What is the difference between a home charging pile and a portable charger?
2 Answers
Home charging piles and portable chargers differ in the following ways: 1. Portable charging: The built-in chargers used with portable chargers all utilize household electricity (220V), with limited power input, and are typically used for charging at home. When the electric vehicle is not in urgent need, it can take full advantage of off-peak electricity hours for charging, reducing charging costs. More importantly, a significant advantage is the ability to perform deep charging on the battery, enhancing the battery's charge and discharge efficiency and extending its lifespan. 2. Charging pile: On the other hand, charging piles are DC charging piles, fixedly installed outside the electric vehicle and connected to the AC grid using three-phase alternating current (380V), with a frequency of 50Hz, outputting adjustable direct current to directly charge the electric vehicle's power battery.
I used to be asked this often. Simply put, a home charging pile is a fixed installation that requires an electrician to set up near your parking spot, with wiring and connections all secured. Portable chargers, on the other hand, are much more flexible—you can keep them in the trunk and take them on business trips, plugging directly into an air-conditioning socket to charge. However, there's a big difference in power: charging piles typically start at 7kW, allowing a full charge overnight, while portable chargers max out at 3.5kW, taking two to three times longer for the same charge. In terms of safety, fixed charging piles are more reliable, with better waterproof and anti-leakage designs, whereas portable chargers require you to monitor socket temperature yourself, as aging wiring can easily overheat.
