EV charging piles (equipment)The Essentials of EV Charging stations Classification: A Beginner's Guide

Basic classification of charging piles (equipment)

[1-1] DC piles and AC piles

Mainstream charging piles are classified according to basic technical principles.

1. AC charging piles

Different countries have different voltages. They can be temporarily divided into European standard, American standard, and Chinese standard. They directly use 110V or 240V American standard voltage, European standard 230V400 power supply method, and Chinese 240V voltage. The charging piles configured by the original car company and most of the current household piles are AC piles.

The charging power ranges from 3.5KW to 22KW, commonly known as slow charging, and the corresponding charging port is mostly a 7-hole charging port.

2. DC charging piles

Public charging stations or commercial fast charging of various brands are all DC piles. Commonly known as fast charging, it corresponds to the 9-hole DC charging port of electric vehicles.

So, we see that general electric vehicles have 2 charging ports, which actually correspond to these two charging methods.

The biggest difference in the effect of AC/DC charging is the charging power. Simply put, the higher the power, the faster the charging.

The charging power of DC piles at commercial charging stations is generally 30 - 120KW -360KW or higher (multiple guns). So it is much faster than ordinary home charging.

Of course, there are also DC piles for home charging piles now, which require a 380V meter and are more expensive than AC piles. The power is generally 20KW or 30KW, which can exceed the limitations of the on-board charger (OBC) and can be charged relatively quickly at home.

[1-2] Fixed piles/car chargers/flexible piles

According to the installation and use methods -

Fixed piles

That is, the most commonly used charging piles for fixed parking spaces at home. Generally, there are two types: wall-mounted and column-mounted. The column-mounted type is relatively expensive.

Car chargers

A charging device that does not require the installation of a charging pile and can be directly charged by plugging it into an ordinary AC socket. It can be placed in the car for portable movement.

In theory, any plug at home can be connected to a car charger.

Compared to charging piles, the power of car chargers is definitely lower and is limited by the socket and its wires.

For example, when connected to a 16A ordinary socket, the peak power is 2.2KW; when connected to a 16A air conditioning socket, the peak power is 3.5KW;

Of course, there are also those that can be connected to a 32A socket, or that can reach a peak power of 7KW using DC charging.

If there is no way to install a charging pile, or when you are going back to your hometown, traveling to a place with imperfect charging facilities, or in an emergency on the road, you can consider using it. It may be slow, but you can charge it if you can.

Flexible pile

Actually, it is a variant of fixed pile and on-board charger.

One is to change the fixed pile into a split design, so that the gun head can be separated and taken away with the car.

The other is to make the ordinary on-board charger into a fixed design, so that it is not always fixed and used with the car. (A bit of a concept...)

[1-3] Public pile/home pile/dedicated pile

From the perspective of users or operation methods, it can be divided into-

Public pile:

That is, the commercial operation charging pile used by public charging stations, which is paid for use. They are all DC charging piles or charging piles.

Home charging pile:

Also called private charging pile, used by family members.

Mainly AC charging pile, but there are also DC charging piles.

Dedicated charging pile (shared charging pile):

Charging pile that can be used by multiple people.

There are two main types:

One is to add a shared operation and payment function to the ordinary home AC charging pile.

The other is to provide public charging services in communities, enterprises, institutions and public places. Generally, they are DC charging piles with higher power.

There are single-gun or double-gun types.

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