When And How To Use DC Fast Charging?
Do you remain busy often? Or do you need more time to put in your vehicle charging? Or are you looking for a reliable and qualitative solution? DC fast charger is what you should choose to cope with your issues. EV technology is constantly evolving with time.
The DC charger is a remarkable device that is captivating for EV owners. You need to consider the information on when and how you should use the DC charger to get the most out of it. And this blog will cater to your needs in this regard. Sounds interesting? Let’s dedelve deeper into the unknown!
DC Fast Charger
The DC Fast charger also refers to the Level 3 charger. This charger makes use of direct current to charge up batteries. You don’t need to convert the AC to DC or buy an additional converter when you have this charger.
This is the reason it refers to a faster charger alternative. It is the quickest charger among the EV series (Level 1 or Level 2). Using this charger, you can fully charge your vehicle within 15 to 60 minutes. This is because of the incredible power output of the DC fast charger.
The power range of this charger is around 50 kW up to 350 kW. The charger supports multiple connectors, including the CCS type 1, CCS type 2, CHAdeMO, and SAE J1772. This makes this charger widely compatible to a wide range of vehicles.
You can easily access these chargers in various locations. The key locations include rest stops, shopping malls, parking areas, and offices. Some multiple websites and apps exist online. They can help you locate the EV charger faster and at super convenience.
Get information on the key specs of the different DC fast charger variants. The table below represents the cost, output power, charging speed, supported connectors, etc. This information will help you choose the correct charger that meets your needs.
| Sr. No. | Feature | 50 kW Charger | 100 kW Charger | 150 kW Charger | 350 kW Charger |
| 1 | Compatibility | Most modern EVs with CCS/SAE J1772 or CHAdeMO | Most modern EVs with CCS/SAE J1772 or CHAdeMO | Most modern EVs with CCS/SAE J1772 or CHAdeMO | Most modern EVs with CCS/SAE J1772 |
| 2 | Total Cost | $20,000 – $40,000 | $40,000 – $60,000 | $60,000 – $80,000 | $80,000 – $100,000 |
| 3 | Cost per kWh | Varies by utility rate, estimated at $0.25 – $0.50 | Varies by utility rate, estimated at $0.20 – $0.40 | Varies by utility rate, estimated at $0.15 – $0.35 | Varies by utility rate, estimated at $0.10 – $0.30 |
| 4 | Output Power | 50 kW | 100 kW | 150 kW | 350 kW |
| 5 | Charging Speed (0-80%) | 30 – 45 minutes | 15 – 25 minutes | 10 – 15 minutes | 5 – 10 minutes |
| 6 | Installation Cost | $10,000 – $20,000 (including infrastructure upgrades) | $15,000 – $25,000 (including infrastructure upgrades) | $20,000 – $30,000 (including infrastructure upgrades) | $30,000 – $40,000 (including infrastructure upgrades) |
| 7 | Supported Connectors | CCS/SAE J1772 (standard) | CCS/SAE J1772 (standard) | CCS/SAE J1772 (standard) | CCS/SAE J1772 (standard) |
When Should You Prefer Using DC Fast Charging?
There are certain conditions exist that will make you choose and use the DC fast charging. Some of these conditions are as follows:
1. Planning Long Commute
Owning an EV offers continuous range anxiety to EV owners, especially when planning longer commutes. Each EV provides a travel range limit, which ranges from 250 km up to 500 km, depending on the brand. For more extended tours or trips, this contributes to the frustration of EV drivers.
Level 1 and level 2 chargers take substantial time to charge, which are only feasible for short-term trips. Here, DC fast chargers serve the purpose of allowing you to charge up your vehicle quickly. The availability of these chargers on highways further adds to the convenience of using these chargers.
2. Short On Time
When you urgently need to reach somewhere in meetings or on informal occasions. Then, a DC fast charger will be the best choice. You can quickly refuel your battery and reach the target place on time. This feature is beneficial for official meetings, conferences, and presentations.
3. No Access To Other Charging options
When you have no or limited access to other charging options, such as a level 1 or level 2 charger, in these conditions, you can use a DC fast charger.
4. Avoid Using On Daily Basis/Frequently
Do not use the DC fast charger daily or frequently. This is because using the DC fast charger daily puts a lot of stress on the battery’s health. It lowers the cell capacity of each cell within your vehicle. Thus contributing to lowering the overall capacity of the battery of your EV.
DC fast chargers result in output power of 50 to 350 kW—such a huge amount of power results in higher heat or stress on the battery. Therefore, try using the other charging options to enjoy optimum battery life and higher efficiency.
5. Public Fleets or Transportation
If you own the taxi or bus fleets, refueling them is not feasible and is possible on other charger options. In this scenario, the DC fast charger offers a unique solution. You can charge up the whole fleet on time.
This way, you can effectively cope with public transportation demands and needs. You can make every fleet vehicle fulfill and strictly follow transportation schedules.
How To Use DC Fast Charging?
Some steps exist by which you can efficiently and effectively charge up your EV. Here are the key steps:
1. Locating The Charger
First, you need to locate a DC fast charger in your vicinity. For this purpose, you can use multiple ways. The option exists to utilize in-car navigation/browser, online websites or platforms, mobile apps, search engine browsers, google Maps, etc.
Make sure to finalize selecting a charger that exists on the travel route you follow. This will help you wait your time in locating the charger. Using the above methods, you can also check for the availability of the charger.
2. Assess Compatibility Level
Before beginning the charging process, check the charger’s compatibility with your vehicle. See if it offers a connector that supports your vehicle port. Check if your vehicle battery capacity supports the charger. You can read the vehicle manual to accomplish this point. For incompatible vehicles, you can use a suitable adapter. Click here to learn more about electric car battery weight.
3. Deal With Parking
The next step is parking your vehicle close to the charger. You can easily access and connect the charger to your car. Make sure to read the guidelines listed on the charging station usage.
4. Opening Port and Cable Connection
Now, open up the charging port of your vehicle battery. Now, connect the cable from the charging station to the port. Make sure the connection is secure.
5. Begin Charging
Each station has special instructions or guidelines in place to assist with initiating the charging process.
6. Keep An Eye on Charging
After this, monitor the charging of your EV. A screen interface on the charger allows you to see the level of charging accomplished. This intuitive screen will enable you to optimize the charging speed, power, and time. When the charging finishes, the screen shows a notification or alert that determines that the charging has been completed.
You need to wait for some time. Please note that you always charge 80% of your vehicle battery. Avoid charging lower or higher than this level. Apart from this also, keep your vehicle’s battery intact when the charging reaches 20%. Charge your EV battery again.
7. Disconnect and Closer Charge Port
You need to disconnect the charger and close your vehicle charging port. Later, secure the charging cable and connector in its place on the charging station. There is a holder for the line and port where you can secure it. This will help others take it securely to charge their vehicle.
8. Finalize Payment
In the end, the payment is finalized against the power with which you charged your battery. Different charging stations support different charging methods. The key ones include mobile apps, online payment transfers, RFID cards, credit cards, cash, etc.
You can choose any way that is suitable for you. Complete the payment to start the charging. Please note that some charging stations take the cost before the charging process. At the same time, some take it in the end.
Final Thoughts
It is essential to have in-depth insights into the usage of the DC fast charger and the conditions under which you should use it. This blog has done this the right way. Catering to the in-detail information on each charging aspect has resolved your worries.
Now you can follow the above steps to handle the charging process conveniently. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact PIWIN. They have professional staff to answer your questions.
Click to learn: Accessing DC fast charging for EV customers
