How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?
For charging your electric vehicle at home, there are a lot of different variables. Your charge time may fall between 6-8 hours for partial charge.
*Due to different types and battery sizes of electric cars, these times may vary.
Why do EV’s charge at different rates?
The rating marked on charge points is the maximum continuous rate of charge available to an electric vehicle from the charger. The vehicles Battery Management System (BMS) continuously controls the rate during a charging session and dictates the rate of charge. The rate depends on several factors outside of the control of the charger.
The most common factors effecting the charging rate are:
Make & Model of EV
Some models of EVs are not capable of availing of the full kW available from a charge point but can still obtain a charge suitable to its own maximum charging rate.
State of Charge (SOC) of battery
The rate of charging allowed by the EVs BMS reduces as the battery comes closer to fully charged in order to reduce stress on the battery pack. This reduction for most EV models starts around 50% and charge rate reduces dramatically after 80%. Fast charging is most effective up to 80% SOC.
Temperature of Battery
If the battery is too cold or too hot the EVs BMS will adjust the rate of charge to protect the cells of the battery. Some EVs will activate internal heaters or fans to maintain a temperature between 20 and 25C. The main factors effecting battery temperature is the amount of driving and charging done up to the charging session.
Can I charge my EV at my condo?
We recommend getting in contact with our team when it comes to installing EVSE in a MURB.
Should I have a site survey done before the installation?
Generally, for home EV installations, a site survey will not be required. We would first recommend speaking with a member of our technical team about your options. Following this, if our technician thinks a site assessment would be beneficial, we will organise this. We would generally recommend all businesses conduct a site assessment prior to installation, as the process is more complex than a standard home EV charger installation.
What are the environmental benefits?
Electric cars offer a real opportunity to reduce the carbon output of the transport sector, as they emit zero exhaust pipe emissions. Most people will charge their cars at night when a higher proportion of electricity is generated from wind. The growth in the generation of electricity from renewable sources offers a route towards carbon free motoring.
Is charging with power safe in all weather conditions?
Yes, your electric vehicle has been designed to safely charge, regardless of the weather conditions.
Do I have to always fully charge my vehicle?
No. You can charge your electric vehicle in accordance with your power requirement, and you can also interrupt this process at any time.
When charging can I see the charged amount of electricity?
Whether you can see the charged amount of electricity when charging depends on the respective charging system. Whether it has a data reporting app or a physical meter. These are two ways we can monitor the energy used.
Do I need a home charge station?
Modern EV batteries require level 2 charging to maintain battery health and performance. Unless you can rely on workplace or public charging, you’ll need a level 2 EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) for home use.
How do I end the charging process?
The charging process can always be ended in the vehicle. Some systems can also be stopped through an app or by holding the RFID (Radio-frequency identification) card that is used for authorization, in front of the column again.
What happens if I leave my electric vehicle on the charge box for several days?
The power flow is ended through an integrated charging management system automatically after full charge.
Are additional costs incurred or is damage incurred if I leave the vehicle connected to the power grid after full charge?
As a rule, a lasting power connection after the complete charge, results in no cost or damage whatsoever. In the future, the existing connection will even be usable, for example to preheat the auto in winter, without drawing power from the rechargeable battery of the vehicle. In this case, costs would be incurred.
Why use load management and what is the benefit of load management?
As electromobility on our roads continues to evolve, many electric vehicles need to be charged at the same time. This, in turn, poses challenges to the charging infrastructure for which EV-Solve offers suitable solutions. So, if in the future employees, customers and guests want to load from you, peak times will occur at which these charges take place. In these times, a corresponding amount of charging power should be available. To ensure that the energy supply is problem-free and reliable, intelligent load management is required. It guarantees operational safety and increases the availability of charging points. As long as sufficient power is available for all connected vehicles, they can charge at full power. If the sum of the currents of all used charging points exceeds the specification of the maximum current value, the load management system intervenes. The charging currents for the charging points used are reduced. It is ensured that the value of the adjustable minimum current is not undershot at each charging point. In this way, our systems guarantee high availability and operational safety. In addition, extremely expensive power peaks in the power supply can be avoided.
