How does charging an electric car work?

Electric cars are attracting more and more drivers looking for a greener and more economical alternative. But one question often comes up among future electric vehicle owners: how does charging work?

Here is a simple and comprehensive overview to help you understand how an electric car is charged!

A BATTERY INSTEAD OF A TANK

Unlike gasoline-powered vehicles, which run on liquid fuel, electric cars run on a battery. This battery, usually lithium-ion, stores electricity to power the motor. To keep driving, you need to recharge it regularly, much like you would recharge your phone!

THE CHARGING PRINCIPLE

Recharging an electric car means transferring electricity from the power grid to the vehicle’s battery. This is done using a charging cable connected to a charging station. The electricity flows from the electrical circuit (home, public charging station, fast charging station) to a charger (built-in or external), which adapts the current to make it compatible with the vehicle’s battery. Once again, this can be compared to charging a cell phone—the principle is the same!

ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) VS DIRECT CURRENT (DC)

There are two types of charging, depending on the type of current used:

• ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) CHARGING

This is the type of current found in domestic outlets, commonly referred to as “home charging.” It is slower because the car has to convert this current using its built-in charger. This is the typical solution for charging at home or at work. This type of charging can take up to several days if the car is plugged into a Level 1 charging station (120V, very low charging speed), or a few hours if it is plugged into a Level 2 charging station (208V or 240V). The vast majority of electric vehicle drivers equip themselves with a Level 2 charging station because it charges faster, meaning that, on average, the car is fully charged and ready to hit the road in less than one night!

• DC CHARGING

This type of charging is much faster. The current is already converted before it reaches the car, which bypasses the built-in charger and sends the energy directly to the battery. This is referred to as a fast charging station (BRCC: direct current charging station), Tesla superchargers, or commercial fast charging. Be careful, however, never to exceed 80% charge on this type of station! When 80% is reached, charging slows down and costs become much higher. You’ll be surprised by the hefty bill, and you won’t get caught out twice!

THE DIFFERENT CHARGING LEVELS

It is possible to charge your car at three types of charging stations. We generally refer to three charging levels, as the speed differs between them:

LEVEL 1 – CHARGING FROM A STANDARD OUTLET (120V)

• Uses a domestic wall outlet (like a toaster).
• Very slow (approximately 6 to 8 km of range per hour of charging).
• Useful for short trips or if you have plenty of time.
• Can also be used as a backup in places that don’t have charging stations, such as a rented cottage or at friends’ houses who don’t yet have an electric car.

LEVEL 2 – HOME OR PUBLIC CHARGING STATION (240V)

• Requires a charging station installed at home or in a public place.
• Faster: up to 30 to 50 km of range per hour of charging.
• This is the most common charging mode for regular users (accounting for approximately 95% of charges for everyday trips, excluding road trips).
• At BEQ Technology, this is our specialty!

LEVEL 3 – FAST CHARGING (DCFC)

• Uses a high-power charging station (from 50 kW to over 350 kW).
• Charges up to 80% of the battery in 20 to 45 minutes.
• Ideal for long trips or when you’re in a hurry.

CHARGING TIME

The time required to charge an electric car depends on several factors:

• Battery capacity (measured in kWh): the larger the capacity, the longer the charging time.
• The power of the charging station: a 7 kW station will charge faster than a 3.6 kW station.
• The initial state of charge: charging from 20% to 80% is faster than charging from 0% to 100%.
• The outside temperature: cold weather can slow down charging.

For example, a car with a 60 kWh battery can be charged:

• In 10 hours on a Level 2 charging station (at home).
• In 40 minutes on a fast charging station (Level 3, 100 kW).

CONNECTORS

As with phones, there are several types of connectors, depending on the brand and region:

• Type 1 (J1772): common in North America, especially for Asian vehicles. This is currently the North American standard.
• Type 2 (Mennekes): more common in Europe.
• CCS (Combo): for fast DC charging, compatible with several brands.
• CHAdeMO: used by some Asian brands such as Nissan, but this type of connector is becoming obsolete.
• Tesla model: has its own connector, but adapters are available for other charging stations. This connector is also known as NACS, which stands for North American Charging Standard. It is a charging connector standard for electric vehicles developed by Tesla. It combines AC and DC charging in a single connector. Since 2022, it has been available to other car manufacturers, and more and more models are adopting it.

Fortunately, most public charging stations offer several types of connectors, making charging more universal.

WHERE CAN YOU CHARGE?

You know how charging works, but do you know where to charge?

You can charge an electric car in several places:

• At home, using a charging station installed in your garage or on the outside wall.
• At work, in certain equipped parking lots.
• On the road, using public charging networks: Circuit Électrique, FLO, EVgo, ChargePoint, Tesla Supercharger, etc.

Mobile apps allow you to locate available charging stations, check rates, and even start charging remotely.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The cost of charging depends on the location and type of charging station, but in general, it is very affordable.

• At home is usually the most economical. For example, a full charge can cost less than $10 depending on your local electricity rate (approximately 10¢ per kWh depending on your electricity rate—check your bill for the exact cost).
• In public, some networks offer free charging, but most charge by the minute, hour, or kWh.
  Fast charging stations are often more expensive (e.g., $15 for 30 minutes), but they allow you to get back on the road quickly.

CHARGING AN EV IS AS EASY AS PIE!

Now that you know how charging an electric car works, charging an electric car is a simple process once you understand the basics. Whether at home, at work, or on the road, there are many accessible options. With a little organization, charging quickly becomes a daily habit, as natural as filling up your gas tank, but without having to make a detour to the gas station—and better for the planet and your wallet! Now that you know how electric car charging works, what are you waiting for to make the switch?