp-post chargers are typically rated at 5.5 kW, however, you may sometimes see 3 kW lamp-post chargers.

2. Charging times with a sluggish charge

For slow charging, the time required to reach 100 percent might vary based on the charging unit and the electric vehicle being charged; however, a full charge on a 3 kW unit will normally take between 10 and 14 hours. And for vehicles with a bigger battery, charging might take considerably longer, particularly if the battery is completely depleted.

Why would you prefer to charge your EV slowly?

Slow charging is the optimal method for overnight charging an EV at home since it takes a little longer. And although it is possible to slow charge your car using a conventional 3-pin plug, it is preferable to have a certified installation install a specialized EV charging station. Because EVs must be plugged in for a considerable amount of time and need a larger current, a good charging device can manage the heavy usage more effectively.

Rapidly charging an electric vehicle

EV fast-charge stations are superior to slow charging and are rightfully labeled as such. You may find these chargers in a variety of metropolitan areas, including supermarket parking spaces, shopping malls, movie theatres, retail and hospitality locations - wherever you would park and leave your vehicle for a long.

You may also have dc fast chargers installed at your residence, and you can use a government grant to assist pay for the installation.

Charging times for rapid charging

A 7kW rapid charger can charge your electric vehicle's battery in around 4 to 6 hours, whereas a 22kW device will complete the task in a couple of hours.

The majority of fast chargers are cable-free, while some residential and office units have cords.

If your charger is tethered (i.e., a cable is connected), you may only charge passenger vehicles that are compatible with that connection type. This is due to the kind of plug used at the cable's end. A Type 1 tethered cable may be used by a first-generation Nissan Leaf, but not by a second-generation Leaf, which has a Type 2 input. 

Why pick quick charging for your electric vehicle?

Fast charging is much faster than slow charging. And if you're already going someplace and want to keep your EV parked for a while, this is the best option for charging your EV.

However, recent research indicates that frequent rapid DC fast-charging stations might shorten the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries. The good news is that EVs automatically restrict power to their full capacity to save battery wear. In addition, the rate of charge is automatically reduced if the vehicle determines that the battery is receiving too much power too often.

Rapid charging of an electric vehicle

Fast chargers use a high-power direct or alternating current to rapidly recharge a vehicle. They can fully charge an electric vehicle to 80 percent capacity in 20 to 30 minutes (with the final 20 percent usually taking another 20 minutes). Excellent velocity!

It is important to note that they use an enormous amount of energy, thus you cannot have one installed in your home. Instead, they are located at highway service EV fast-charge stations and other public locations charge hubs.

Rapid AC chargers provide 43 kW (three-phase, 63A) of power and adhere to the Type 2 charging standard.

Charge periods for quick charging

Quick chargers can charge an EV battery to 80 percent in as short as 20 minutes, although a typical new stations EV would need around one hour using a normal 50 kW rapid charging station.

Ultra-rapid DC fast-charging station chargers use up to 100 kW of energy (or sometimes even more). Despite the increasing battery capacity of modern EVs, this new generation of EV fast-charge stations helps to reduce recharging times.

Even for EVs with a big battery capacity, charging time may be as quick as 20 to 40 minutes for electric vehicles capable of absorbing 100 kW or more. And even if your EV can only absorb a maximum of 50 kW DC, you can still utilize EV fast-charge stations since the power is limited to what your vehicle can manage. 

Why pick quick charging for your electric vehicle?

Using a quick charger, 15 minutes of charging will often provide 30 to 40 miles of range, which is frequently plenty to bring you home. This makes them very handy, eliminating "range anxiety" and making the concept of owning an EV more attractive to a large portion of the population.

Longer trips are likewise more likely to need the usage of a quick charger than shorter ones... Therefore, it is an excellent time to stretch your legs, get a hot beverage, and use the restroom while you wait.

All quick charge devices are tied to the unit, thus you must ensure your EV is compatible with the desired charger. In addition, quick charging is exclusive to automobiles having rapid-charging capabilities. The vast majority of quick chargers adhere to either the CHAdeMO or CCS charging standards. Fortunately, they are the most prevalent kinds, so your EV can probably use them.

As the battery nears full charge, the charging rate is lowered to safeguard the battery. This implies that similar to rapid charging, the battery's lifetime is preserved to the greatest extent feasible, even with frequent usage.

Consider purchasing an electric vehicle?

There are several reasons to purchase an electric vehicle. And we are here to help you make it happen! Check out the EV Everywhere pricing, which provides 100 percent renewable power at home and on the road1. It is intended to reduce your carbon footprint at home by around one tonne per year.

The following is included with EV Everywhere:

• Economy 7 overnight charge is inexpensive

• Two years of fixed energy rates to safeguard against energy price increases

• Complimentary Polar Plus network membership (including free charging at 80 percent of their 100 percent renewable energy charging stations)

• 100% renewable power at home • An annual tree planting for each member

Conclusion

According to several consumer surveys, the adoption of electromobility is highly dependent on the availability and length of the charging process; thus, high-power DC charging stations are the solution to these market demands. A typical EV charging station can already charge its battery to 80 percent capacity in less than 10 minutes. This is analogous to refilling a standard automobile with an internal combustion engine. As the industry leader in power electronics, Infineon assists you in realizing solutions for energy-efficient DC fast charging. Profit from one of the most extensive, ready-to-implement, one-stop product and design portfolios on the market, covering the whole product spectrum, including power conversion, microcontrollers, security, auxiliary power supply, and communication.

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