The evolution of electric vehicle charging station technology
People are going electric for all kinds of reasons. Many are motivated by the savings.Then there are the environmental benefits ,reduced emissions, high quality driving performance.
In the last one year alone, the number of charging stations in the country has grown more than five times. This testifies to the promise that this sector holds for an ever-rising number of EV users.
An electric vehicle (EV) charger is a piece of equipment that supplies electric power for plug in electric vehicles these chargers come in two forms
AC Charger -ac chargers normally used in slow charging applicaions.ac chargers provide power to onboard charger of vehicles ,where ac to dc conversion happens .These chargers are slow thus takes 6to 8 hours to charge the vehicle.
DC chargers -These are high capacity chargers used for fast charging of vehicles.They deliver direct dc power to battery.
They charge electric vehicle in an hour ,making it suitable for public EV charging
Apart from ac dc charging ,electric vehicle chargers are further classified based on charging guns.
Type two charger -These types of chargers work with single-phase or three-phase input power systems, depending on the charger rating. The input power can manage between 3.3 kW to 43 kW with a 400-volt AC supply. Such chargers are usually ideal to be installed at home, compatible with vehicles with CCS-2 plugs. It is among the prominent standards in the Indian market.
CCS (Combine charging system)-The Type 2 Charger provides slow chargers and is compatible with both AC charging systems. These types of chargers work with single-phase or three-phase input power systems, depending on the charger rating. The input power can manage between 3.3 kW to 43 kW with a 400-volt AC supply. Such chargers are usually ideal to be installed at home, compatible with vehicles with CCS-2 plugs. It is among the prominent standards in the Indian market.
CHAdeMo Charger-This is one of the fast charging types of systems developed.It can handle DC fast-charging of up to 62.5 kW.
GB/T charger -
The Indian government had recommended the GB/T type charger for DC Charging under its Bharat DC 001 standard. These chargers are installed by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a government body, and are capable of DC fast-charging with an output of 10-15 kW for low-power EVs.
In India, operating an EV is cheaper than running a petrol or diesel car, which makes it more affordable. By using the energy-efficient EV charging solutions, individuals can charge their cars from the comfort of their homes. They can save time by not queuing up at the charging stations, using AC and DC chargers.
India to use three technologies
Bharat Standard, CHAdeMO and Combined Charging System
Bharat Standard is a low voltage charging technology (72–200 volts) whereas CCS and CHAdeMO are high voltage chargers (200 volt and above)
India will deploy both CHAdeMO and Combined Charging System (CCS) fast-charging technologies, besides the existing Bharat Standard, at its public electric vehicle charging stations.
According to sources in the Power Ministry, now the push will be to have Bharat Standard, CHAdeMO and CCS charging points at all public stations.
Evs and power grid
From a grid perspective there are two approaches, managed Charging, and Vehicle-To-Grid Charging. In managed charging, a charging station will have an upper limit for the power it draws from the grid and multiple charging points of lower capacity.
Meanwhile, as India enhances its solar power capacities, vehicle-to-grid technology can help in balancing the power grid by using EVs to draw power from the grid during peak generation hours, store it in their battery when not running, and transfer it back to the grid when needed.
As the power grid becomes “greener” and battery technology evolves, EVs will help India move towards a sustainable future for both mobility and power.
Current scenario
Virtual technology could have a game-changing impact on EV charging. Smart charging, where the EV and charging device share a data connection and are connected to the cloud, essentially means adapting the charging cycles of EVs to the needs of vehicle users and the power system. This provides a valuable way of optimising the charging process, by integrating EVs that are being charged at the same station and taking into account energy availability and customer preferences. Ultimately, this could ease the strain on the power grid in general and also save car users money.
Future
The number of charging stations is expected to rise in exponential terms. From the five-fold jump that we saw in 2022, the coming year would see even greater growth in numbers.Apart from OEMs and independent charging station specialists and service providers, a number of other players including government agencies, PSUs, DISCOMS, private energy companies and construction and real estate developers would also contribute to the rise in charging stations in the country.
The charging stations are likely to provide charging services for both types of EVs, those with fixed platforms with plug-in capability and those with swappable battery platforms.
The coming years would also see an array of new-age charging solution specialist companies providing Direct Current or DC-based fast charging options.fast charging points will gain more visibility not only within big cities, metros and highways and expressways but also in tier II and III towns in the country.
The coming years are also likely to see increased and sustained policy stimulus by the government with an eye on ‘charging up’ the charging station ecosystem.cheaper leasing of land, to placing a cap on rentals for charging stations, to giving financial support to lower the cost of capex in the early stages of setting up the infrastructure, to cutting down on import duties for inputs and equipment.
