By Parker The Electric Vehicle can seem intimidating to many but they can be charged just like your smartphone. Both have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that need to be plugged into an external source for recharging. Battery electric vehicles [BEV] and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles [PHEVS] operate on an electric motor powered by a battery and ICE [internal combustion engine].
EVs are charged with AC [alternating current] or DC [direct current] type of electricity. AC is the common one that you get from utility providers via the grid, while DC is a high voltage variant. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of an EV is designed to store DC electricity. Therefore they need a charger on board to convert the AC into DC.
EV connector types
The common kind of EV charger is the Type 2 connector that can handle AC up to 22.1 kWh and if it is configured with a CCS connector it can deal up to 350 kWh. Ultimately, it will depend on your EV model. The majority of PHEVs can handle a maximum AC speed of up to 7.2 kWh. Jucer brand offers the Type 2 portable charger designed for NZ and AU outlets.
How to charge your EV?
80% of EV owners across the world charge at home. In Australia, EV owners connect the batteries to a standard 240V wall socket. It is called the ‘Level 1’ charging method, which is the slowest way to charge. ‘Level 2’ is the AC charging done using a wall box charger installed at home or the public charging point.
The wall box charger charges EV 3X faster than Level 1 by increasing electricity flow speed from 2.4 to 7.2 kWh. The public charging station also offers 7.2 kWh speed. Some stations offer a high output of up to 22 kWh, which is suitable for the Tesla Models X and S.
The ‘Level 3’ is compatible with fast or superchargers that deliver charging speeds up to 25 kWh to 350 kWh. In Australia, 3000+ public charging stations are offering DC fast chargers over 470 kWh. The federal and state government of Australia is investing in EV charging infrastructure. It is preparing for the EV that is growing in demand as the year’s pass.
How much time does it take to charge an EV?
If a standard wall socket is used then for every one hour of charge you get 10 km of driving distance. If public AC charger is used then expect 15 km of driving distance for one hour of charge time if the charging rate is 3.3 to 3.7 kWh, 25 km if the charging rate is 6.6 kWh, and 30 km if the charging rate is more than 7 kWh. For DC fast charger for 10 minutes charging at 175 kWh expect a 50 km driving distance.
What is the cost of EV charging?
- Level 1 at-home charging costs – $0.15to $0.30 per kWh
- Level 2 AC public charges costs – $0.20 to $0.25 per kWh
- Level 3 DC fast chargers costs – $0.30 – $0.60 per kWh
Several EV charging companies offer specific electricity amounts for free!