If the electric car does not charge quickly enough, there can be various reasons. Maybe the vehicle, power source and cables don't fit together perfectly.
Many people are still hesitant about buying an electric car. There are many reasons for this: the high purchase price certainly plays a role - and also the enormous loss in value of used electric cars. And for many potential customers, the range of electric vehicles still doesn't seem sufficient - and for some, charging simply takes too long. But how long it takes to fill the battery on the wallbox or quick charger depends on numerous factors. Three points are particularly important, each of which can cause an unwanted snail's pace. An overview
Power source: Wallboxes and charging stations vary in speed
You can charge your electric car more than a hundred times faster with a quick charger than with a Schuko socket. While the latter offers 2.3 or 3.68 kilowatts of charging power, depending on the protection, a DC column provides up to 400 kW. The wall boxes in the garage or the columns on the side of the road usually deliver 11 or 22 kW. However, if more than one car is connected at the same time, the available charging power for each one can be reduced. The following always applies: Nobody can charge faster than the power source allows.
Car: The electric vehicle itself can also be the limiting factor
The limiting factor can also be the car. The DC fast charger only accepts the performance that the manufacturer can and wants to expect from the battery and the entire system. The usual levels are between 50 kW and 270 kW. In the future, values in the direction of 400 kW are likely to be possible - which will then also allow full use of the extra-fast charging stations. When it comes to AC charging, the on-board charger used in the vehicle plays a central role. Simple and inexpensive models only deliver 4.6 kW, the most powerful ones currently have 22 kW. The most common version is the 11 kW version. The same applies here: you can't charge faster than the car allows, even at the fastest station. Electric cars can also recover electricity through recuperation - the ADAC has tested how well this works and how much range can be achieved through recuperation.
You can find even more exciting car topics in the free newsletter from our partner 24auto.de
Cable: The model influences the speed of current flow
Ultimately, the cable can also ensure slow current flow. You can only influence the choice of model for normal AC charging, for which you usually use your own cable from the vehicle. DC charging stations require thick, partly cooled cables that are permanently attached to the column and are likely to match the power of the power source in most cases. On a wallbox or normal charger, however, the conductor can be the limiting factor, because the so-called Type 2 cable is available with 7.4 kW, 11 kW and 22 kW. Material usage and price increase with performance.
Because the charging speed is always based on the weakest link in the chain, at least all regularly used components should fit together well. If the car's on-board charger allows charging with 11 kW, the home wallbox should also provide at least this power. And the cable is also chosen so that it can also conduct the electricity.
(Holger Holzer/SP-X)