Adopting electric vehicles (EVs) over traditional gas-powered ones is not a straightforward swap. Typically, EVs have a shorter range compared to their gasoline counterparts, necessitating more strategic planning for recharging. Most EV owners rely on their home electricity supply for charging, supplemented by an increasing network of public charging stations.
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Expanding these charging stations also has broader implications for public power systems and policy-making. It requires a collaborative approach among policymakers, EV manufacturers, engineers, and various stakeholders to foster innovations that will transition from gasoline vehicles to more environmentally friendly electric options. This collective effort is crucial for shaping a sustainable future in transportation.
Types of EV Charging Stations
There are three types of electric vehicle charging stations: Level 1, Level 2, and Direct-Current or DC fast chargers. Each level has different connections and charging capabilities.
Level 1
Considered mostly for home use, Level 1 charging stations use a standard 120-volt power outlet, like the ones used in the US for lamps or laptop computers. Most electric vehicles come with a charging cable that connects to a standard outlet at one end and to the vehicle using a J1772 connector. The average charge time of an empty vehicle from a Level 1 station is typically between 11 and 20 hours, depending on battery capacity.
Level 2
These charging stations can also be considered home-based, but Level 2 stations use a 240-volt outlet, typically used to power a washing machine in the US. This higher voltage allows for shorter charging times, typically between three and eight hours from empty.
While many Americans have a 240-volt outlet in their basement for washers and dryers, these outlets are less common in the typical American garage or carport. Therefore, people purchasing an electric vehicle often have a new outlet installed to create a Level 2 charging station.
Direct-Current or DC Fast Chargers
These charging stations are commercial grade and typically found near stores and along highways. DC fast chargers make charging quick and convenient by supplying high levels of electric power via direct current. To achieve this, DC fast chargers bypass a vehicle’s system that converts alternating current into direct current, which is necessary for Level 1 And Level 2 stations. This is done using a different type of connector called a CCS connector.
How Charging Stations Work
Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations function similarly to how smartphones or other electronic devices charge, converting alternating current into direct current for storage in the device. DC fast chargers are distinct in that they supply direct current directly to the battery.
Two different types of connectors allow owners to switch between these two types of current. The J1772 charger is the standard plug for Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations. Tesla vehicles used a proprietary connector until 2023 when the company opened its charging network. Before this, a Tesla charger could not be used on another type of vehicle, and a non-Tesla charger could not power a Tesla without an adapter.
The pace of charging from a DC fast connector will depend on the vehicle, with newer vehicles typically being able to charge faster than older vehicles. The charging rate will be higher the closer a vehicle's battery is to empty. Because the charging rate slows down as a battery reaches its capacity and DC fast chargers are more expensive than Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, owners typically avoid fully charging their vehicle using a DC fast charger, often topping out at around 80% of capacity. However, it makes sense to charge a battery 100% if a full charge is necessary to reach the next station.
Power Source and Energy Management
Currently, Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations do not create major issues related to energy management.
DC fast charging stations have issues with how much power they draw from the grid. If many electric vehicles are drawing high power levels from the grid, it creates unwanted power churn. For example, connecting just five electric vehicles to DC fast chargers draws more than 1 MW of peak power from the grid. The grid is designed to only deliver so much peak power for 15 minutes.
Challenges and Innovations in Electric Vehicle Charging
To address issues around peak power and the growing number of electric vehicles, municipal authorities will need to boost local grid capacity, according to Nasdaq. Doing so with renewable energy sources can help to meet demand, but storage solutions are needed due to the intermittent nature of these sources. Large municipal storage systems could act as large batteries that store locally produced energy and release it to power electric vehicles.
DC fast chargers also have challenges related to wasted energy in the form of heat generated by high levels of electricity. The expanded use of silicon carbide metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (SiC MOSFETs) and next-generation insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) could address this issue through greater power efficiency.
Environmental and Economic Impact
Because the transportation sector accounts for a significant portion of energy needs and petroleum consumption worldwide, the increased adoption of electric vehicles helps decrease the environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption. To be clear, negative environmental impacts are associated with the life cycle of the typical electric vehicle, particularly related to the source of electricity used to charge a vehicle and the mining operations necessary to extract materials for electric vehicle batteries.
As for economic impact, the average price of an electric vehicle is significantly higher than a conventional vehicle's. The cost difference will likely equalize as electric vehicle production is brought to scale and battery technologies improve. Furthermore, investments must be made in electric vehicle charging infrastructure. As of 2023, the US had more than 53,000 stations, representing more than 137,000 charging ports, according to the Alternative Fueling Station Locator.
Conclusion
The ongoing transition to electric vehicles promises a more sustainable and convenient transportation sector.
The ability to charge an electric vehicle at residential homes is a convenience factor that traditional vehicles do not have. However, challenges associated with charging infrastructure and battery technology remain, yet the electric vehicle sector will continue to mature, offering more significant benefits and fewer drawbacks.
Resources and Further Reading
Brdar, D. (2022 January 7). How to Solve the AC/DC Problem in Electric Vehicles and Supercharge the Industry. Nasdaq. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/how-to-solve-the-ac-dc-problem-in-electric-vehicles-and-supercharge-the-industry
US Department of Energy. (Retrieved 2024 November 7). Electric Vehicle Benefits and Considerations. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-benefits
US Environmental Protection Agency. (2024 September 10). Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging: The Basics. https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/plug-electric-vehicle-charging-basics
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