Multi-dimensional analysis of EV charging mode

Classification of EV charging modes according to international standards

According to the International Electrotechnical Commission standard (IEC 61851-1 standard), the charging mode of electric vehicles can be divided into four modes. Let's take a look at them one by one.

Mode 1

This is the earliest charging mode, which uses a single-phase power supply and can be charged directly through a household socket.

However, since this charging mode lacks protection devices, there are certain hidden dangers, and the charging speed is very slow, it is rarely used in electric vehicles at present, and is more used for charging electric motorcycles.

Mode 2

Mode 2 has made a major update, integrating a control box (IC-CPD) in the charging cable, and improving safety assurance. It can provide overheating protection, leakage protection and other functions, and has also been significantly improved in charging power.

Single-phase power can be used for charging power below 7kw, and three-phase power can be used for charging power above 7kw. Due to its high flexibility and strong compatibility, it is the mainstream charging mode for electric vehicles on the market.

Mode 3

Mode 3 is a small AC charging pile (EVSE) with current protection, anti-theft lock, and communication function (PWM protocol). It supports single-phase power supply (≤32A) and three-phase (≤63A) power supply, with slow charging speed and low charging cost.

Mode 4

Mode 4 uses interfaces such as CCS and CHAdeMO. Through DC fast charging (DCFC), high-power electricity can be quickly delivered to the battery of electric vehicles.

Since the output power of mode 4 is larger and the charging speed is faster, the charging cost is slightly higher, but it can save us a lot of time.

Classification by charging speed

Conventional charging (slow charging)

Generally for home use, it is equivalent to the above-mentioned mode 3 or charging with a Level 2 charger. The general output power is below 22kw, so it usually takes 6-12 hours to fully charge the electric vehicle.

DC fast charging (fast charging)

For some electric vehicles with large battery capacity or that need to be charged quickly, DC fast charging is a more efficient charging method. It can charge the electric vehicle to 80% in 40 minutes or even 20 minutes. DC fast charging corresponds to the above-mentioned mode 4 or charging with a Level 3/4 charger.

Battery swap mode

Since the battery will cause serious degradation over time, many electric vehicle manufacturers at home and abroad have proposed a battery swap mode. The battery swap mode can quickly replace the battery pack and instantly restore the power.

Many electric vehicles at home and abroad support the battery swap mode, such as China's Weilai Automobile (ES8, ES6, EC6, etc.), Geely Automobile (such as: Emgrand EV, Ruilan 9, etc.), and foreign Nissan (Leaf), Chevrolet (Bolt EV), Mercedes-Benz (EQV), etc.

Charging modes that have not yet been popularized

Inductive charging (wireless charging)

Currently, many automobile manufacturers are actively developing wireless charging technology for electric vehicles. However, due to reasons such as venue, efficiency, stability, and cost, it has not yet been widely popularized.

Many car companies are even still only in the model conception stage, and there is still a long time before the specific implementation.

Mobile charging (dynamic charging)

It is equivalent to a mobile power bank that can replenish the power of electric vehicles on the road and solve the range anxiety of electric vehicles. This type of charging mode has been used in road emergencies, but has not yet been mass-produced.

The main reason is that this type of mobile charging has a low utilization rate and a high manufacturing cost. Although many automobile manufacturers have tried to deploy it before and after, they eventually withdrew the plan after a short period of time. Therefore, it is unlikely to be widely popularized in the future.

Summary

We have made an in-depth explanation of the four charging modes currently launched by electric vehicle manufacturers. I believe that by reading this article, you will have a deep impression of the charging mode of electric vehicles.