Different Types of Charging Station for Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles have been around for a long time and their use is increasing. Before buying an EV, the following questions naturally come to the mind of the buyer regarding the types of charging stations: 

• What type of charger do I need?
• How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?
• Can I use an already available plug or do I need a completely new installation? 

A typical EV driver can charge up to 80% of his car at his home. Charging an electric vehicle is a very simple process. All you have to do is plug your vehicle into the charging station to refuel. Here is your basic guide to the types of EV charging stations in India and their prices. 

Different types of electric vehicle charging stations: 

Charging an electric vehicle is as good as connecting any electric device to a charging station. Not all Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and ev charging stations are the same. Some equipment may need to be installed. While others can be easily installed by plugging them into a standard wall outlet. Charging time also varies depending on the type of charger used. 

Before that we talk about Electric Vehicle Charging Station that today let's know more about Electric Vehicles. 

1. AC Chargers:-  

AC chargers are slow chargers. Due to which it takes about 6 to 8 hours for an EV to be charged to full capacity.

• The most common electric vehicle charger in India is IEC-60309. It is compliant with India EV standards and is also supported by the FAME-II scheme. AC chargers are slow chargers that take around 6 to 8 hours to charge an EV to full capacity.  
• The second charger used is IEC-62196, which is used worldwide and is called a Type-II connector. This charger is used to charge the EV like the Ather 450 e-scooter.
• The third charger type is a simple three pin connector with a 15 amp plug. This charger helps to power all e-scooters and e-rickshaws.

2. DC Chargers:- 

Electric vehicles get charged in less than an hour when a DC charger is used. 

• CCS Connector:

  Cars such as Volkswagen and BMW are activated with a CCS connector. 

• GBT Connector:

  Tata and Mahindra electric cars and many electric buses use GBT connectors to gear up.

EV charging stations can be classified into the following three levels:

Level 1 Electric Vehicle Charging stations:

Electric vehicle chargers use a 120V AC plug. Which can be plugged into a standard wall outlet. These chargers do not require any additional tools and installation. Level I can use an electric vehicle charger at home. 

Level 1 electric chargers are cheaper than all available charging stations. But they can take a long time to charge your car battery. Car owners usually use this category of chargers to charge their vehicles overnight.  Orion, Duocida, Charger and Kazam are manufacturers of Level 1 electric vehicle chargers. 

Also Read: Ultra-Fast Charging Stations

Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: 

Level 2 electric vehicle charges are used to provide fuel to commercial and residential charging stations. Commercial chargers use 240V plugs. And whereas the residential charger uses a 240V plug. 

Level 2 electSiemens, Chargepoint, Mass Tech and Delta are some of the manufacturers of Level 2 EVSEs. There are also some electric car makers like Nissan that have their own Level 2 charger products. electric vehicle chargers go through a proper installation process. Which is to be performed through Professional Electrician. These chargers can be installed as part of a solar panel system. This charger can give a charging range of 10 to 60 mph. Level 2 electric vehicle chargers take hardly 2 hours to fully charge a car battery. 

Both of these are perfect for business. Who are planning to provide fast charging stations to customers and home owners. Who needs a fast charging station? 

Siemens, Chargepoint, Mass Tech and Delta are some of the manufacturers of Level 2 EVSEs. There are also some electric car makers like Nissan that have their own Level 2 charger products. 

Level 3 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (DC Fast Charging Stations):

Level 3 Electric Vehicle Chargers are also known as DC Fast Chargers and CHAdeMO Charging Stations. However, DC fast chargers are generally only used in industry and commercial applications. Only 60 to 100 meters for a motor vehicle moving from a distance of 20 minutes. However, DC fast chargers are commonly used in industry and in commercial applications only. 

High powered, highly specialized equipment is required to set up and maintain these CHAdeMO charging stations. Not all electric cars support charging with these Level 3 chargers. Many plug-in hybrids do not have this charging capability. And some all-electric vehicles cannot be charged with a DC fast charger. 

The Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi "i" are examples of electric vehicles that are DC fast charger capable.