It is well known that in today’s society electric cars are gaining increasingly important ground, so much so that there are professionals who foresee a future in which these vehicles will be the main means of transportation for people, displacing the cars powered by fuel.
However, there is a lot of ignorance about this part of the automotive industry, so through this article we intend to provide a series of knowledge and information that will greatly facilitate the understanding of this kind of cars.
In this article, you will be able to find a guide on the most basic aspects of electric vehicles, among which the different types of chargers, charging times and recharging costs stand out.
Types of electric car chargers
The type of electric vehicle charger you should use may be limited by certain factors such as the model of your car or the area in which you are located. Generally, the most commonly used chargers are Type 1 and Type 2, however, if you have a Tesla brand car, you may only be able to use Tesla Superchargers.
In this sense, the most common and easy to find chargers are the following:
Type 1 chargers:
These are the most basic chargers of all existing types, and therefore the slowest. However, their main advantage is that they are compatible with almost all types of carriages. They offer 14 kilowatts of power and can charge a vehicle in an estimated time of five to seven hours.
Type 2 chargers:
Although they are not compatible with as many cars as type 1 chargers, they offer higher power and a better overall experience. Despite this, they are still compatible with a wide variety of vehicles and offer 22 kilowatts of power, so they can fully charge a car in approximately three to four hours.
Tesla Superchargers:
Tesla Superchargers are currently the fastest Tesla Superchargers available and are compatible with virtually all Tesla vehicles. They have a power of 135 kilowatts, allowing cars to be charged in just one hour.
Do’s and Don’ts When Charging an Electric Vehicle
Having addressed the topic of conventional electric vehicle chargers, here is a brief guide to the things you should not do when charging your car. Avoiding the following actions can be crucial to maintaining the quality and performance of your product over time.
What to do when charging your electric vehicle
Plan ahead and map the charging points: it is essential that before you go on a long trip, you map and accurately locate the charging points for your vehicle and how far apart one is from another, making sure you can reach each one with your current battery.
There are now a variety of applications that will allow you to determine where each of these points are located in Europe so that you can have a much more pleasant experience.
Share charging points:
It is common to conceive of a situation where another user wants to use the charging point or is already using it. In this kind of situation, try to leave your car at a prudent distance, and if you have finished using the charger, keep it away from the charger so that other users can access it.
Follow the time limit:
Another common situation is to be able to observe a charging time limit for a specific vehicle, so you should limit yourself to the period established by the charger so that other users can enjoy this service without inconveniences.
Pay for charging:
practically all charging points have a time payment system, so you should try to have payment cards that allow you to make the transaction or other applications that facilitate the fulfillment of this process as quickly as possible.
Stay close to your vehicle:
it is important that you stay close to and aware of your vehicle at all times so that you can move it as immediacy as possible after fulfilling your possible time, ensuring that other users can access the charging point.
What not to do when charging your electric vehicle
Do not park or use the charging point if your car is not charging: it is vitally important that you do not use the charging points as parking spaces or obstruct the passage to them, you may be slowing down another user who needs to use one of these urgently.
Do not unplug another person’s vehicle:
It is unethical to unplug another person’s vehicle even if the time limit has expired. Ask the person to unplug his or her electric car so that you can use the charging point. Do not do it with your own hands.
Do not park or charge your electric vehicle in a parking space designated for non-electric vehicles:
Avoid parking your car in parking spaces designated for non-electric vehicles, this can generate stress on other users and force them to park in ways that are inconvenient for other users.
Do not connect your electric vehicle to an incompatible charging point:
If you know that your vehicle is incompatible with the charger you need to use, do not force the charger in, this can generate damage to the charging port of the car or the station as such, which will make it impossible for subsequent users to use it.
Do not leave your vehicle unattended: do not leave your vehicle unattended during your stay at the charging station and completely forget about it while you attend to other matters, this will make it difficult for other users and the charger administration if you are still using the service.
Industry statistics
If you have not had previous experience with electric vehicles it is common to have doubts regarding the ease of finding one of these charging points mentioned above, so different statistics have determined which are the countries with the highest number of chargers around the world.
Among the countries in which it will not be a problem to have this service, the following stand out: Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Iceland, Sweden and France. In addition, it is important to note that these countries are promoting the implementation of these charging points in other nations, so it will be increasingly easier to access this kind of service.
Now that you have a better idea about how to use these chargers, their types, estimated charging times, processes of use and the countries in which you will have an easier time getting them, you will undoubtedly enjoy a better experience when it comes to supplying electricity to your vehicle powered without conventional fuel.
Remember to be kind, empathetic and supportive with the rest of the users of this kind of transportation, the charging points are places of vital importance to have a pleasant experience, so it will depend on you that everyone has a good experience.
