The NSW Battery 'Rebate' Incentive is Now Available: Save on Your First Battery
The NSW Battery 'Rebate' Incentive is Now Available: Save on Your First Battery
With the ongoing boom of electric vehicle adoption throughout Australia, we thought a quick overview of everything you need to know about EV charging would be useful.
Let's explore the basic Electric Vehicle charging types such as the different types of EV charging, plug types, and more!
Firstly, there are different types of electric vehicle chargers that determine the speed that your electric vehicle can charge at. The industry calls the types Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging.
Level 1 chargers are the slowest and most basic type of charger. They use a standard 240-volt outlet and can
take up to 20 hours to fully charge an EV.
(2.4kW)
Level 2 chargers are dedicated installed chargers that offer faster and more convenient charging than level
1. This level includes Zappi, Tesla Gen 3 etc.
(7-22kW)
DC fast charging is the fastest type of charger and can charge an EV in as little as 15 minutes.
These are typically found in public EV charging stations.
(50kW+)
Businesses like the NRMA and the Australian Government have been investing in installations of public electric vehicle stations all over Australia, helping support the charging infrastructure for EV owners.
This ongoing investment allows for reduced range anxiety, and offers more flexible options for those who need a quick top up.
In addition to the three main types of EV chargers (Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging), there are also different types of charging ports that are used by EVs. Plug types vary between AC and DC plugs, which depend on the country.
AC plugs are generally more installed for residential properties and range from 7-22kW of power. DC plug types on the other hand are typically used more for public and fleet charging as the DC to DC reduces limitations of the onboard electric vehicle inverter.
When charging from your home (AC), electric vehicles will have various sized inverters to convert that AC power to the batterys's DC power. This is a factor of limitation for AC EV charging, so that is why DC charging is better suited to fast-charging.
This AC charging plug has a two-pin design and is commonly used in North American and Japanese EVs. It's used
for Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
The type 2 plug has a seven-pin design and is the standard in European EVs.
It includes 7 pins for three-phase charging and is used for Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging.
This AC charging plug is used by EVs in China. It's similar in design to Type 2, but with a different
configuration of pins. GB/T plugs are used for Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging.
Tesla vehicles are equipped with the Tesla Type 2 charger that can be used with a Tesla-specific adapter
for AC charging.
This DC charging plug is used by some Japanese and European EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. CHAdeMO plugs are used for DC fast charging and can provide a significant amount of range in a short amount of time.
Similar to the AC Type 2, the CCS type 2 port includes additional pins for fast charging and is
compatible with Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging.
CCS Type 2 is also known as CCS2.
This DC charging plug is used in European EVs.
This DC charging plug is used by EVs in China. It's similar in design to CCS Type 2 but with a different
configuration of pins. GB/T plugs are used for Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging.
Tesla vehicles are equipped with a proprietary DC fast charging plug that can only be used with Tesla
Chargers (Tesla Gen 3 Wall connector & Superchargers).
Each country around the world will have their own EV Charging standards and main plug types.
Australia uses primarily the Type 2 EV for AC and the CCS Type 2 for DC. There are also some CHAdeMO vehicles.
As the first company to popularise Electric Vehicles, the EV population mostly consist of older EV's that still use Type 1 connectors for AC, and CCS Type 1 for DC. Type 2 is being rolled out in replacement.
Japan mostly uses Type 1 connectors for their AC EV Charging, along with a combination of CCS Type 2 and CHAdeMO connectors.
Europe's primary connectors consist of Type 2 and CCS Type 2 connections.
China uses both GB/T Connections for both their AC and DC charging. The CHAdeMO and CCS Type 2 connectors are also used by some Chinese and international EV models.
All countries have access and use the Tesla connector.
It's important to note that not all EVs are compatible with all types of charging ports. Before using a public charging station, be sure to check your vehicle's compatibility with the charging port and connector type used at the station.
Electric vehicles (EVs) come in a variety of types, each with their own unique characteristics and benefits.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): BEVs are fully electric vehicles that are powered entirely by a battery. They don't have an internal combustion engine, and instead rely on an electric motor to power the wheels. BEVs typically have a longer range than other types of EVs, but may require longer charging times.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs): PHEVs have both an electric motor and a fuel engine. They can run on electricity alone for a certain distance, after which the fuel engine takes over. PHEVs have a shorter electric-only range than BEVs, but are more flexible and can be refueled at fuel stations
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs): HEVs have an electric motor and a fuel engine, but can't be plugged in to recharge. Instead, they rely on regenerative braking and the fuel engine to recharge the battery. HEVs have a shorter electric-only range than PHEVs, but are more fuel-efficient than traditional fuelled vehicles.
Range anxierty refers to the fear of running out of battery during a trip somewhere. It is definitely normal to think about, and is a concern for particularly newer EV-owners and those who are interested in them.
The good news is that as time progresses, battery capacities are getting larger and more efficient too. There are also other ways you can
minimise risk of running out of battery.
Plan Your Route
When travelling long distances with risks of travelling a long time without a charge, plan your trip's route to find EV charge stations on the way to your destination.
These stops can be as frequent as you'd like, depending your vehicle's battery range, route, and anxiety levels.
Charge More Frequently
Similar to a traditional combustion vehicle, topping up your fuel levels can help minimise risk of running out of battery mid-drive.
Instead of waiting until the battery is completely empty, charging as much as possible can reduce your range anxiety.
Upgrade to Longer-Range EV
With different EV variants available, there are long-range electric vehicles available that will allow for longer trips.
If you have the extra cash, investing in a larger battery capacity allows you to travel further on a single charge.
Elite Power Group are local professionals in home and commercial electric vehicle charging, providing convenient and reliable charging solutions for a range of properties across Newcastle, Maitland, and the Hunter.
Our solutions from single and three-phase home charging, to DC fast-charging stations to power public
and fleet electric vehicles. We also offer free quoting on not just electric vehicle charger solutions, but also solar, battery, and
electrical solutions.
A dedicated home charger is a level 2 charger which typically ranges between 7-22kW.
This type of charger can be installed in a desired location like a driveway or garage, and is faster than basic level 1 charging via a wall outlet.
An installation requires an electrician like us, and can range in costs from 1 to a few thousand, depending on installation requirements, and the charger of choice.
A portable charger is a level 1 classed charger option which can be used to charge your electric vehicle very slowly, but is very useful for situations when there are no faster options available.
Most manufacturers include a portable charger with your electric vehicle.
Even though it sounds like some sort of backup power source, the 'portable' refers to the cable which can be plugged in to the abundant wall outlet.
We install commercial EV Charging solutions, such as; fleet charging for businesses wanting to supercharge
their electric vehicle fleets, as well as public station charging for high capacity electric vehicle charging on the-go.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about EV charging:
Not only are we specialists in solar power, but we pride ourselves in being leading installers in battery
storage, as well as EV charging for homes and businesses. For solar and battery systems, we offer both on and off-grid solutions for a
range of applications.
Elite Power Group are Newcastle's leading solar and electrical installers, providing professional, long-lasting solutions for residential and commercial homes across Newcastle and the Hunter.
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