If you are thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle, you might need to purchase an EV charging cable too. EV charging cables are required to charge your car either from your home or public charging stations.
Choosing the Right Charging Cable
This is the dilemma of most EV car owners. You can either opt for Type 1 or Type 2 charging cables. The Type 1 cable allows charging up to 7.4kW and the Type 2 chargers can charge up to 22kW or higher. You can even choose the Combined Charging System (CCS), which makes use of Combo 1 and Combo 2 connectors to power up to 350kW or CHAdeMO, which supplies power up to 150kW.
Type 2 chargers are quite popular as they charge faster and most public charging stations are compatible with Type 2 chargers. While purchasing a Type 2 charger, ensure that you purchase from Australian trading companies such as Jucer, which is a pioneer in providing economic EV charging accessories without compromising on quality. All the accessories sold by them are certified by EESS and ERAC.
EV charging cables come in different lengths ranging from 2m to 25m. The common length is 5m, which you can purchase from any credible store. Many people opt for black chargers, but it is recommended to purchase colourful chargers as when your charge your vehicle in public stations, it would be visible to all people and ensure that they do not trip or get hurt while passing.
While charging your electric vehicle, you need to take certain precautions such as:
- Develop the habit of charging your vehicle regularly
- If you choose a standard charger the charging time is 8 hours
- Ensure that your battery is not overcharged as it can affect your battery life
- Avoid heating your charger as it can cause short circuits and damage the charger
- Ensure to turn off the power of your vehicles when you are charging
- Stick to the instructions given in the manual to avoid damage to the battery or vehicle
- Get the charger replaced if it is damaged. Do not charge your vehicle with a damaged charger
The Three Stages of Charging an EV Vehicle
If you have recently purchased an electric vehicle, you might want to understand the different charging processes. The charging process consists of 3 stages which are:
- Constant charging
- Voltage charging
- Trickle charging
Constant charging simply means uniformly charging your vehicle regardless of the battery state. The current transmission is between 02.C and 1.0C. The charging time is relatively longer.
Voltage charging allows the current to transmit into the battery under the battery is charged to its pre-set voltage. Gradually the current will slow down once the voltage level is reached.
In trickle charging, your vehicle battery will charge at a very low voltage. This is used to charge batteries that are fully drained with a voltage lower than 3V. It is recommended not to continuously trickle charge your vehicle. This could lead to battery damage.
Conclusion
Make it a habit to charge your vehicle regularly and not wait for your battery to completely discharge. You are investing a lot in your vehicle and you would want it to prolong its life by taking good care of it.