Owning an electric vehicle (EV) can be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. However, charging your EV can be challenging for new owners. This article will explain the different EV Charging Modes and how they work, as well as the importance of setting a schedule for your EV to charge at optimal times.
EVs use four different charging modes to power up their battery packs. Each charging mode categorizes the type of power delivery, protection installation, and communication/control features that an EV charger is capable of.
Mode 1 charging is the slowest, and uses an alternating current (AC) power source to fill up your EV battery pack. Typically, this takes 40-60 hours to fully charge an EV from 0 to 100%. This mode is also subject to restrictions in countries like Switzerland, Denmark and Germany and is banned in Italy due to safety issues.
While your EV’s battery is currently just a place to store electricity for driving, in the future it could provide power back to the grid via bidirectional energy flow – known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). This technology can be enabled through specialized charging stations that support mode 4.
Mode 4 EV charging, also called DC Fast Charging, delivers direct current (DC) directly into your EV’s battery pack. This type of charging station is found at public charging stations along highways and busy roads, and it’s the quickest and most convenient option for long-distance travel. EV Charging Modes