Electric vehicle charging station safety :What you need to Know
EVs across the globe has revolutionised the automotive market. How to safely use charging stations and ensure safety of vehicle as well as owner is a major concern amongst many.
Safe , affordable and accessible charging infrastructure will definately accelerate adoption of electric vehicles.
The Ministry of Power issues EV charging safety guidelines to accelerate the adoption of EVs in the country by ensuring a safe and reliable charging ecosystem. Here are the electric vehicle charging safety guidelines that you need to know about.
In this article we will look into details of What are the protocols to follow to ensure electric vehicle safety?
Home charging electric vehicle safety
Although there is no standard defined for EV charging at home, car safety guidelines recommend installing the Residual Current Circuit Breaker and using an IEC 60309 industrial connector to ensure EV safety while charging.
-Don’t keep the vehicle battery completely full or empty
try to maintain the vehicle battery’s charging status between 20% to 80%. Charging the battery repeatedly and till 100% might cause it to degrade more quickly.
-Use your vehicle regularly
Don’t keep the vehicle ideal for too long. vehicle might get affected if it is not used regularly.
-If you’re charging your EV at home, plug the charger directly into an accurate outlet instead of using a multiplug adapter or extension cord.
-follow the EV charging safety guidelines and car safety guidelines laid down by the manufacturer when charging your vehicle. Check with your dealer for more information.
-While installing home charging equipment, make sure to use only certified devices for maximum electric vehicle safety.
-Check the vehicle batteries regularly
The battery level of an EV might drain even if the vehicle is parked and has not been used for a long time. So, make sure to keep a track of when you charged it last and the overall performance of the battery to ensure electric vehicle safety.
Public EV charging standards in India
To ensure that your EV is charged safely, it is important to invest in the right charging equipment as per the car safety guidelines. For electric car charging safety, public charging infrastructure is standardised to ensure interoperability between EVs and charging equipment offered by different automakers.
-All electric vehicle charging stations should be designed, installed and certified as per the safety norms.
-Charging stations should ensure there was no overloading of input and output devices. “Adaptors should not be used. Portable sockets should also not be used to charge vehicles.
-When using a public charging station, make sure all the components are in good working condition and there are no signs of misuse or disrepair to ensure charging station safety.
-Owners should ensure that the vehicles are parked at a distance of five metres from the charging points.
-Never use an EV charger if it is damaged
-Properly maintain the charging station components as per the manufacturer’s guidelines to avoid a potential shock hazard and ensure electric car crash safety.
-Avoid charging the EV battery immediately after using the vehicle. It is best to let the batteries cool down before you charge them to ensure electric vehicle safety.
-ground fault protection is essential at both the DC output side and the AC grid side. These ground-fault relays for DC voltage detect electrical issues and minimize shock hazards to EV drivers for maximum safety.
-Suitable lightning protection system should be in place at the charging stations. The charging points should also be equipped with a device to check uncontrolled reverse power flow from the vehicle.
-Each charging station should be tested by the electrical inspector. Owners of charging stations should also ensure inspection of the facility every year
Kazam Safe charging options
At Kazam we understand that you’re putting your trust and security in our products. All kazam products meet strict certification and industry standards.All Kazam products come with safety protection features such as residual current protection,surge protection,IP54,MCB,FUSE,Tampered proof and shock resistant.
Summing up
Manufacturers of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) invest heavily in third-party safety testing and provide electric vehicle charging safety guidelines in order to offer safe, home charging solutions you can rely on.
you can maximise the utility and performance of your electric vehicles by following the safety guidelines.
By following these tips, you can lower your risk of having an associated fire or an electric shock injury.