A fast charging network, or more specifically an HPC charging network, is a network of publicly accessible fast charging stations for electric vehicles. A fast charging network is a subtype of an electric vehicle charging network.
History
Electric vehicles have the advantage that they do not require any special infrastructure for charging when they are launched on the market, but they can rely on the widespread availability for household electricity. For long-distance travel however the charging breaks can get long and may require an overnight stay. The charging points at houses are typically limited to 7 to 16 A at 220-240 volts (1.5 kW to 3.8 kW). The question of whether you will reach your destination or the intermediate point with a full charge of the drive battery has led to range anxiety. In addition to having particularly large batteries - the Tesla Model S from 2012 reached over 600 km - people began to set up fast charging points on long-distance routes. Tesla's Superchargers showed that impressively, although they were not the first fast charging network.
Fast charging
The pioneers of interrelated public charging points can be found in the Park & Charge sites, where the pilot project dates back to 1992 in Switzerland. The microcars (quadricycles) supported by this did not have large batteries, so that 3-phase power outlets (32 A at 400 volts) shortened the charging stops sufficiently to enable longer day trips. In the form of an association in which private individuals set up a switch box for the use of other members, the charging points spread further in Europe, mostly on private properties. Authorization to use them consisted of having the appropriate key for the switch box, which was handed out by the association.
When the GM EV1 was developed for California in 1996, public charging points were part of the concept. The GM Hughes Electronics Corporation had already proposed an inductive charging connector for public charging points in 1992.[1] However, the separate charger with 6.6 kW only achieved a little more than the on-board charger for household electricity with 1.2 kW. On top of that, the state-installed public charging points were not usually located on along long travel routes, but rather at train stations preferred for commuters.
In 2007, ChargePoint was founded in California, which not only manufactured wall boxes for private households, but also offered to operate them as public charging stations. Additionally they were able to find retailers to provide a place, so that there were charging stations with ChargePoint Home with 16 A and 32 A for 220 V widely available.
Charging Networks
Operators
China: Europe: North America:
- Tesla Supercharger
- State Grid[61]
- ABB Chargedot[62]
- TELD[63]
- Star Charge[64]
References
- COMPANY NEWS: No Word Yet on Sticker Shock; A Quicker Charge For Electric Cars New York Times, 1992-07-21^
- ChargePoint Unveils New Express Station ChargePoint, 2015-06-23^
- westcoastgreenhighway.com^