With charging stations built along the Shanghai-Chengdu expressway, long-distance travel by electric vehicle has become possible. So how do you charge an electric vehicle? Here is a summary for you.

1. Normal charging. After an electric vehicle battery finishes discharging, it should be charged immediately (and in no case more than 24 hours later). The charging current is quite low, about 15A; this is called normal (ordinary) charging. Normal charging of an electric vehicle battery uses low-current constant-voltage or constant-current charging, usually for 5-8 hours, and sometimes as long as 10 to over 20 hours.

2. Fast charging. Fast charging is also called emergency charging. It uses a large current for a short time, providing a short charging service to the battery within 20 minutes to 2 hours while the vehicle is parked, usually at a charging current of 150-400A. However, compared with normal charging, fast charging has certain drawbacks: the charger's efficiency is lower and its operating and installation costs are higher, and because the charging current is large, this needs special consideration.

3. Mechanical charging, that is, a quick battery-pack replacement system. The purpose of charging is achieved by directly replacing the battery pack of the electric vehicle. Because the battery pack is heavy, replacing it requires a high degree of specialization, with professional personnel using specialized machinery to quickly complete the replacement, charging, and maintenance of the battery.

The above are the three methods of charging an electric vehicle. We hope they are helpful.