Now if you’re planning to replace your electric car with a different brand, you might get a jolt with a completely different charging system. Not anymore. General Motors has announced that American and German automakers have concluded on adopting a standardized electric vehicle recharging port. Its like the USB of the auto world.
The technology christened, “DC Fast Charging with a Combined Charging System,” is a multi-choice recharging system. It offers four recharging selections – one-phase AC-charging, three-phase AC-charging, DC-charging and ultra-fast DC-charging. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has standardized this system that will extend over the existing one-type charging system. With the four-in-one recharging system standardized, the electric car commuters will be able to recharge their car at every recharging station. In addition, the proposed system is claimed to reduce the time of charging EVs to as little as 15-20 minutes.
According to GM, “The combination charging approach will ease development and infrastructure complexity, improve charging reliability, reduce the total cost-of-ownership for end customers and provide low maintenance costs.”
While the proposed system will be showcased at the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles, it is likely to enter production by end of the current calendar. However, we will have to wait until next year to see a compatible model roll out in the market.
While major automakers like Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have issued a statement, showing green signal to the proposed EV charging system, Nissan did not join the list of automakers. Its current fast-charging DC technology can recharge the Leaf up to 50 percent in 30 minutes.
With most people preferring to charge their vehicles at home due to inaccessibility to charging stations, the proposed system could be made more available at local gas stations or retail stores.