What’s the difference between battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles?
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are powered solely by electricity. Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are powered by both gasoline and electricity. When a plug-in hybrid vehicle’s battery runs out of electricity, a gasoline engine/generator takes over to supply power. All electric vehicles also produce electricity through a process known as regenerative braking, which uses the vehicle’s electric motor to assist in slowing the vehicle and to recover some of the energy normally converted to heat by the brakes.
How do you recharge an electric vehicle?
Level 1 uses a regular household wall outlet to charge your car. All electric vehicles come with a cord-set that lets you charge using Level 1. This is the slowest speed of charging but is often enough for people who don’t drive very far or for drivers of plug-in hybrids with smaller battery packs.
Level 2 is the most common level of charging. Most electric vehicle drivers will install a Level 2 charging station at home. Level 2 charging stations have similar electrical requirements to a clothes dryer or stove and any licensed electrician can install them. Level 2 charging stations use 240 Volts and 30 Amps to effectively cut your charging time in half. Level 2 charging stations use a plug standard called J1772, which is the standard used by all electric vehicles sold in North America, which means any car can use any level 2 charging station across Canada and the United States. The only exception to this rule is Tesla, which has its own plug standard, but Tesla products come with a J1772 adapter.
Level 3 is the fastest level of charging that will charge your car from empty to 80% in 30-45 minutes. Level 3 charging stations can be found along highways and major travel routes across Canada to allow for inter-city travel or long commutes.
Doesn’t the damage to the environment, done by producing electricity outweigh the benefits of reducing gasoline and diesel consumption?
That depends on the source of electricity. In Canada, we have a very clean electricity grid and electric vehicle drivers in Canada experience significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions. To find out how much an EV generates in greenhouse gases in your province, click here.
What are the types of charging?
Level 1 - Home Charging:
Level 1 charging cords are standard equipment on a new EV. Level 1 charging only requires a grounded (three-prong) 120V outlet and can add about 40 miles of range in an eight-hour overnight charge. Overnight Level 1 charging is suitable for low- and medium-range plug-in hybrids and for all-electric vehicle drivers with low daily driving usage.
Level 2 - Home and Public Charging:
Level 2 charging typically requires a charging unit on a 240V circuit, like the circuit used to power a common electric clothes dryer. The charging rate depends on the vehicle’s acceptance rate and the maximum current available. With a typical 30-amp circuit, about 180 miles can be added during an eight-hour charge. Level 2 chargers are the most common public chargers, and you can find them at places like offices, grocery stores, and parking garages. Public Level 2 chargers have a standard EV connection plug that fits all current vehicles, except for Tesla, which require an adapter.
Level 3 - DC Fast Charging - Public Charging:
DC fast charging is the fastest currently available recharging method. It can typically add 50 to 90 miles in 30 minutes, depending on the station’s power capacity and the make of your EV. Tesla’s Superchargers are even faster, adding up to 170 miles of range in 30 minutes. DC fast chargers are most useful for longer trips, cars in use most of the day (like taxis), and drivers who have limited access to home recharging. DC fast chargers use three different plug types and are not interchangeable. Japanese automakers typically use the CHAdeMO standard; most European and American makers use the CCS system. Tesla’s Supercharging stations use a proprietary connector specific to their vehicles.
Do all electric vehicles have a common plug?
The Society of Automotive Engineers has established a uniform “connector” standard (J1772) for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. Most electric cars currently on the market or due to launch over the next several years comply with this standard. DC fast charging connectors are available in several standards and will vary depending on the make and model you choose.
What is an ICE vehicle?
ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine, like gas, or diesel, etc.
Does my car come with a charger?
All electric vehicles come with a Level 1 EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). These are compact, and lightweight, and fit in the trunk or frunk of your EV.
Why are some EV’s able to charge faster than others?
EVs have on board chargers with different capacities (capabilities). The size of the charger is measured in KW. The smallest level 2 chargers operate at 3.3kw, the largest (Tesla dual chargers) can handle approx. 19.2kw.
Can I use an extension cord?
No, extension cords are a bad idea, and are unsafe to use with EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). Every manufacturer warns against using extension cords.