Chargers for electric cars are products that, like electrics themselves, are constantly under development. Manufacturers involved in the green motoring industry are racing to create ever more advanced technologies and installations that offer faster car charging. Learn about the types of equipment to power zero-emission vehicles and what a car charging station should be equipped with.
Types of chargers for electric cars
Chargers for electric cars can be divided into two types. The characteristics of each charger generally depend on what type of current it supports - alternating or direct current. Charging electric cars with direct current is carried out using DC-type cables.
This is a type of so-called fast charger, which can range from 50 to even 350 kW. However, for the time being, only models with a maximum output of 150 kW are available in Poland, and even these are still few in number. The characteristics of a DC charger also include its high voltage level, which is in the 400-800 V range. As for the amperage of this type of cable, it is around 300-500 A.
The second type of electric car charger is a cable with an AC designation. This type of power supply uses alternating current. These types of chargers for electric cars have lower power and amperage. The former comes in variants of 2-13 kW or 7.4-22 kW in the case of a device with an EVSE module. The amperage of the electric car charger in question also comes in two variants. The AC power supply uses single-phase voltage (230 V) or three-phase voltage (400 V). 
Electric car chargers - what should you bear in mind when buying?
Investing in zero-emission transport involves the need to purchase an electric car charger. Before you go to a shop or make an online purchase, you first need to find out what your specific car requirements are.
Before buying a charger, it is worth checking the type of converter installed in the electric car. This contains data on the maximum power the car can charge at. Even if you buy a power pack that supports more kilowatts, the electric car will still draw the power specified by the manufacturer. So it is not worth overpaying and investing in more powerful chargers - you will only waste their potential. 
Which charger to choose for an electric car?
In addition to checking the power of the charger and matching it to the needs of the car, the type of its plug should also be taken into account when choosing a power supply. There are two main types of plug on the market - Type 1 and Type 2. The former is popular in America, but is rather rare in the European circle.
Chargers for electric cars in our area usually have a Type 2 plug, also known as Mennekes. In 2013, the European Commission officially recognised this type of connector as valid in the European Union. Therefore, public charging stations have Type 2 power supplies, which are compatible with most electric vehicles here. So bear in mind that if you decide to buy a foreign car with a different socket, you will have to buy a special adapter for the charger.
An additional factor influencing the choice of power supplies is the price of electric car chargers. AC type chargers are the cheaper choice. The more powerful the power supply and the higher the amperage level, and therefore the faster the charging time - the more expensive the cable with the plug to the electrician will be.
