Although the adoption of electric cars is slow, both the range and viability of electric cars is increasing. With this the demand for electric cars is increasing.
One common misconception is that all electric cars can be charged directly from the mains. Most electric cars must be charged from a charging point that can be fitted in your home they come in 3 different classifications and can provide different charging times.
The 3 classifications of charging stations are: level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 these provide progressively quicker charge times.
Level one - Charging runs off 120v AC current and all electric cars are capable of dealing with this level. An average charge time for a car attached to a level one will take 22.5 hours from fully depleted to full capacity
Level two – These charge points charge at 240v AC and are directly wired into the fixed wiring of the house. This increase in power means that the charge time will drop drastically to around 7 hours.
Level Three – These quick charge points are done at 480v DC current. This charging system provides the quickest charge time of around 30 minutes but can produce heat if a battery is charged above 80%. The most common places to find level 3 charge points are large cities as electrical charge points.
Most cars such as the Mitsubishi i and the Nissan Leaf feature as standard the Class 1 and 2 charge adapters (J-1772 connector) the class 3 adapter is featured as a optional extra (CHAdeMO connector)
Most car manufacturers will have certified electricians that are used for fitting Class 1 and Class 2 charging points in homes that purchase electrical cars.
The developing nature of electric cars means that the installation of charging points is a growing industry and will continue to grow for years to come.
Written by Barry Atkins at www.tester.co.uk
