Understanding the Different Types of EV Chargers

As an electric vehicle (EV) owner, you might be surprised by the large selection of EV charging points in the market today. While most are universal, it’s a must to research which charging points match your vehicle model and your needs as an EV owner to arrive at the best possible solution to charge your EV.

You can always find a local EV charger installer near you and count on their expertise to help you choose the best option. At the same time, though, it’s well worth it to cultivate your understanding of how EV chargers work so that you can be more confident in your home improvement projects and transportation investments.

What Are EV Chargers?

EV chargers are devices used to recharge the batteries of electric vehicles. They come in various types and charging speeds, but their primary function is to supply electricity to the vehicle's battery. This replenishes the vehicle’s energy for continued use. EV chargers can be installed in different locations such as homes, workplaces, public parking lots, and public locations, making it convenient for EV owners to charge their vehicles. These chargers play a crucial role in supporting the wider adoption and usage of electric vehicles.

How Do EV Chargers Work?

EV charging points work by supplying electricity to the vehicle's battery, which then stores the energy for powering the electric motor. Here’s a simplified explanation of how they work:

Connection - The EV charger is connected to a power source, such as an electrical grid or renewable energy system.
Plug-in - The EV driver plugs the charging cable into both the charger and the vehicle's charging port.
Communication - In more advanced chargers, there's communication between the vehicle and the charger to define the charging parameters, such as charging rate and timing.
Charging - Once the connection is established, electricity starts flowing from the charger to the vehicle's battery.
Conversion - The electric vehicle onboard charger then converts alternating current (AC) from the power source into direct current (DC). Unless you are using a rapid DC charger which supplies DC current directly to the vehcile, resulting in quicker charging speeds.
Charging Control - The charger regulates the flow of electricity to ensure safe and efficient charging of the battery. This may involve monitoring factors like temperature, voltage, and current.
Charging Completion - Once the battery reaches its capacity or the charging session is complete, the charger stops supplying electricity, and the vehicle is ready for use.

Overall, EV chargers provide a convenient and efficient way to recharge electric vehicle batteries, enabling drivers to power their vehicles with electricity rather than relying on traditional fossil fuels.

What Different Types of EV Chargers Are There?

There are different ways to classify EV charger types. For instance, it’s possible to categorise chargers according to the type of connector they use, where they’re located and whether they’re tethered or untethered.

Tethered vs Untethered

Tethered Charging Points

Tethered charging points feature a cable permanently attached to the charger, allowing drivers to simply plug the cable into their vehicle. This setup minimises hassle and ensures a quicker connection to the vehicle. Tethered charging points are particularly convenient for home use.

Untethered EV Charging Points

Untethered chargers have a socketed that requires a portable charging cable to be connected to both the charger and the vehicle. This design presents a neater appearance as no cables are visible, and it offers increased durability by eliminating the risk of a loose cable trailing across the floor when it's not in use. Untethered chargers are ideally suited for public locations where multiple individuals will be charging their vehicles.

Slow Charging - Up to 3.6 kW

As the name suggests, these charging stations have a slow charging speed of up to 3.6kW, and they can take over 35 hours to completely charge an EV. Most EVs will arrive with a domestic 3 pin charger that can provide a maximum of 3kW (13 amps). A slow speed but useful when there is no other charging point available. 3,6kW (16 amps) charging points are more commonly used for hybrid vehicles with smaller batteries. They are not often installed or recommended as the speeds aren't much faster than the 13 amps provided by your domestic 3 pin charging point.

Fast Charging - Up to 22 kW

A step up from slow chargers, fast charging stations for EVs have a charging speed of between 7kW and 22kW. It can take around 3 to 12 hours for these types to fully recharge a vehicle. 22kW chargers are only possible if the building has 3-phase power. Because of this, they are a popular choice for commercial and business spaces such as shopping centres, offices, and public car parks. As 7kWh charging points connect to a single-phase electrical system, they are the most common charging solution for residential properties.

Rapid Charging - Up to 150 kW

With a charging speed of up to 150kW, rapid charging stations can charge an EV up to 80% in about 30 to 40 minutes. At the last 20%, the charging rate slows down to protect the EV’s battery. Rapid chargers are connected to a DC power supply and bypass the vehicles onboard charger. They are typically found on roadsides and motorway service stations. It’s important to note that not all EVs can use rapid charging points. It will mainly depend on the maximum charge rate of your EV model.

Increasingly ultra-rapid charging points of over 150 kW are available throughout the UK.

Connector Types

Slow and fast AC charging - Type 1 and Type 2

Type 1

Type 1 vehicles are rare in the UK and typically used with older vehicles with smaller batteries, such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or Nissan Leads built between 2012 and 2017. They can only work on single-phase power with a maximum charge rate of 7kW. EVs with a Type 1 connector are not common. An untethered charging point is recommended if you have a Type 1 vehicle so that your charger is compatible with future Type 2 vehicles.

Type 2

The vast majority of vehicles in the UK are Type 2 and it is the most common connector type. When charging points are referred to as 'universal' it indicates that there is a Type 2 socket on the charger. Type 2 connectors have an inbuilt locking mechanism and can charge up to 22kWh (three phase). Type 2 is the standard for AC EV charging points.

Rapid DC charging - CHAdeMo (4-pin) and CCS connectors

Rapid chargers are always tethered and make use of either a CHAdeMo (4-pin) or CCS connectors.

Understanding the Maximum Charge Rate of Your EV

Regardless of the speed offered by the charging point the vehicle is connected to, charging speeds are always dictated by the maximum charge rate of the vehicle.

For instance, a vehicle with a maximum DC charge rate of 118kW will never be able to draw more than 118kW, even if it is plugged into a 350kW ultra-rapid DC charger.

The same vehicle might only have an onboard charger with a maximum rate of 7.2 kW. This means that when plugged into a 22kW AC charger, the EV will never draw more than 7.2kW.

Know Your Options When It Comes to EV Chargers

Understanding how the different types of chargers work is essential for any EV owner. This can prevent any possible mishaps when it comes to charging your vehicle, as well as help you find the right professional who can provide you with the appropriate charger for your EV.

Our team of expert EV charger installers at Elecology can help you determine the best possible options for the EV charging point installation for your home. Book a site survey today so we can assess your needs and help you choose, install, and maintain a residential EV charging point that meets your needs.