Electric cars are becoming more and more popular, and with the holiday season in full swing, it’s important to know a few unwritten rules about charging. 6 tips on how to charge, or electric car charging label.
You can charge fast and slow, super fast and super slow. While still slow (up to 22 kW AC) and super slow (from a household outlet) charging takes hours and the main etiquette is to park properly, fast (50 kW) and especially super fast (100+ kW) charging has a couple of unwritten rules that should be followed so that everyone can use the charging infrastructure as efficiently as possible. The so-called charging label must be followed.
The first step is to understand the technical capabilities of your electric vehicle (EV). There are those that can charge with a maximum of 50 kW, e.g. BMW i3and those that can do more, but only for a very short time, e.g. Opel Corsa-e. Now there are more and more people who can take high power for a long time and charging times are getting shorter and shorter when charging with more and more powerful chargers, e.g. Eleport announced 150 kW or Ionity 350 kW.
Use the most suitable charging station
If your EV can only handle 50kW and you have a choice between chargers, consider using a 50kW charging station instead of a high-power charger. This will be both respectful of those who can use higher wattages and also friendlier to the wallet, as lower wattage chargers are typically more affordable than higher wattage chargers. You can still use high-power chargers, but don’t expect to charge faster because of it.
If there is a line
Although the situation is changing, many charging stations only have one charger that can only charge 1 EV at a time. If all the chargers are occupied, be sure to wait in an area that is not obstructed by traffic or parked cars. Sometimes, by asking the driver who is charging at the time, it turns out that further charging is no longer necessary and will let you charge right away. You’ll be surprised how far a friendly approach can take you.
Time well spent
Be patient and wait until you are next. Let those traveling with you enjoy their time in the facilities offered by the service areas. There is often a local gem near a charging station. For example, there is an excellent swimming and walking area near the Vitrupes charging station.
Park the car correctly
When it’s your turn, park your car correctly next to the charging station you want to use. Pay attention to the expected traffic flow. Also note the location of your EV’s charging socket to properly position the EV at the charging station.
The right moment to charge
It should be noted that fuller batteries charge more slowly and generally a 10%-80% charge will take less time than an 80%-100% charge. It is preferable to start the charging process with a state of charge (SOC) below 20%, as the best charging performance is achieved between 20 and 80%. Some EVs can be pre-set to charge. In this way, the EV prepares the batteries for the optimal temperature to charge as quickly as possible.
Charges as needed
Charge only as much as you need to reach your next destination. Charging is significantly slower beyond 80% SOC. For some EVs, the charging rate drops even at a lower SOC. This is done to protect the battery from overheating. Charging more often, but in less time, using the fastest charging speed possible, saves both your time and the time of the people in line after you. This is especially relevant in networks where charging is paid for on the scale of consumed time and not energy.
Moves after charging
When you have finished charging, please park elsewhere. There is nothing more annoying than waiting for someone else to return to their fully charged EV. There are also known cases of EVs being left at a charging station for days.
Feel free to write in the comments if there is anything else worth observing to add to this label of a pleasant charging experience.
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Found near electrical appliances. The love for new things grew together with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He has been driving an electric car since the harsh winter of 2017 (-30°C) and since then he has never fallen asleep.
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