Lost electric or hybrid buses Currently, they represent an alternative to combustion engine vehicles available as a resource to achieve the energy transition. With them it is possible to have a autonomy of hundreds of kilometers thanks to recharge points all over Spain. And since there are several types, in this article we focus on the following question: What are electric vehicle superchargers and how do they work?
These superchargers for vehicles They are the ones that allow a super-fast recharge speed of these types of vehicles: in about 30 minutes it recharges up to 80% of the batteries. And you\’ve probably heard of Tesla superchargersElon Musk\’s company, among others.
For this reason, at , as experts in photovoltaic energy and charging solutions, we want to talk to you about these electric car chargers, their features and their expansion in charging points in Spain. And note, first of all, that superchargers are not abundant, nor are they the most common in our country.
Additionally, as we will explain in more detail later, because of the kilowatt (kW) power required to operate superchargers, they are not common or advisable to have at home.
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Electric car charging time
First, these aren\’t the only types of electric car chargers available. Here is a summary of which you can find and use as well how long does it take to charge an electric vehicle With each of them.
Slow charging: takes more than 5 hours
The slow loading It takes more than 5 hours to charge the electric vehicle: with a Power of 3.7 kW the car charges in 8 hours, although at a power of 7.4 kW it can be lowered to 4 hours. This charging speed is possible by using single-phase systems.
Semi-fast charging: between 1 and 3 hours
The semi-fast charging allows charging an electric car in a period of time between 1 and 3 hours. This type of loading can be done in electrolinear (gas stations that have recharging points) and at home points. Power varies from 11 kW to 22 kW.
Fast charging: 30 minutes
With power of 50 kW (utilitarian) to 350 kW (for heavy industrial vehicles), the fast charging allows batteries to be recharged in just 30 minutes or less. The recharging points that allow it are in the recharging stations with specific chargers for such a high power, the superchargers for electric cars.
Ultra fast charging: maximum 10 minutes
And fourthly, there are charging points that with a power of 150 kW – 400 kWwhich reach 735 Amps and allow a super fast charging, in a maximum of 10 minutes. The first one was installed in the town of Lopidana (Álava) in April 2019.
superchargers for electric cars
Superchargers for electric cars, which are the ones with pole loading points these charge vehicle batteries in about 30 minutes, as I commented previously. Where are they located? Companies usually have them (here you can see our services for self-consumption in companies), electrolineras and also Public Administrations.
However, superchargers are not widespread in Spain, if we look at the data from the \»Map of the implementation of public access recharging infrastructure in Spain\» from the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC) and Faconauto.
This report points out that of the more than 11,000 charging points for electric cars that exist in Spain, 83% are slow charging, with a power equal to or less than 22 kW. And of the remaining 17%, it cannot be said that they are all superchargers, but that they are distributed between semi-fast, fast or ultra-fast chargers.
Therefore, the most common way to charge an electric car is to use chargers compatible with the recommended power in a home (between 3.5 kW and 6.9 kW). That is, a slow reload speed. That is a far cry from the 50 kW required for utilities or the 350 kW for heavy industrial vehicles mentioned above.
For a semi-fast speed, it is best to go to an electric station or charge the car at charging points in companies or parking lots, for example, if they have contracted enough power.
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Operation of superchargers for vehicles
how about operation of superchargers for electric or hybrid cars, is just like the rest with the difference in speed and the need for connectors that allow such high levels of AC power that it becomes direct current, which is supported by the electric batteries of plug-in cars. This transformation is done by power converter.
To use the superchargers, you have to connect the vehicle to the charging point via the connector, just like at a gas station the tank is connected via a hose. Once connected, all you have to do is wait for the batteries to charge with electricity from the network to which the charging point is connected.
So, despite the fact that fast or ultra-fast charging of electric cars obviously offers many advantages, the truth is that slow or semi-fast charging points are more common for both homes and businesses.
And also for this reason, the expansion of charging points in Spain will certainly bring with it a greater number of points for semi-fast charging and, always to a lesser extent, for fast or ultra-fast charging with vehicle supercharging electrical. Intended for HGV drivers who have an electric fleet, for example, who cannot spend many hours waiting for it to charge.
