Electric cars are an increasingly preferred and desired vehicle in the world. This is due to the countless possibilities and advantages they offer over classic cars with an internal combustion engine. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, electric cars are one of the best investments that only pay for themselves with fuel and maintenance savings. To move they use electricity. It is obtained from a special charging station that "fills the tank". Fuels may be depleted at some point, but electricity can be obtained from renewable energy sources. This is the right direction for humanity to live a more environmentally friendly life. All electric cars need regular recharging. That's why you get a charger with them, which can be plugged directly into a 120-volt home outlet. In this way, however, cars charge slowly. For 20 hours of charging you get about 200 km. mileage. This is the reason why people prefer specially designed charging stations in their homes.
• More complex installation
Charging stations require more complex installation. They connect to a 240-volt outlet and charge an electric car many times faster.
• DC required
Batteries must always be charged with direct current. That is why electric cars have a built-in converter that allows you to use alternating current in your household, turning it into direct current. However, this is a slow and cumbersome procedure. Just to provide you with faster charging, the second level charging stations have larger converters. You can find such stations in public places in larger cities. However, if you have your own, you will definitely be more comfortable and at ease.
There are two types of charging stations in the country: AC (AC) and DC (DC). DC charging is one of the most popular ways to charge when you need to add electricity to the battery in the shortest possible time. Such stations are most common on highways. The most common and common way to charge an electric car or plug-in hybrid is through an AC station. This type is found in hotels, shopping malls, parking lots, gas stations and other public locations. With such devices, electric car owners charge their cars at home.
But what happens after you buy an electric car? How to choose the best charging station for you and your car?
These questions are important because choosing a station can be a daunting task. So we decided to go through the most important parameters that you need to monitor and know when choosing a charging station. (presented in the infographic)
CHARGING POWER
Some electric cars charge faster than others. The charging speed depends on the charger installed in the vehicle. Depending on this, the power required to charge a charging station can vary between 3.7 kW and 22 kW. You will be able to charge your 3.7-kilowatt electric car at any more powerful station. However, this will happen with a maximum power of 3.7 kW. Therefore, the power you need from a charging station must correspond to the characteristics of the car. If the charging capacity of your electric car is higher, then it would be best to focus on more powerful charging stations. They will get the job done quickly and fully. However, if your car's charging capacity is 3.7 kW, there is no need to invest in a charging station with a charging capacity of 22 kW. Simply because you will not be able to use the entire capacity of the station. But you will have given a lot of money for it. Understand the features of the electric car and take them into account when buying a station.
CONNECTOR
The most common are two - connector type 1 (single-phase) and connector type 2. Type 1 allows to reach a charging power of 7.4 kW, being used more often in Asia and less often in Europe. However, the second type of connectors are much more popular on the continent, as Europe is their main area of distribution. In our country this is the European standard for AC charging. They are three-phase and easily reach a power of 22 kW. At the same time, some public charging stations can provide you with as much as 43 kW of charging power. In most cases, public charging stations are equipped with a second type of socket. With it you can connect most standard cables with a type 2 connector. Accordingly, if your electric car is charged using a second type connector, you can not power the vehicle with a first type connector. In practice, this can happen, but with the help of special attachments, which are unnecessarily expensive.
Again, our advice is to carefully study the features of your car to know exactly which charging stations meet your needs.
QUALITY
When choosing a charging station, be careful who is behind its production. Popular brands have established themselves on the market over the years and are proven to create quality products. You will contact the manufacturer when you need service, repair or improvement at the station. That's why quality is something you shouldn't compromise on. An unstable charging station will not do its job well and will become a burdensome expense. Investigate the various proven manufacturers and see if they offer what you need. A charging station is not a small investment. That's why you have to make sure it's good.
INSTALLATION
The installation of a charging station is done by authorized specialists. Do not resort to anyone who understands electricity and electrical engineering. Because not everyone is aware of the requirements that need to be met. The electrical supply of your home should be thoroughly checked before using a simple household outlet. Especially in older buildings, the wiring must be carefully checked. This is the only way to ensure that electricity can be removed from your installation at full power for several hours, because that is exactly what your car's requirements are. Of course, for the installation of a charging station you will have to spend a little more money than those for its initial purchase. Many factors can determine the price. How far is the parking space from the central power panel? Will you have to resort to drilling walls or digging? Can the charging station be mounted to a wall, or will it have to be provided with a separate place? Will you have to use new cables? A bunch of other questions need answers that you will hardly be able to find on your own. Even if it costs you a few levs, accept your charging station as a long-term investment that will pay off in time. This way you will see that it is not so scary to seek specialized help to install it.
ACCESSORIES
In addition to the basic functions, one station can offer a bunch of convenient accessories. If you live in the most environmentally friendly way, it is very likely that in addition to an electric car, you also have a photovoltaic system of solar panels. In this case, you have the opportunity to use self-generated electricity to power the car. With the help of a special device manager and smartphone app you can dispose of excess solar energy as you choose. Of course, you can use it to charge your electric car, while controlling its consumption. On the other hand, with an additional module you can also ensure optimal load distribution. Many charging stations are compatible with such a module and allow you for better regulation. Charging power will be drastically reduced if the electrical connection is not set up properly. This applies to cases where the same car is charged at different charging stations and / or many cars are charged at the same. If a car is charged at only one station, all the charging power will be available. However, if you charge more than one car, it is good to take care of energy regulation. Also, if your station does not have cable hangers, make sure you get them as an accessory. With their help you can rest assured that the cables hang neatly and neatly at the station. This will prevent you from inadvertently going through them and damaging them permanently.