Carbon Free

EV Cars New Tech

By 2013 as industry predicts, the EV (Electric Vehicle) will become a common presence and the EV market competition it will spread global. Most of the industry brand names have already developed successful programs and are trading active in this market. Some new manufacturers are trying to build a name and forge a place in one of the many open spots of the Plug Cars industry. Are EV better or smarter as the existing gasoline cars? The movie produce by "Siemens Energy Department" offers a general view on this topic and envision the EV mobility infrastructural flow.

Why to trade in a Gasoline Car for a Plug Car?

Doing so you may like to consider the environmental benefits or you may like to call yourself a patriot because you will help reduce the dependency of foreign oil. But we have to look at the more practical answers to this issue. Here the benefits:

You will spend in average $2.00 to $4.00 per 100 miles comparing to $10.00 to $14.00 a conventional gas powered car will cost you for the same distance. It will add up to $2500.00 and more for a full year extra money in your pocket. Yes, it is true you will become an environmental friendly person and in the same time you will help the economy performing better.  And you will make fewer trips to the gas station because now you will be able to charge the car in your own garage. And that will make an even greater impact if the energy used will come from your own renewable energy generation capacity consisting of solar panels and wind turbines. The main downsize: the long haul distance problems caused by a non-existing recharging infrastructure. When the Plug Cars will become a constant road presence things will improve considerable. New industry coming out will address the rise in demand: swapping stations for batteries and fast charging stations are the answer. To find a charging station in your area visit: EV Charging Stations Map. 

What is the energy source of the Plug Cars and where you can find it?

Plug Cars are using electricity only in compare with hybrid cars which are running on a dual system electric and petrol based. To use a Plug Car you have to have access to a charging station and a power socket for fast recharge. The type of batteries used (the equivalent of gas tank for petrol only cars): lead-acid batteries, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The definitive trend goes for Li-ion type of batteries. They are faster to swap or to recharge.
 

How fast we can recharge an EV (or Plug Car)?

To answer this question we have to go through one of the ways an electric car can be recharged: direct from the power plug in your garage using a Level 1 charger which comes standard with your car, or using a charging station Level 2 or a charging station Level 3. When you purchase your EV, you'll receive a Level 1 charger which connects to a 120-volt charger point, any plug outlet with ground, and takes up to 10 hours to charge to full power.  The most of the charging stations are Level 2 type and they are used in commercial and residential applications as: retail spaces, public parking spots, government buildings, private dwellings. Here is a table with the main specs of the different levels used to charge electric vehicles.
 

Who are the major Charging Stations manufacturers?

We can list more as a dozen "EV Charging Station" manufacturers and few of them are standing out through quality and performance. Premier manufacturers of "EV Charging Station" are GE, Eaton and Leviton. Other manufacturers are: Avcon Corporation, Coulomb Technologies, EV-Charge America, Sharepower.  All of them offer Level 2 -  J1772™ plug standard chargers wiht smart charging solutions to make the users adapt to any type of requirements as public E – Parking, building E – Parking and even portable Level 2 chargers for residential use.
 

It is dangerous to use DC to charge your Plug Car?

DC charging can become dangerous for current charging values few times smaller than the AC charging values. The charging system uses “CCID - Charge Circuit Interrupting Device” a safety device that will disable utility power to your electric vehicle charger in the event that a loss of isolation is detected.
 

Is a specific standard used for the charging couplers?

SAE International - Society of Automotive Engineers which is a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to advancing mobility technology has developed a standard for charging couplers. J1772™ charging coupler it has become standard for all USA and Japan based manufacturers. It is designed to work with 5 pins where plus and ground are specific marked by manufacturer using a specific layout to make charging hazard free for everybody using it .
 

What is the EV Chargers Classifications?

Level 1 - 120 Volt Charging Equipment - Can fully charge an all-electric vehicle in about 18 hours. A plug-in hybrid may charge to capacity in as little as 6 hours depending on the capacity of the battery pack. These chargers are typical for home use.

Level 2 - 240 Volt Charging Equipment - Similar to what is used for wash mashines and driers, and is well suited for more quickly charging EVs. Charging time is approximately 3 to 8 hours, depending on vehicle type. These chargers are typical for retail stores, restaurants, malls or personal garage.

Level 3 - 440 Volt High Voltage DC Charging Equipment - Requires three-phase electric service and is the most expensive system. The primary benefit is the capability to charge the vehicle to approximately 80 percent capacity in 30 minutes. These chargers are typical designed for high capacity commercial facilities.