The electric vehicle charger is one of the vehicle's basic accessories, and it often directly affects battery life and riding range. So what should you watch for when using a charger?

1. Do not replace the original charger at will

Chargers for different models have basically different parameters. Most people do not understand chargers and casually swap in any replacement when one breaks, without realizing how much damage that can do to the battery. When you are not sure, do not change the charger on your own.

First, confirm the battery voltage V of the electric vehicle, or the output voltage of the original charger.

Judging the voltage from the batteries: a battery pack generally contains several batteries. If the model number is 6-DZM-12/20, the 6 means each battery is 12V. So count the batteries on your electric vehicle; four batteries make 48V. For an 8-DZM-12/20 battery, each unit is 16V, so a pack of four is 64V.

Next, confirm the battery capacity AH, or the output current of the original charger.

1. Judge capacity from the original charger: if its output current is 1.8A, the battery is 12AH.

2. Judge from the model written on the batteries: for example, on 6-DZM-12 the 12 means a 12AH battery; on 6-DZM-20 the 20 means a 20AH battery.

3. Judge from the mileage covered on one charge: generally, for a battery about one year old, if it runs 25-40 km on a full charge, a 12AH charger is suitable; if it runs 45-60 km, a 20AH charger is more suitable.

Finally, confirm the connector shape and polarity of the vehicle's charger socket.

Four connector types are common on the market: the T-shaped pin plug, the three-vertical-pin plug, the middle-horizontal-pin plug, and the round plug.

2. Do not buy cheap, poor-quality chargers

When a battery is saturated, a poor-quality charger's fan stops working and no longer dissipates heat. If the battery is being overcharged and the cooling fan also stops, the charger's temperature doubles: not only will the charger burn out, but in severe cases a short circuit and fire can occur.

Generally there are four causes of battery damage: water loss, sulfation, imbalance, and thermal runaway (charging swelling). The first two account for about 97% of battery failures on the market. Different charging modes also cause different degrees of water loss, so choosing a quality branded charger that has passed national testing is assured.

3. The charger must not endure violent vibration

Electrical appliances are generally not resistant to strong vibration, which can shift the internal potentiometer of the charger, put the charging state out of order, and even trigger an accident. Therefore, do not put the charger in the trunk or the basket of the electric vehicle. If you really must carry it, wrap it in cushioning material and place it in the on-board tool box to avoid knocks and vibration.

4. Mind the charging environment

Present electric vehicle chargers are designed for an ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, so charging at 25 degrees is best. Since the true 25-degree condition is relatively rare, overcharging in summer and undercharging in winter are inevitable. Charging itself is also an exothermic process, so the battery and charger are best placed in a ventilated indoor environment while charging.

5. Never cover the charger with anything

Good heat dissipation of the charger helps charging safety and the charger's own life, so never cover it with clothes, quilts, or the like during charging, which can easily cause a fire.

During charging, always keep the manufacturer's instructions in mind and follow them strictly, especially regarding charging time. Do not think the longer the better: excessive charging damages the battery, shortens the life of some charger components, and may even cause a fire.