Fuels Fix



TerminologyFor a fairly straightforward discussion of electricity, what the terms mean, and how it applies to Electric Vehicles, this forum post may help: Current (AC): Current that periodically reverses direction of flow. Household electricity is normally AC.Amps: See Current (Electric Current)Current (Electric Current): The rate of flow of electrical charge. It is measured in amperes (also called amps and symbolized by capital letter A). For EVs, higher amperage leads to faster charging.DC Fast Charging (DCFC): See Level 3 ChargingDirect Current (DC): Current which flows in only one direction. It is typically associated with batteries.EV Efficiency: In this blog, the term is used to refer to how well an EV uses its electricity. This is often reported as Wh/mi. That can be a little difficult to understand, so a simple mathematical conversion can change it to mi/kWh. Miles/kilowatt hour is more directly analogous to the familiar miles per gallon measurement (although they are not equivalent).J-1772: The US standard for connecting to a Level 2 charger.Level 1 Charging: Level 1 charging is simply the same as plugging into a 120 volt wall outlet. Such wall outlets may be rated at 15, 20, or 30 amps.Level 2 Charging : Level 2 charging uses a 240 volt system capable of carrying higher currents, often 50, 80, or 100 amps. In the US, dedicated Level 2 chargers usually have a J-1772 connector, and EVs typically come with an adapter to mate with the J-1772 plug. Level 2 charging can also be achieved at home using wiring and a plug meeting electrical standards for 240 volts and the desired current. Often, charging stations can be found that have a NEMA 14-50 connector, providing 240 volts at 50 amps.Level 3 Charging: Level 3 chargers are high voltage, high current chargers that deliver Direct Current. This combination allows for much faster charging than Level 1 and Level 2 chargers since the vehicles do not have to convert AC to DC. Level 3 chargers are also referred to as DC Fast Charging or DCFC. Tesla Superchargers are Level 3 chargers.NEMA 14-50: A US standard plug capable of handling 240 volt, 50 amp charging.Range Anxiety: The worry that an EV won’t have sufficient battery capacity to reach the next charging station.Regenerative Braking: A system used in EVs and hybrid vehicles to recapture energy. When the driver eases up on the accelerator, the motor transfers energy back to the battery. That transfer slows the vehicle, much as an ICE vehicle will slow due to engine compression. The difference between an EV and ICE vehicle is that the EV is able to return that energy to the battery. An ICE vehicle has already burned its fuel and cannot recapture it.SoC – See State of ChargeState of Charge: State of Charge is the amount of energy remaining in the battery at a given time. It can be reported as the percent of battery capacity remaining, or as the estimated number of miles that can be driven on the remaining charge.Voltage: Voltage is measured in Volts (V). It is the electrical potential difference between two points. Your wall outlet at home typically has a 110 or 120 V difference from one side of the plug to another. Your electric clothes dryer uses a different circuit that has a 220 or 240 V difference from one side to the other. For EVs, higher voltage is one factor enabling faster charging.Watt (W): The Watt is a measure of electrical power. One kilowatt (kW) equals 1000 watts. When power is used for a period of time, work (in the scientific sense) is done. Work is measured in Watt hours (Wh) or kilowatt hours (kWh). If you were to use a 100 Watt light bulb for 10 hours, it would draw a total of 1 kWh. The work (or potential energy) stored in a battery is often expressed in kilowatt hours (kWh). If a battery in an Electric Vehicle takes the place of a fuel tank in an internal combustion vehicle, then the battery capacity can be compared to the fuel in the tank. In a Tesla Model 3, a full battery would have a charge of 80 kWh. In a typical gasoline vehicle, a full tank might be 16 gallons. ................
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