Charging Station: How does fast charging for vehicles work?

The electric station is increasingly common on our roads; But do you know how a fast charging station for electric vehicles works?

Times are changing, and the era in which combustion vehicles were the only ones present on our roads has come to an end. Today, and increasingly, combustion vehicles and electric vehicles coexist in our daily lives. The technology and availability of electric cars has grown significantly in the last decade and their sales now account for 37% of the total market in countries such as Norway (the absolute leader), 1.7% in France and close to 1% in Spain and the United Kingdom. One reason why fast charging for vehicles is essential for the

However, charging this type of vehicle is very different from what we are used to. Although we know perfectly well how fuel is charged in our car, and we are beginning to familiarize ourselves with domestic charging points, very similar to a post with a plug, do we know how a fast charging station for electric vehicles works? Let’s go for it.

First of all, it is important to keep in mind that what we know as fast charging stations operate with a power equal to or greater than 50 kW, that is, in direct current. This is why, in order for our car to charge, we are going to require more elements than those we would find in a domestic or low-power charger.

Thus, the electricity reaches the electric charging station through the electrical network supplied by the supplier. This is where we will differentiate three main elements for charging our vehicle:

• Transformation center, including the connection to the medium voltage network.
• Power converter cabinet.
• Charging post.

Let’s go with the first one. The transformer station will be responsible for connecting the charging station to the medium-voltage grid, complying with the regulations required by the electricity distributor to whose grid it will be connected, and for transforming the electricity from the medium-voltage grid to low-voltage. Why is this important? Because it guarantees the operation of the rest of the elements that will ensure the charging of the electric vehicle and because it is, in turn, a fundamental point from the point of view of safety.

In addition, the most advanced transformation centers offer operating companies remote data that allows them to know consumption, usage trends, and the status of the grid and its elements, allowing them to operate and maintain their network of charging stations more efficiently. All of this ensures that energy is available to the different users.

Once the voltage is low, it is time for the second element of the equation to come into operation: it is the turn of the power converter cabinet. This set of equipment fulfills the function of adapting electricity, which arrives in alternating current, to direct current, which is what the batteries of electric vehicles accept.

Now, that the voltage is low and the current is direct, it is the turn of the most well-known element: the charging post. These posts, with an appearance and functions similar to the pumps we find at any gas station, only in this case the energy is electrical, are responsible for transmitting energy to our car.

In addition, they allow us to know the energy that the “electrolinera” is capable of supplying us, the energy that our battery is capable of absorbing, the temperature conditions of the battery and an approximation of the charging time, in addition to payment management. In short, in addition to providing us with energy through the cable, they act as an interpreter so that the charger and the vehicle understand each other and we can choose the best charging option.

The most powerful electric charging station in southern Europe, in Bizkaia

Although Spain is still a country that has yet to make this type of technology more common, the province of Bizkaia has the most powerful charging station for electric vehicles in all of southern Europe.

This station, promoted by Repsol, is capable of delivering, through its four charging terminals, up to 400 kilowatts individually. This means that electric vehicles with a battery that supports this maximum power will be fully recharged in five to ten minutes.

This station, the second that Repsol has opened at its service stations this year, uses 100% Basque technology, highlighting the role that Ormazabal, a company specializing in smart grids, has played in delivering a complete transformation center for the supply of energy.

Types of charging at an electric filling station

Today there are four charging modes, although one of them is is practically disappearing. Let’s take a look at each of the modes and what characterizes them. You can learn more in this post where we explain “What types of recharging are there for our electric vehicle?”

How many fast charging points for vehicles are there in Spain?

Now that we know how these fast charging stations for electric vehicles work, we have another question to answer. And that is, do we have enough charging points?

The Guide to Electric Mobility for Local Entities, published by Red Eléctrica Española, estimates that there are 63,000 electric vehicles circulating in Spain, of which approximately 25,000 are cars, barely 1% of the total vehicle fleet in the country, which stands at 24,000,000 cars.

Thus, these 63,000 vehicles have approximately 5,100 charging stations for electric vehicles. This number is much lower than the 12,000 in Norway, the 24,000 in France, or the 27,000 in Germany. However, these figures reflect the representation of electric vehicles in the vehicle fleet in these countries, where they have the highest penetration.

Finally, we should take into account the number of charging points for private electric vehicles; the data for these is difficult to verify, but they represent a very important part of users’ charging habits, this time at home.