How to charge an electric vehicle

It takes just a few seconds to start charging an electric vehicle. However, you should check that your vehicle is compatible with a charging station before charging. 

Technically, an electric vehicle can be plugged into a standard 120-volt socket. Most electric vehicles are sold with a portable charger, which can be plugged into an ordinary electrical outlet.

For a fully electric vehicle, with a larger battery capacity, this solution may not be sufficient. A seven-hour charge on a 120-volt outlet will give you a range of around 40 kilometres. Enough for a top-off, but not enough to enjoy the full potential of your electric vehicle!

For a plug-in hybrid vehicle, this is a very feasible solution. The electric range of a plug-in hybrid vehicle varies from 40 to 70 kilometres, depending on the model. If you leave it plugged in overnight, its battery will be fully charged the next morning.Charging a plug-in hybrid vehicle daily is therefore a good practice to maximize driving in electric mode as often as possible.

For owners of fully electric vehicles, it’s best to install a 240-volt home charging station.

With a home charging station, one night is enough to fully charge most fully electric vehicle models. Charging will be five to seven times faster than using a 120-volt outlet.

Remember, it is not necessary to charge an all-electric vehicle every day, nor do you have to charge it to full capacity each time.

In winter, you can defrost your vehicle before unplugging it. The energy required to heat your vehicle’s interior will be supplied by the station, without reducing the energy reserve stored in your battery.

All electric vehicle models can use a level 2 charging station. You can charge both a fully electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Public charging stations are grouped together in various networks. The best-known networks are:

• Electric Circuit;
• FLO;
• ChargePoint;
• Tesla.  

Public charging stations are also offered by private owners on the grounds of their business.

Before using a public charging station, check its terms of use, connector type, and applicable rates. Charging stations are often activated using a membership card or via the mobile app of the network they belong to. You will quickly become familiar with the different charging networks available in your area and their operating methods.

Fast charging is carried out at direct-current fast chargers, known by the acronym DCFC.

Depending on the installation, fast-charging stations can deliver between 24 and 400 kilowatts (kW). 

Charging stations made up of several units can provide a total power output of several megawatts, shared among the different charging points

How a fast charge works

• The power supplied by the fast-charging station is high at the start of charging. The vehicle’s battery charges quickly.
• As soon as a certain charge level is reached, the station adjusts. It provides less power to avoid overheating the battery.
• The higher the battery charge level, the slower the charging speed.

This is one of the reasons why EV drivers prefer to disconnect from a fast-charging station when they have recovered 80% of their battery capacity. This charge will be sufficient to cover a few hundred additional kilometres. If necessary, an additional stop will be made before the end of the journey.

Vehicle compatibility

Before charging your electric vehicle at a fast-charging station, it’s important to know your vehicle’s charging characteristics.

For example, the majority of plug-in hybrids are not compatible with DC fast-charging stations.

It’s possible that your vehicle’s battery can be charged to a maximum of 50 kW. Using a 100 kW fast-charging station won’t save any time, and will be more expensive. That’s why it’s not uncommon to see 50 kW and 100 kW fast-charging stations in the same location.

To determine if a vehicle is compatible with 50 kW and 100 kW fast charging stations, refer to the following resources:

• List of Supported Vehicles (Electric Circuit website) - in French only
• Vehicle Catalog (Running Electric website) - in French only
• Vehicles specifications on the automakers’ websites

To maximize electric driving range, consider charging your plug-in hybrid vehicle at public charging stations. Charging rates are the same for both fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

You will most likely have access only to Level 2 charging stations, as most plug-in hybrid vehicles are not compatible with DC fast-charging stations (DCFC).

Note that a plug-in hybrid vehicle typically requires more energy than a fully electric vehicle to cover the same distance in all-electric mode. Daily charging is necessary to drive in electric mode as often as possible.

Many plug-in hybrid owners choose this type of vehicle as a smooth transition to 100% electric mobility.