EVSE market gains in popularity as sale of EVs sees an increase

Source:https://www.energybite.co.in/blog-post/evse-market-gains-in-popularity-as-sale-of-evs-sees-an-increase/

The market for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) has become much more crucial with the gradual rise in the sale of electrical vehicles in the country. With reputed automakers luring buyers with a wide range of EVs, it has become absolutely essential to have basic awareness about various types of chargers and their protocol. The article attempts to do precisely that.

The market for electric vehicles (EV) has started to pick up, though still not at a pace as it should. Introduction of a new range of EVs by trusted automobile manufacturers and an aggressive push by the Government towards green mobility through the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme have certainly given a boost to sale of EVs in the country. And with more and more EVs coming on road, the market for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) has also gained importance.

• An EVSE is required to charge vehicles through an electricity power source. EVSE, or the charging equipment, can be broadly classified as AC charging and DC charging devices.
• CHAdeMo charger was developed in Japan by the EV companies there to support fast charging. It is one of the first fast-charging systems that can manage power levels up to 50kW.
• GB/T chargers are the most popular in China and are compatible with every EV manufactured in that country. These chargers can manage power input of up to 230kW.
• Though EV charging is a fairly simple process, it is critical to learn the various types of EVSE, especially in view of the number of electrical vehicles available in the market.

An EVSE is required to charge vehicles through an electricity power source. EVSE, or the charging equipment, can be broadly classified as AC charging and DC charging devices. The battery in the EV requires direct current (DC) to charge which a DC charger can supply. Alternatively, an AC-DC converter can convert AC supply from the AC charger and supply DC to the EV. For charging through AC supply, a vehicle should have an AC-DC converter on board and almost all the EVs have a small-size convertor fitted in. To know the different types of AC and DC chargers with different protocols, read on below:

• Type 1 AC charger is the charger used in the entry-level EVs. The charger is plugged into the AC sockets at home which provide power level up to 220 volts and it can manage single-phase power levels up to 3kW. The AC power is then converted to DC power which makes the charging very slow.
• Type 2 AC/DC-charger is compatible with both AC and DC charging systems. The three-phase input power system can manage power levels between 7.4kW and 43kW with a supply of 400 volts, which gives faster charging than Type 1 chargers.
• CHAdeMo charger was developed in Japan by the EV companies there to support fast charging. It is one of the first fast-charging systems that can manage power levels up to 50kW.
• Combined charging system (CCS) can charge through the AC home-charging station as well as from the DC commercial charging stations. The plug has two additional pins or contact points for supporting DC fast charging. These chargers are popular among the new-generation EVs and are now replacing the CHAdeMo chargers as they can manage power inputs up to 350kW.
• GB/T chargers are the most popular in China and are compatible with every EV manufactured in that country. These chargers can manage power input of up to 230kW. China is now working on the 900kW capacity version of this charger. The Government of India has also recommended GB/T for the EVs as it is capable of DC fast charging with output of 10-15kW.

Though EV charging is a fairly simple process, it is critical to learn the various types of EVSE, especially in view of the number of electrical vehicles available in the market. Top companies like Hyundai, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have introduced a whole range of EVs in India. M&M has launched eVerito, the country’s first electric sedan, which is a hit among commercial players like BluSmart and Lithium Urban Technology. Tata Motors has come up with Nexon which has the NCAP (safety standards) rating of 5 stars. MG Motor India’s ZS EV too has a 5-star NCAP rating. Hyundai (HMIL) has launched its most advanced EV, Kona, in the country with a segment-leading range of 550 km on a single charge. With such a wide range to choose from, one must be fully aware of the EVSE while making one’s purchase decision for an electrical vehicle.