When it comes to recharging your electric car, you have a lot of options to do it, depending on what is most comfortable for you according to your daily routines and best suits your needs at all times.
In fact, as you can recharge it at home, at your workplace or at a nearby charging point, you will no longer have to deviate from your path as often happens when you have to refuel at a gas station.
You also have different options when it comes to the speed of reloading. Also, although there are several different charging types and connectors that can seem a bit confusing at first, the process of plugging in an EV for recharging is as quick and easy as recharging your mobile phone.
Recharge at home
This is the most common, convenient and cost-effective way for drivers to recharge their electric vehicles. A garage space is needed, although recharging on residential streets is becoming more and more frequent. You will also need a domestic charging point, if you don't already have one. Depending on where you live, the government usually subsidizes the installation. Once installed, all you have to do is plug in your EV when you get home and voila it will be recharged the next morning.
Reloading at the workplace
Nowadays, more and more companies are offering charging points to their employees, a fact that is favored by government subsidies and increased tax breaks. This is great news for millions of EV drivers who can comfortably recharge their EV at the office during their workday.
Charge anywhere: public charging points
Today there is a wide network of public charging points, especially in urban areas. Some providers offer national coverage, while others specialize in specific regions. Many charging points are free, while others (especially the semi-fast and fast charging points) are paid for. In addition, many gas stations and motorway service stations also offer recharging points for long-distance trips.
Where can I find my closest public charging point?
Wherever you live, you can access applications with special maps that contain aggregated data. There you will find the different providers of charging points in your area. You will always find the closest charging point just by taking a look!
Quick guide on how to recharge an electric vehicle.
Not all cars have the same type of charging connector. But, once you know which one is yours, the rest is very easy. You have to know two connectors: the one that connects to your car and the one that connects to the power supply. The ones you are going to use will depend on the specific model of your EV, where you recharge (at home, at work or at a public charging point) and the type of recharging.
There are three main types (or modes) of charging for an EV: fast, semi-fast, and slow. And four main types of connectors: type 1, type 2, type 2 Combo and CHAdeMO.
Each type of charger is associated with a set of connectors designed to be used with low or high power, and for recharging with AC or DC. However, in practice, the only thing you have to worry about is using a charging point with a connector that fits into your electric vehicle. When buying an EV, the dealer will inform you about the type of domestic charging point that best suits your needs.
How long does it take to recharge an electric car?
Considering the variety of electric cars and charging points on the market, it may not surprise you to learn that the charging time for an EV can also vary. The total charging time will depend on the specification of your electric vehicle and the recharging mode you use. The time it will take to recharge your electric car battery depends on the kilowatts (kW) that the charging point can supply and how many kilowatts the car can accept. The higher the battery voltage, the faster your electric vehicle will charge.
Once you know what types of charging your electric vehicle allows, you can choose between them, depending, for example, if you have a lot of time or that you are in a hurry and only need a quick recharge of the battery.
Comparison of Reload Modes and Speeds.
Slow charge (AC)
Most domestic charging points provide this slow charging speed of 3 to 7 kW.
Depending on the EV's battery technology, it typically takes 8 to 24 hours to fully recharge the battery (an overnight home recharge is ideal).
The recharging equipment recharges through a 220 volt (V) alternating current (AC) socket and requires a specific circuit. Typically a standard household outlet (or type 2 plug) is used for slow charging.
This equipment is standard for EVs and it is not necessary to install recharging equipment.
For this charging mode, you will be given a charging cable when purchasing your electric vehicle. This cable has a standard household plug at one end. At the other end it has a connector that plugs into the vehicle.
Semi-fast recharge (AC).
Workplace charging stations and some public charging points usually fall into this category: 11-22 kW.
Depending on the battery technology of each specific model, a full semi-rapid recharge can last from 3 to 6 hours.
The charging time may increase in cold temperatures.
The recharging equipment recharges through a 220 V AC plug and requires the installation of domestic or public recharging equipment.
The usual semi-fast connectors are: type 1 or type 2 anchored plug.
Errors and failures of home chargers.
The charging point for an electric car is as necessary as having a gas station nearby for a car with an internal combustion engine. But, the "wallbox" have their own problems, inconveniences in recharging that can leave their users without being able to enjoy their electric vehicles. The dream of a silent, efficient mobility free of harmful emissions for health and the environment is full of challenges yet to be solved.
The real key to using the electric car is domestic recharging, that is, when the user arrives at his garage and parks his electric vehicle until the next day.
The cost of installing an individual charging point, in a community or private parking space, can range between 1,000 and 2,000 euros on average, depending on the type of charger, the installation meters, cable section and the work itself.
In most cases, the installation is done from the home's automatic meter or panel.
Many electric car chargers depend on their specific app to function properly, and as we all know, mobile technology is not foolproof and can leave you stranded as it runs out of data or battery coverage. Scheduled charging, to take advantage of the cheapest rate, sometimes does not work as it should. Having to do it manually is a lesser evil, but sometimes necessary.
Most problems focus on the voltage difference between neutral and earth, due to the installation, other existing consumers and the quality of the earth values.
The mobile fleet of electric vehicles in Spain is growing exponentially. There are few recharging points on public roads and it is necessary to increase the refueling centers on motorways to facilitate long-distance travel.
Write a comment