Can New Energy Vehicles Be Charged in the Rain?
2 Answers
In principle, yes, but it is recommended to charge on sunny days whenever possible. Here are the relevant details: Charging Piles: Firstly, charging piles comply with national standards. Whether they are public charging piles from the State Grid or private ones installed by operators for car owners, strict regulations are in place. They are equipped with lightning protection, overload protection, short-circuit protection, and leakage protection. Charging piles that meet national standards use insulating materials for their shells and have a protection rating of IP54, meaning general rainwater splashes will not affect them. Leakage Protection Devices: Charging piles also have internal leakage protection devices that will immediately trip and cut off power in case of a leakage.
Charging new energy vehicles in the rain is safe because modern electric vehicle charging equipment and vehicle ports are designed with high-level waterproof features, such as IP67 protection rating, which can withstand short-term immersion in water without leakage. From my driving experience, charging at public stations during light rain works normally as long as the plug is securely connected. However, avoid operating in heavy rain to prevent accidents, and try to choose a covered spot or bring an umbrella to shield from the rain. Regularly check the charging gun's condition, keep it dry, and prevent water splashing on the contacts to avoid short circuits. In terms of safety, the charging system has built-in automatic protection mechanisms that will immediately cut off power if abnormalities are detected, but manually wiping the plug dry is still the safest practice. In summary, this issue is common, the design is thorough, and there's no need to worry about accidents under normal use.
