Last week, we wrote about the different types of electric vehicles on the market, from plug-in hybrids to fully-electric vehicles which run on electrical power that is transferred to your car via an external source. But what are these external sources of power? In this article, we will review how electric-vehicle charging functionally works, the 3 basic charging levels available today, and the degree of their accessibility to drivers on the road & at home.
How It Works
All electric vehicles, whether plug-in hybrids or fully-electric, have large, lithium-ion batteries that store direct current (DC) electricity and deliver it on demand. Electrical power from the national grid is transferred to your vehicle using a cord that connects from the car to a power source such as an outlet or another kind of electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE), such as a public charging station.
Most electric vehicles come with an on-board charger which converts the alternating current (AC) power that is taken from a home outlet and converts it to usable, DC power. This makes charging at home a viable option, although public charging is much faster. Public charging stations have their own charger that converts AC power from the national grid to DC power, which it doles out to vehicles.
The 3 Levels of Charging
There are three classifications, or "levels" of charge that an EV can receive, and each provides different standards of power.
Accessibility
Before acquiring an EV, it is important to think about what levels are accessible--or can be made accessible to you. Here is a map from the U.S. Department of Energy that displays all of the public charging stations in the nation.
While public chargers are becoming more and more common along heavy traffic areas and urban settings, they are also the most expensive option for charging. It is also not recommended that you charge your vehicle with rapid charging every time it needs energy, because the fast charge can be tough on your battery.
Some tips for economically-efficient charging:
For more information of charging your electric vehicle, or any other inquiries. please feel free to reach out to Fleet Services at (414) 813-8036 or Send Us An Email! Otherwise, stay tuned for another article on the most promising new EV's of 2020! And, as always, buckle up & drive safe!