Whether you’re considering EV Chargers for your fleet, or you’re planning on purchasing one personally, the process of finding the right charger can be daunting. One of the greatest barriers to this rapidly growing technology understands how it works, and what questions to ask when choosing a supplier. Here’s a quick guide on how to get up to speed!
Charging Standards
There are three main charging standards in use today: the CCS (Combined Charging System) standard, the CHAdeMO standard, and the Tesla Supercharger system. The majority of Ev Chargers on the market support at least one of these standards, but some are only compatible with a single standard.
Plug Types
There are several types of electrical plugs used for EVs, each with its own pros and cons. The most common is the J1772, which you’ve probably seen at a charging station. It’s what Tesla uses as well.
CHAdeMO is another common EV charging plug type, and it’s the one used by Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles (and some others). The CHAdeMO standard has been around since 2008 and it offers a 50 kW charging capacity at high speeds to reduce waiting times at public stations.
CCS (Combined Charging System) is another standard that can deliver up to 150 kW of power; it was developed by several car companies including BMW Group, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz), Ford Motor Company, General Motors (GM), Volkswagen Group, and Audi AG
Charging Power System
A charging power system is a power system that supplies electric energy to an electric vehicle. The charging power system consists of the charger, cable, and plug. An EV charging station usually includes more than just the cables and plugs; it also has an AC-to-DC converter installed inside.
The charger converts AC (alternating current) from the grid or DC (direct current) from solar panels into DC used by the battery pack to charge it. This unit takes care of all safety aspects during charging such as temperature monitoring, overload protection, overvoltage protection, reverse current protection, etc., making sure your car stays safe while being charged.
The cable transports high voltage electricity between vehicle and socket at maximum safety so you don’t have to worry about anything happening while you are fuelling!
Charger Location
Charger location is one of the most crucial things to consider when installing an EV charger. You must make sure that your charging station is easily accessible by customers, and also in a safe area where people can see it. Any signage you have will also need to be visible so that people know what type of vehicle they’re looking at, or if there’s an available space in which they can park their vehicle. The charger should also be placed near restrooms, water fountains and other amenities to help make your customers feel welcome while they are waiting for their cars to be charged.
Charger Network
The network is comprised of several parts: the charging station and power source, a plug that connects to your vehicle, and an app that communicates with the plug to keep track of how much power you’re using.
Having A Multivendor Supplier is Important
Having a multivendor supplier is important because it allows you to have more choices. For example, when you are looking for an EV charger, you might want to find out how many different types of chargers there are on the market and how much each one costs. With multiple vendors, this task becomes easier than with only one vendor.
Conclusion
Understanding how EV chargers work and how they differ from each other will help you make an informed decision when buying a new one. Find out more about the different types of chargers on the various online platforms.