Disappointing to see an electric car and plug-in hybrid car drivers not using battery chargers but parked anyway
We spotted this recently at a grocer store car park. It is very common occurrence and not the first time seeing an electric car parked at a great location (battery chargers are nearly always located near the entrance) and NOT using the EV charger.
This time we saw not only the electric car, but also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle parked at this ‘close to the entrance’ parking bay and NOT using the battery charger at all.
Now, what if there was another electric car driver who was short of battery power and needed to charge their electric car? What can they do? With a PHEV driver, at least the still have the petrol fed engine to keep driving, but with an EV driver, there is no ‘backup’ engine to keep moving.
So, the many remarks made on the Malaysian electric car owners FB page about selfish petrol and diesel car drivers who park in premium EV charging bays, they should also include selfish EV and PHEV drivers.
This is ‘attitude problem’ that applies to all drivers. Fact!
Meanwhile, here is a simple explanation on the two kinds of ‘fuels’ that can be used in electric cars.
As shared by wallbox website, they are called alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power. The power that comes from the grid is always AC. However, batteries, like the one in your EV, can only store power as DC.
That is why most electronic devices have a converter built into the plug. You may not realize it but every time you’re charging a device such as your smartphone, the plug is actually converting AC power to DC.
AC charging for electric vehicles
When it comes to electric vehicles, the converter is built inside the car. It is called the “onboard charger” though it really is a converter. It converts power from AC to DC and then feeds it into the car’s battery.
This is the most common charging method for electric vehicles today and most chargers use AC power.
DC charging for electric vehicles
As we have learned, power from the grid is always AC. The difference between AC charging and DC charging is the location where the AC power gets converted; inside or outside the car. Unlike AC chargers, a DC charger has the converter inside the charger itself.
That means it can feed power directly to the car’s battery and does not need the onboard charger to convert it. DC chargers are bigger, faster, and an exciting breakthrough when it comes to EVs.
Where do I find AC charging? Where DC charging?
Most charging stations that you will find today use AC charging. The usual charging speed is 22 kW, depending on the car that you own, as well as the power available to the charging infrastructure.
It is ideal for charging your car at home or work because you will need more time to load. DC charging, on the other hand, is more common near highways or at public charging stations, where you do not have much time to recharge.
But DC charging is making its way into home charging, offering new possibilities for EV owners since it allows not only fast charging but also bi-directional charging.
