All You Need to Know About EV Chargers for Your Hybrid Car
The current global technological improvements mean that different industries have to adjust to thrive. One of the most affected is the transport industry. Many conventional petrol and diesel vehicles will soon go out of style if the trend of increased electric vehicles is anything to go by. Many people seem to be buying the idea of owning electric cars as it is convenient and environmentally friendly. If you are thinking of buying electric hybrid vehicles, you need to understand how to charge them.
The future of transport in the world seems to be moving towards the adoption of electric hybrid cars. The number of people buying these vehicles today keeps going up with each passing day. Those interested in purchasing such vehicles in the future need to understand how they operate. You may have to look at all the details concerning them to know whether or not they are for you. The last thing you want to do is invest cash in a car you will not use.
How Do Hybrids Operate?
Hybrids have existed for a while now. Most people who choose them do so because of the numerous advantages they come with. Recently, though, the number of electric vehicles has been on the rise. Hybrids continue to be popular despite the competition brought about by electric cars. These cars combine the use of petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. It means that users get to save on a lot of things when they choose to use hybrid cars. Some of these include tax exemptions where they get reduced first-year road tax and company car tax. Users also benefit from reduced congestion charges. In addition to that, environmentally-conscious users love the fact that these cars emit less carbon dioxide, thus causing less air pollution.
But how do these cars charge? And is it so much of a hustle to charge them? As mentioned previously, these cars combine the use of regular fuel engines with an electric motor. To understand how they charge, we have to figure out the different types of hybrids first. They include:
- Full Hybrids
Full hybrids either use electric power, petrol power, or a combination of both. They hold and store a small amount of electrical power, which comes in handy when the fuel in the combustion engine runs out. It can also use electric power only when driving short distances at lower speeds. The battery also charges fast as long as you always have a charging point near you.
- Mild Hybrids
Mild Hybrids have features that are similar to those of the full hybrid. The only difference is that the mild hybrids have two power sources that must work together. The electric motor exists to support the petrol or diesel combustion engine.
- Pug-in Hybrids
These cars use electric batteries, which charge when plugged in. They are classified as long-range hybrids. Owners can still use the combustion engine with the electric battery.
- REX Hybrids
Rex Hybrids have petrol-powered onboard generators that charge the batteries. This means that no power from the combustion motor goes to the wheels.
Charging Electric Hybrid Cars
From the examples of cars above, different hybrid cars require suitable charging systems. The next big concern, therefore, would be to know how to charge them. Read on to discover solutions that work. The charging you go for will depend on the type of car you choose. You can consider using public charging points, or you can also install one at home. If you are lucky, your work station may also have one. In case you are considering installing a charging station at home, you may want to look at the following expert solutions and suggestions:
- Single or 3 phase- This will allow for higher charging capacities.
- Wall or pole mounting- In this case, the charging station goes on the wall or pole. You will have to consider the parking space distance vs. charging cable length when charging.
- Charge card- Electric car owners probably have a card pass that comes in handy when charging at public places. Hold the card in front of the charging station to activate the charging process. A similar solution can work for home use.
- Fixed or separate cable- Charging stations differ. Some come with fixed cables while others need separate cables to work.
- Single or double charger- Both of these options work. However, experts advise users to go for the double charger because it helps cut down the installation costs in the future, in case you buy more than one electric car.
- Offline poles or online charging stations- Offline stations are fixed to the car and only work when plugged in. Online stations, on the other hand, are flexible because they can be remote controlled.
Knowing Which Charging System Works for You
Before selecting a charging option, be sure to talk to experts that offer these services first. When users make the right choice from the onset, they avoid future replacement costs. Speak to an industry expert to identify the types of chargers you need. After all, several options exist, and these are:
- Rapid chargers- These come with both AC and DC, each having 43kW minimum power. This means that 80% of the battery charges in an hour. This type of charger works for cars with more advanced features like the Tesla Model S.
- Fast chargers- These have 7kW and 22kW power and take up to 4 hours to fully charge the battery.
- Slow chargers- They come with 3kW power and need to work overnight to charge the battery fully.
EV car users are always advised to seek professional assistance when looking for charging solutions for their cars. Rushing to find a solution without consulting can be a pricey mistake. Hybrid cars are here to stay, considering how many people are choosing to buy electric vehicles. As more people accept and adopt these solutions, the need for reliable charging systems will also increase.