EVC Europe

February 14, 2012

Charging time updates

The arrival of electric vehicles into the everyday life of users should not change their habits, nor should it expose them to new situations that might be potentially hazardous when they charge their vehicles.

The battery capacity of a fully charged electric vehicle is about 20kWh, providing it with an electrical autonomy of about 150 kilometres; chargeable hybrid vehicles have capacity of roughly 3 to 5kWh, for an electrical autonomy of 20 to 40 kilometres (the heat engine ensures the autonomy of a conventional vehicle).

As this autonomy is still limited, the vehicle has to be charged every 2 or 3 days on average. In practice, the driver will probably charge his / her vehicle as soon as he / she finds an occasion to do so.

For normal charging (3kW), car manufacturers have built a battery charger into the car. A charging cable is used to connect it to the electrical network to supply 230 volt AC current. For quicker charging (22kW, even 43kW and more), manufacturers have chosen two solutions: – use the vehicle’s built-in charger, designed to charge from 3 to 43kW at 230V single-phase or 400 V three-phase. – use an external charger, which converts AC current into DC current and charges the vehicle at 50kW.

Charging time	Power supply	Voltage	Max current
6-8 hours	Single phase - 3,3kW	230 VAC	16 A
2-3 hours	Three phase - 10kW	400 VAC	16 A
3-4 hours	Single phase - 7kW	230 VAC	32 A
1-2 hours	Three phase - 24kW	400 VAC	32 A
20-30 minutes	Three phase - 43kW	400 VAC	63 A
20-30 minutes	Direct current - 50kW	400 – 500 VDC	100 – 125 A

The user finds charging an electric vehicle as simple as connecting a normal electrical appliance; however to ensure that this operation takes place in complete safety, the charging system must perform several safety functions and dialogue with the vehicle during connection and charging.

0 comments

September 26, 2011

EV charging standards: European OEMs recommendations

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has published on 14 September 2011 a position paper with recommendations for the “standardisation of the charging of electrically-chargeable vehicles”. For ACEA, standardisation is a pre-requisite for quicker market uptake of electric vehicles and higher investment into a quick charging network.

ACEA recommends combo2 connector as the global charging solution.

Following their earlier position on the topic published in March 2011, ACEA members have provided an updated version to express the urgent need to reach European agreement for standard AC charging and present their vision for common agreement on quick charging.

“This is a major step towards the broader introduction of electrically-chargeable vehicles in Europe and paves the way for a harmonised solution around the globe”, said Ivan Hodac, Secretary General of ACEA, the automobile manufacturers’ trade association. “We call on the European Commission, the standardisation bodies and the infrastructure providers to adopt these recommendations and to clear remaining issues as soon as possible.”

ACEA’s recommendations for standard AC charging

For basic charging (up to 3,7kW), ACEA splits the process in two phases, one before 2017 and one starting in 2017:

Phase 1: For home charging, ACEA recommends using standard home socket outlet (with Mode 2), industrial socket (IEC 60309-2 – Mode 2) or Type 2 (Mode 3). Nevertheless, standard home sockets (Mode 1) should remain a valid solution for the market uptake. However, a third party certification of the household electricity grid should be conducted before charging an EV. Type 2 (Mode 3) is also recommended for public charging.
Phase 2: ACEA strongly recommends unifying national regulations for socket outlet types with shutters. A global solution should ensure different ways of charging (single and three phase AC). For the vehicle inlet and connector, and for public charging, a uniform EU solution with Type 2 (Mode 3). Standard home charging should be still allowed as in Phase 1.

ACEA’s recommendations on fast charging

Fast charging includes “fast AC charging” above 3,7kW up to 43kW, “fast DC charging” up to 43kW and “ultra fast DC charging” above 43kW.

For vehicle inlet, public and fleet charging and home charging, ACEA recommends Type 2 or Combo2 connector, but for public infrastructure, its development shall not ban vehicles already equipped with DC charging devices such as CHAdeMO.

Read the rest of this entry »

1 comments

September 25, 2011

EV Investments: USA Lags China and Germany

When comparing the number of dollars invested so far the USA is behind Germany and China in the area of electric vehicles and infrastructure. The disparity in the level of commitment becomes even more pronounced after tallying the amount invested as a percentage of individual country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) . The USA has a GDP 2.5 times higher than China and 4.3 times that of Germany!

THE USA IS WAY BEHIND IN THE NEXT BIG ECONOMIC RACE

The German government announced (May 2011) that it would double its existing investment involving electric cars to 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion USD). Chancellor Merkel wants to have one million electric cars on German roads by 2020, and six million by 2030. However, unlike the USA & China, Germany won’t be using direct subsidies, but will instead use incentives such as: free recharging, access to bus-only (HOV) lanes and waive road taxes for ten years on any EV purchased before the end of 2015 that emits less than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

China is currently investing 15 billion in electric vehicles and infrastructure. China also started getting electrified about EVs well before the US and Germany, with their Ten Cities – 1000 vehicles program back in 2009. The plan called for putting a 1000 electric vehicles on the roads of ten major cities which is being accomplished with electric: buses, taxis and city garbage trucks. The program has since been expanded to 25 cities.

The USA has currently invested 2.4 billion in EV development, 54 million for tax credits on EVSE (EV charging stations) and 100 million of a five city EV infrastructure program. Total US investment is less than 1/6th that of China.