Last updated on February 3rd, 2023 at 10:37 am
As a final note, if you spend any length of time on EV user groups, you will see numerous posts about charger hogging, and particularly “ICE-ing”. This is where a non-electric car parks in a charging bay, either due to ignorance or as a deliberate act of defiance against the inevitable onslaught of electrification. We can’t do much about the latter, but as EV owners we can be kind to our fellow electricity fans. The normal rule of thumb is to charge only to 80% at a public rapid charger, or possibly 90% if nobody is waiting and you have the time.
However, using rapid DC charging to over 80% on a regular basis is not recommended for a number of reasons. First, with most battery chemistries it’s not very good for the longevity of the cells (Tesla’s new Model 3 LFP cells being the exception). The other, more immediate reason is that all EV batteries will mitigate potential damage by considerably slowing charge rates as the battery approaches full. Most drop to below 50kW above 80%, and some even drop close to AC rates. So while it may take the fastest charging cars as little as 30 minutes to go from 10 to 80%, the remaining 20% could take an equal time to complete. Most sensible distance drivers base the interval between stops on the 80% range of their cars for this reason, or even 70% to leave a 10% buffer.
Another thing to bear in mind is just how fast your EV can charge. Don’t hog a 350kW charger if your car can barely do 100kW and there are chargers at lower speeds available. They will also most likely be cheaper per kW too. Sometimes you have no choice, but another bugbear amongst EV owners is when slow-charging cars, especially plug-in hybrids, sit on chargers for hours on end, long after a full charge. Be a good EV citizen, and don’t do this.
Final Thoughts
So that’s a selection of pro tips for charging success. In this transition period, you won’t avoid occasionally reaching a charger that is broken, already taken, or you don’t have the app for. But now that there is a head of steam behind EV purchasing and the number of the cars on the road is rising fast, there are good economic reasons for charger networks to increase their footprints and ensure their devices are working. There is money to be made, and BP even reckons its rapids will be more profitable than its petrol stations soon. The charging future is bright, even if the present has its pitfalls to overcome.
In future Charging guides, we will explore the various reasons why DC chargers don’t deliver their nominal maximum speeds, and the trials and tribulations of getting a charger installed at home.
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