Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which type of charging is preferable for EVs: fast or slow?
Experts concur that slow charging, which uses low voltage and gives adequate time for ion stabilisation, is still the optimum method for recharging an EV. Fast charging is occasionally necessary to finish a trip, but it won't significantly affect the battery's health.
2. Why must fast chargers end at 80% of their charge?
It's interesting to note that fast charging stations take just as long to charge a battery from 80% to 100% as they do from 10% to 80%. In other words, you must wait another 30 minutes to fully charge the battery when you reach 80 percent. Why is that so?
Once the battery has charged to 80%, fast chargers are set to switch to alternating current, or the "slow charge." Conserving time and resources is one explanation for this. In order to save energy and shorten wait times for other cars that need to use the station, the increased charging time deters users from charging all the way to 100%.
Battery life preservation is another justification. A lithium-ion battery is used in EVs. These batteries are not made to withstand high voltages for extended periods of time; instead, they operate at their best at a mid-range charge. The ions inside the battery can stabilise with slow charging throughout the duration of the charging time, maintaining the battery's integrity and general health.
3. What is slow charging?
Alternating current (AC) and direct current are the two forms of electrical current available to charge your EV. Only DC energy can be used in an EV's battery. A conventional 120-volt outlet (level 1) or a specialised circuit with 240 volts (level 2) are used by at-home wall chargers that use alternating current. The alternating current must first go through an internal converter to make it compatible with the DC battery before it can be used to recharge the battery.
Since charging takes longer with slower voltage and current conversion, AC charging units are also referred to as "slow chargers."
4. What is fast charging?
Fast charging stations, on the other hand, feature a built-in converter and may therefore deliver DC energy to the battery. Additionally, the voltage used by these "level 3" chargers is much higher (up to 480 volts). A considerably faster charge is achieved by omitting the requirement for internal conversion and using more than treble the voltage. The majority of rapid charging stations can fully charge an EV in under an hour.
5. Do the batteries need to be entirely discharged before being recharged?
It's not true; this myth originated with Nickel Cadmium batteries, not Lithium-ion. down self-evaluate the condition of your battery, you can however drain it down below 10% once every 45 to 60 days. It is recommended to do so.
6. What are the drawbacks of quick charging?
The battery's entire life cycle will be significantly impacted by this. Repeated use of this technology may not be good for the battery's health because fast charging often tends to shorten a battery's life more quickly than slow charging.
7. Should I always charge my EV to 100%?
Generally speaking, you shouldn't charge your EV's battery to 100% every night because repeated charging cycles can harm the battery. On a single full charge, the majority of EVs on the market can travel a few hundred kilometres. That charge should last you a few days unless you are making big commutes every day.
8. Can I always have my EV charger plugged in?
Leaving one's electric vehicle plugged in is nearly always perfectly safe. Systems are in place in electric vehicles to stop the battery from getting overcharged. So it's absolutely cool to leave it plugged in.
9. What does EV charging's cell balance mean?
By maximising the capacity of a battery pack with several cells connected in series and making sure that all of its energy is available for use, the technique of "cell balancing" lengthens the life of the battery.
10. Do I have to replace the entire battery pack if there is damage?
Individual cells or modules can be changed instead of having to discard the entire battery, even if battery repair is still in its infancy. Even older than batteries is battery repair. You should never try to change or fix an EV battery on your own.