Demystifying EV Charging Stations: Types, Working, and Their Role in Electric Mobility

Electric vehicles are revolutionising the automotive industry.It is a cost effective,environment friendly mode of transportation.In recent years, zero-emission transport and renewable energy have left their niches and become mainstream market drivers. The EV market has been gaining further momentum, driven by greater consumer acceptance, greater availability of infrastructure and favourable regulatory change.

To fully embrace EV lifestyle one has to thoroughly understand various basic EV concept.This article will demystify EV charging stations,their types ,working and their role in electric mobility.

What is an EV charging station ?

An electric vehicle charging station is equipment that connects an electric vehicle (EV) to a source of electricity to recharge electric cars, neighbourhood electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Charging stations are also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and are provided in municipal parking locations by electric utility companies or at retail shopping centres by private companies.

Types of EV charging stations

There are three main types of EV charging stations:

Level 1: Level 1 chargers are the slowest type of charger, but they are also the most common. They can be plugged into any standard 120-volt outlet, such as a household outlet.

Level 2: Level 2 chargers are faster than Level 1 chargers, but they require a 240-volt outlet.

Level 3: Level 3 chargers, also known as DC fast chargers, are the fastest type of charger. They can provide up to 80% charge in 30 minutes or less. However, Level 3 chargers are less common than Level 1 and Level 2 chargers.

How does an EV charging station work ?

EV charging stations work by supplying electricity to an EV's battery using either AC or DC power. The type of power used depends on the type of charger and the EV.AC chargers are the most common type of charger. They work by converting the AC electricity from the grid to DC electricity that can be stored in the EV's battery.

DC fast chargers are less common than AC chargers, but they are much faster. DC fast chargers work by converting the AC electricity from the grid directly to DC electricity, which is then stored in the EV's battery. DC fast chargers can be plugged into special DC fast charging outlets.

Step by step process of charging

The EV is plugged into the charging station using a charging cable.

The charging station and the EV communicate with each other to determine the best charging rate for the EV's battery.

The charging station sends an electric current to the EV's battery, which charges the battery.

Once the EV's battery is fully charged, the charging station automatically shuts off.

There are a number of safety features built into EV charging stations to prevent accidents. For example, the charging station will automatically shut off if there is a problem with the EV's battery.

Charging methods

EV charging involves supply of direct current (DC) to the battery pack. As electricity distribution systems supply alternate current (AC) power, a converter is required to provide DC power to the battery. Conductive charging can be AC or DC. In the case of an AC EVSE, the AC power is delivered to the onboard charger of the EV, which converts it to DC. A DC EVSE converts the power externally and supplies DC power directly to the battery, bypassing the onboard charger.

AC and DC charging are further classified into four charging modes, with Modes 1-3 pertaining to AC charging and Mode 4 pertaining to DC charging.

How to use an EV charging station

To use an EV charging station, you will need a charging cable. Most EVs come with a standard charging cable that can be used with Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. To use a Level 3 charger, you will need a special DC fast charger cable.

Once you have a charging cable, simply plug it into your EV and then plug the other end into the charging station. The charging station will automatically start charging your EV.

Summing UP

EV charging stations play an important role in electric mobility by making it possible for people to drive EVs without having to worry about running out of range. By providing a convenient and reliable way to charge EVs, charging stations help to make EVs a more viable transportation option for everyone.