How to charge an electric car at a rapid charging station
A rapid charging station allows you to recover a large amount of energy without leaving the car plugged in for several hours.
It is mainly used:
- During a long journey
- Between two appointments
- When home charging is not available
- When you need to get back on the road quickly
Unlike accelerated charging stations, rapid charging stations use direct current. Electricity is sent directly to the battery without being limited by the onboard charger used for alternating current charging.
Charging at a rapid charging station takes approximately 20 minutes for a charge from 10 to 80%.
What is the difference between a rapid charging station and an accelerated charging station?
An accelerated charging station uses alternating current (AC) and often requires your own Type 2 cable.
It sends the current through your car’s onboard charger, which converts it into direct current (DC) to charge the battery.
A rapid charging station uses direct current (DC) and has a cable directly attached to the charging station.
The charging station supplies power directly to your car’s battery, without passing through the onboard charger.
Which connector should you use?
Most recent electric cars sold in Europe use a Combo CCS 2 connector for rapid charging.
Some older vehicles from Japanese brands still use a CHAdeMO connector.
There are also vehicles that only have a Type 2 connector, mainly entry-level models. They therefore cannot benefit from rapid charging.
Before going to a station, check that your car is compatible with the available connector.
The upper part of the CCS connector has the same shape as the Type 2 connector. Two additional contacts located underneath allow rapid direct current charging.
How to start charging
The method used to start charging at a rapid charging station is generally the same, but it may vary depending on the equipment used.
First, take your Electus badge and present it to the charging station reader.
If you do not have an Electus badge, it is advisable to order one before setting off.
If the charging station offers this option, select the connector you want to use, then present your Electus badge to the charging station.
Plug in your vehicle and wait for charging to begin.
Once charging has started, you can do something else while the vehicle charges. You can monitor the charging session in the Electus app.
How to stop charging
The stopping procedure will depend on the equipment used.
Some charging stations will ask you to present your Electus badge to stop the charging session, while others will only require you to press “stop”.
Once your session has ended, return the charging cable correctly to the charging station and free up the space for the next users.
Why might charging be slower than expected?
The power displayed by the charging station corresponds to its maximum power output. This power may be divided by the number of vehicles at the station or connected to the charging station.
Your vehicle may also be a limiting factor depending on the maximum power it can accept, the battery temperature and the battery charge level.
Charging power will be higher when the battery level is low and will decrease significantly from 80%.
Some cars can also prepare the temperature of their battery when a rapid charging station is selected in their navigation system. This function, known as preconditioning, can improve charging speed in cold weather.
Why does charging slow down after 80%?
A battery does not charge at the same speed throughout the entire session.
Power is generally high when the battery level is low, then gradually decreases as the battery fills up.
This reduction helps to protect the cells and limit their heating.
During a journey, it is therefore often quicker to leave at around 80% and plan another stop later.
Depending on the car and the conditions, charging from 80 to 100% can take almost as long as charging from 20 to 80%.
How to choose a rapid charging station
You can locate an accelerated charging station using the Electus app:
You can view the following information about the charging stations:
- Their power
- The number of connectors
- Their availability
- Their price
- Any access restrictions
- The available photos and information