I’m a car expert – charging your EV can be excruciatingly slow but there’s a faster way
AN expert has revealed ways drivers can charge their electric vehicles without excruciating wait times.
Charging times for electric vehicles (EVs) has become a growing concern for drivers across the country.
Drivers across the country have complained of being stranded for hours while they wait for their EVs to charge.
Not now an expert from Autocar website has revealed ways in which drivers can avoid waiting hours on end for their cars to charge up.
Slow charging
This is the method that allows drivers to charge up their EV’s at home and at public charging points running at about 3kw.
The downside is that it can take up to 36 hours to charge a large EV, and even around 12 hours top power up a Nissan Leaf.
Manufacturers recommend using this method as a top-up when the car is parked up at night.
But it should be relied upon as the main charging option, because of the long wait times involved.
Fast charging
This charging method uses an alternating currents supply that runs at either 7kw or 22kw.
Even at the lower 7kw rate the method is twice as quick as the slow charge method. A Nissan Leaf with a 40kW battery to be fully recharged in about six hours.
The 22kw involves a three phase electricity supply which most British homes do not have.
Rapid charging
Rapid charging units are found at many motorway service stations around the UK. The units charge at levels varying from 50kw to 350kw, and can potentially provide a decent top of power within 20 minutes.
A 50kw charging unit can power up a Nissan Leaf to 80% in less than an hour.
However, not all EV’s are compatible with this level of charging. Entry level EVs require an upgrade which enables them to be charged at 100kw. Luxury EVs made by Porsche and Audi can cope with a 270kW charge.
Top up charging
This when a driver tops up whenever he is near a charging point. For example he will put the car on charge when he goes shopping or gets a coffee. The charge tops ups the battery rather than waiting for it to go dead.
Other factors
There are also a host of other factors that influence the charge times of a car, beyond the charging unit being used. The main factor here is the size of the battery inside the EV. The larger the battery, the longer it will take to charge.
There have been growing reports over recent months that demand for EVs is declining in the UK amid concerns over pricing and charging.
One trade body warned that drivers were now losing interest in EVs due to the number of technical issues surrounding them.