Electric Vehicles are common on the road and one of most important aspects of them is the charging system. Electric vehicles can be charged in two ways: single-phase and three-phase. in this article, we’ll explain the basics of single-phase and three phase charging and the factors that influence charging speed and performance.
Basically, the number of phases your car has only plays a role during AC charging. When using a DC charging station, only the max DC charging power of your electric vehicle and the charging station matters.
Electric Vehicles On-Board Chargers
Before we deep into EV charging, we will take a look the on-board chargers in EVs. Every electric vehicle comes with a built-in onboard charger, which determines the number of phases it can use for charging. Some electric vehicles have a single-phase onboard charger, while others have a three-phase onboard charger.
It’s essential to use a charging station with the same number of phases as the electric vehicle’s onboard charger. For example, if an electric vehicle has a single-phase onboard charger, it can only be charged using a single-phase charging station. In contrast, an electric vehicle with a three-phase onboard charger can use both single-phase and three-phase charging stations.
However, in some cases, you may not have access to a charging station with the same number of phases as your electric vehicle’s onboard charger, For example if you have a three-phase electric vehicle and only have access to a single-phase charging station, your electric vehicle will only be able to charge using a single phase, which will reduce the charging speed, similarly, if you have a single-phase electric vehicle and only have access to a three-phase charging station, your electric vehicle will still charge using a single phase, which will not increase the charging speed. So the weakest link in the charging chain will define the max speed.
Power Grid in homes
Your home’s power grid is another factor that can influence the charging speed and performance of your electric vehicle. Most homes have a single-phase power supply, which means that a single-phase charging station is the only option. However, some homes have a three-phase power supply, which means that both single-phase and three-phase charging stations can be used.
If you have a powerful three-phase charging station and a three-phase electric vehicle, you might assume that you can charge your electric vehicle at maximum speed. However, the power grid’s capacity can be a limiting factor. When you are at home, you have a limited amount of energy that you can use at once. If you exceed this limit, your home may experience a power outage.
The electricity meter in your house will allow you to find out how many phases are available for charging.
- If the meter says 220 / 230V, this means you can have only a single-phase connection.
- If you see 3×220 / 230V, 380 / 400V, or 380V, you can use all three phases.
So the power grid in your home also plays a role in determining your charging speed. Smart home chargers can help prevent this by using only a safe amount of energy through load balancing features.
Main difference between single-phase Ev charging cables and three-phase EV charging：
Single-Phase Electricity Supply
A single-phase electricity supply is the most common type of electricity supply in most of countries like China, UK or other European countries. It is made up of two wires: a live wire and a neutral wire. The voltage between the live wire and the neutral wire is 220 volts (V) or 230V, or sometimes, even 240V.
The maximum current that can be drawn from a single-phase electricity supply is 16 amperes (A). This means that the maximum power that can be delivered is 3.68 kilowatts (kW).
For direct current, power is equal to current times voltage: power = current * voltage
3.68KW= 16A * 230V
Most electric vehicles can be charged using a single-phase charger, but the charging time will be slower than if you are using a three-phase charger.
Advantages of a Single-Phase Electricity Supply
The majority of homes in China and Europe are connected to a single-phase electricity supply.
Sufficient for a home with a single-phase electrical connection.
Sufficient for vehicles incapable of three-phase charging.
Single-phase chargers are less expensive than three-phase chargers.
Disadvantages of a Single-Phase Electricity Supply
The maximum power that can be delivered is 3.68 kilowatts (kW), which means that the charging time will be slower than if you were using a three-phase charger.
Three-Phase Electricity Supply
A three-phase electricity supply is made up of three wires: two live wires and a neutral wire. The voltage between each live wire and the neutral wire is 380V or sometimes up to 400V.
A three-phase charger is much more powerful than a single-phase charger and can charge an electric vehicle up to three or four times faster.
So “phase” is the number of conductors or wires used to transfer the electrical power from the charging station to the vehicle. This difference in the number of conductors means that three-phase charging can deliver more power to the vehicle, resulting in faster charging times.
Advantages of a Three-Phase Electricity Supply
Our charger with three phases can deliver with a maximum power of 22KW. The charging time will be much faster than if you were using a single-phase charger.
Future-proofs your investment, as your next vehicle may support three-phase charging
Ideal for commercial and industrial settings with three-phase power infrastructure
Disadvantages of a Three-Phase Electricity Supply
Three-phase chargers are more expensive than single-phase chargers.
The main difference between single-phase and three-phase electricity is the amount of power that can be delivered. For domestic use, a single-phase supply is sufficient, but if you are considering an electric vehicle,make sure you have a three-phase charger installed so that you can take advantage of the faster charging times.
Charging Cables for Single and Three-Phase Charging
The type of charging cable you use can also limit your charging power. It’s important to check the instructions or plug of the cable to ensure it supports the appropriate number of phase and to maximize your electric vehicle’s charging speed and efficiency.
But how do you figure out how many phases a cable supports?
You can either read about it in the cable instructions or take a look at its plug (the end that goes into the car socket). If it supports three phases, all of its 7 pin holes have the same filling. If only one phase is available, two lower pins look like they are empty.
Type 1 charging cables are suitable for single-phase charging only, while type 2 cables can support both single-phase and three-phase charging.
To pick the right one, make sure it supports at least as many phases as you need for your car charging, matching what your car and wallbox can handle. For instance, if you want and have the opportunity to enjoy three-phase charging, opt for a three-phase charging cable.
It’s recommended that you always have the option to charge with all three phases. For example, if you have a single-phase electrical connection at home, installing a three-phase wallbox wouldn’t be practical. However, you can still take advantage of a type 2 cable with three phases at a public AC charging station to access full power charging. Typically, you’d need to use your own cable in these situations.
conclusion
In conclusion, there are several links in the charging chain, the main factor in your decision-making should be your electric car, of course. You can find out how many phases it supports and then choose a suitable EV charger and charging cable to reach the maximum charging power.
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