The power and therefore the charging speed of a vehicle can be affected by a number of factors.
This often explains why the maximum power offered by the charging station is not the one actually used during a charging session.
🚘 The technical limitation of your car
Manufacturers limit the maximum power accepted by different electric vehicle models.
For example, the Peugeot e-208 can reach a maximum power of 100kW, while a Tesla Model 3 can reach up to 170kW.
It's advisable to contact your car dealer and/or consult your vehicle's manual to find out the maximum charging power allowed.
💡 Maximum load power is very rarely a linear over the entire load.
🔋 The charging status of your battery
Generally speaking, charging power falls sharply after 80% of battery charge.
This is linked to a physical phenomenon in the cells making up the battery.
The parallel can be drawn with filling a glass to the brim with water: at first, the tap is opened wide, then, gradually, only a trickle of water is used to keep the glass from overflowing.
🌡 Outside temperature
A battery that is too cold or too hot greatly affects the vehicle's power and recharging speed.
Some cars offer the option of battery pre-conditioning. This allows the vehicle to prepare the battery for optimal charging conditions on arrival at the station (generally between 20°C and 30°C).
👥 Terminal / station occupancy
When two vehicles are charging at the same terminal, the total power available from the terminal is divided between them.
Much more rarely, it's the station's connection to the power grid that is the limiting factor. This only applies to a few stations in our network, and only during very busy periods (saturated stations).
For any further information, please send us an email at help@go-electra.com ⚡️