What is the difference between electric vehicle charging piles and household electricity?
3 Answers
Household electricity provides AC charging, which is ordinary. Charging piles have AC, DC, and AC/DC charging facilities. Below are the relevant details: 1. Function of charging piles: The function of a charging pile is similar to that of a fuel dispenser in a gas station. It can be fixed on the ground or walls and installed in public buildings, residential parking lots, or charging stations. It can charge various types of electric vehicles according to different voltage levels. The input end of the charging pile is directly connected to the AC grid, and the output end is equipped with a charging plug for charging electric vehicles. 2. Charging methods: Charging piles generally provide two charging methods: conventional charging and fast charging. Users can swipe a specific charging card on the human-machine interaction interface provided by the charging pile to select the corresponding charging method, charging time, print cost data, etc. The display screen of the charging pile can show data such as charging amount, cost, and charging time.
I was also curious about this when I first started driving an electric car. After installing a home charging station, I found the biggest difference from regular household electricity lies in power: household sockets are usually 220V 15A, only allowing slow overnight charging; charging stations can go up to 32A or even higher, doubling the current for rapid charging, getting the job done in just two to three hours. Installation requires professionals as it needs dedicated circuits and grounding protection to prevent overloading the home power grid. For daily use, household electricity suits small appliances, while charging stations are tailor-made for EV batteries, with built-in overcurrent detection to reduce fire risks. I think if you drive an electric car often, installing a charging station directly is more convenient and time-saving.
From a DIY perspective, I've tried charging an electric car with household electricity, but the efficiency is too low. Charging piles typically have a power output of over 7 kW, while a standard household socket only provides around 3 kW, resulting in a charging time difference of several times. When installing a charging pile, thick cables and grounding devices are required, ensuring not only stable current but also preventing household electric meters from tripping. In terms of cost, the charging pile equipment itself isn't expensive, but the material and installation fees are higher. Using household electricity directly is convenient but not friendly to the car's battery, as it can easily overheat. It's advisable to check the capacity of your household electricity and avoid the risk of modifying sockets yourself—safety first. After installation, the charging speed improves significantly, allowing a full charge overnight.
