EV Charging Basics

How fast is DC fast charging?

Depending on the EV, DC fast chargers can currently produce a 10-80% charge for a 300-mile range battery in approximately 20 minutes (~540 miles of electric drive per hour of charging).

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What is the input voltage for a DC fast charger?

Currently available DC fast chargers require inputs of at least 480 volts and 100 amps, but newer chargers are capable of up to volt and 500 amps (up to 360 kW).

How much do DC fast chargers cost?

A CALeVIP Cost Data analysis found that the unit cost per charger for rebate recipients ranged from a minimum of $18,000 to a maximum of $72,500. The mean and median unit cost per charger was $29,135 and $23,000, respectively.

In addition to higher equipment costs, DC fast charger installations require a commercial electrician from the initial planning phase due to the electrical load and wiring requirements.

Is a DC fast charger the right EV charger for me?

DC fast chargers are the highest-powered EV chargers on the market. They often are used as range extenders along major travel corridors for long-distance trips and in urban environments to support drivers without home charging or very high mileage drivers. At current charging speeds, they are ideal for places where a person would spend 30 minutes to an hour, such as restaurants, recreational areas and shopping centers.

It is important to note that not every EV model is capable of DC fast charging, and therefore, they cannot be used by every EV driver. Further, DC fast chargers have multiple standards for connectors, whereas there is only one common standard for Level 1 and 2 charging (SAE J). DC fast chargers have three types of connectors: CHAdeMO, CCS and Tesla, though CCS is increasingly becoming the industry standard.

Whether you want to charge your electric car at home, at work or at a public station, one thing is important: the connection of the charging station must match the connection of your car. To be precise, the cable connecting the charging station to your car must have the right plug at both ends. It is not difficult at all, but it is important. The wrong plug on your cable will not allow you to charge, but remember that there are always adapters available.

Type 1 and type 2 plugs for AC charging

There are four types of plugs: two for alternating current (AC), with which you can charge up to 43 kW, and two for direct current (DC), with which you can theoretically fast charge up to 350 kW.

Let's start with AC charging. There are two types of AC plugs: type 1 is a single-phase plug and is often used on EVs and the first PHEVs from America and Asia. It allows you to charge your electric car at a rate of usually 3.7 kW. The maximum is 11 kW.

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Type 2 plugs can allow more current to flow through the maximum three-phase cables. Up to a maximum of 43 kW alternating current. The maximum charging speed is 11 kW in practically all home connections. 22 kW is sometimes found at public charging stations, but then the electric car has to be able to cope.

Two types of plugs for DC

There are two types of plugs for DC charging. Firstly, CHAdeMO: this fast charging system was developed in Japan and enables very high charging speeds, as well as bi-directional charging. Also known as bi-directional charging. By the way, did you know that bi-directional home chargers are on the rise? Asian car manufacturers supply electric cars that are compatible with a CHAdeMO plug. The maximum DC charging rate of CHAdeMO is often 100 kW. By the way, an EV with a CHAdeMO connector always has a separate AC connection.

And then there is the CCS plug: the CCS plug is an improved version of the type 2 plug, with two extra power contacts for fast charging. This plug supports AC and DC charging. This means that you do not need two separate connections as with CHAdeMO. The charging speeds of CCS are also much higher. The new Hyundai and Kia cars, as well as Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT can already achieve charging speeds of 200 to 300 kW. CCS can currently deliver a maximum of 350 kW to an electric car. 

Fixed cable

In Europe, the type 2 AC charger with a three-phase plug is the standard, and most charging stations have a type 2 connection. But beware, some charging stations have a fixed cable. A fixed cable can be very useful in places where you always charge the same car, such as at home or at a fixed parking place at work. The advantage is that you do not need to carry a cable in your car. If you charge your car at a public charging station with a fixed cable, you should check whether the connected cable fits your car's charging socket.

Examples

Let's look at two short examples. If you live in Europe and have a European car like the Renault ZOE, you can charge it at a public station using a charging cable with type 2 plugs at both ends (type 2 to type 2) with a maximum of 22 kW. That's the maximum the Renault ZOE can handle on alternating current (AC).

And what about if you live in Europe and drive an Asian car like the Nissan LEAF? Then you'll need a cable that connects the Type 2 connector of the charging station to the Type 1 charging socket of your car (Type 2 to Type 1). The maximum charging speed is then 7.4 kW.

Remember that there are always cables with the right plugs for you, but make sure you buy the right ones.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Type 2 Portable EV Charger.