Improper electric vehicle charging habits have serious consequences. During the charging process, short circuits or overcharging of electric vehicle batteries may cause fires and explosions. In addition, incorrect charging habits may also shorten battery life, resulting in economic losses.
As EV adoption grows rapidly, drivers must value charging safety and understand key protocols to follow. Issues like inconsistent charging protocols, unreliable level 2 car chargers, or ignoring manufacturer guidelines can potentially damage batteries or cause hazardous situations.
With EVs representing a sizable investment, taking correct charging steps is necessary to maximize performance and longevity.
Why is Safe Charging Important?
Safe charging practices are essential for electric vehicle owners and the wider adoption of sustainable transportation.
Why is safe charging important? Because improper EV charging poses risks not only to personal safety but also to the long-term performance of one’s EV investment.
1. Protect Battery Health
The EV battery is the core component whose health condition directly affects the vehicle’s performance and range. Correct charging habits can effectively protect the health of batteries and extend their lifespan.
Overcharging or discharging can cause the battery to overheat, accelerate the chemical reaction rate inside the battery, and thus accelerate battery aging.
Thus, even occasional non-standard charging accelerates capacity fade and shortens cycle life if repeated frequently across thousands of charging cycles over a decade or more of service.
Strictly following charging regulations helps to protect battery health and range. It also reduces the cost of battery replacement and disposal, contributing to environmental protection.
2. Prevent Fire Risk
While lithium-ion batteries incorporated into modern electric vehicles feature multilayered internal safety mechanisms controlling thermal and electrical abnormalities, accidental risk can never be entirely eliminated.
Damaged or improperly maintained batteries also retain an outside risk of overheating in unforeseeable failure scenarios. It can cause a fire when a short circuit or overcharging occurs.
Therefore, proper charging habits are crucial for preventing fire risks. For example, using qualified charging stations, timely and moderate charging, and avoiding charging in high-temperature environments can reduce fire risk.
3. Optimize Investment Return
The purchase and maintenance costs of electric vehicles are relatively high. Safe charging not only helps to avoid safety accidents caused by improper charging but also avoids additional losses resulting from it, further improving investment returns.
Vehicles in good working condition can achieve better investment returns, whether for self-use or future sale. In addition, safe charging can also avoid potential public safety threats caused by charging accidents, allowing car owners to use it with confidence.
What Causes Safety Hazards?
Some factors that, if not addressed adequately, could undermine EV charging safety. In particular, failing to follow manufacturer guidelines, relying on substandard equipment, and environmental conditions raise risks to batteries and property.
Staying informed about potential issues empowers drivers to favorably optimize outcomes. The top causes include:
1. Inconsistent Vehicle Protocol
Inconsistent vehicle protocols refer to a lack of unified communication standards between vehicles and charging stations. This inconsistency may hinder communication between the vehicle and the charging device, such as inconsistent charging voltage and current or incorrect data exchange during the charging process.
These issues may lead to low charging efficiency and may even cause overcharging, overheating, or other safety issues in the battery.
It is recommended that you check if the charger is compatible with your car and if it can support high-power charging before purchasing it. This can avoid accidents and losses caused by communication problems between devices.
2. Non-compliant Charging Facilities
Relying primarily on level 1 charging stations strains battery health. First, level 1 charging relying on cables has poor heat dissipation. It may easily cause spontaneous combustion, especially in summer. Second, if the home voltage fluctuates, it will affect the charging efficiency and safety of the battery.
The environment can also cause safety hazards. For example, outdoor environments can accelerate cable aging, and charging wires lacking over-current and short-circuit protection can also easily cause safety issues.
Non-compliant solutions also introduce potential safety concerns. Non-compliant charging stations not manufactured according to national standards may have electrical performance defects. If there is a lack of multiple safety protections, such as alarms during high temperatures, it may lead to delayed accident handling and greater risks.
In contrast, qualified home level 2 car chargers or commercial level 3 charging stations are equipped with comprehensive safety functions, which not only save charging time but also potentially avoid various charging risks.
3. Battery Management System Malfunction
A car’s battery management system (BMS) helps charge the battery safely. The BMS normally controls how much power goes in and out of the battery. It also monitors the battery’s voltage and temperature so it does not get too hot during charging.
Automakers design the BMS to spot issues very quickly. It is used for checking errors to find small problems before they get big. Without the BMS working, issues such as overcharging, over discharging, or high temperature of the battery may occur. It can also affect the longevity the battery and even lead to fire or explosion.
BMS malfunctions may be caused by various factors, such as hardware damage to sensors, circuit boards, etc. Software and firmware issues may also cause abnormal system operation.
If the communication between the BMS and other vehicle systems is disrupted, it may also affect the normal operation of the BMS.
4. Complex Climate and Environment
Electric car batteries neither perform well in extremely hot temperatures nor cold temperatures.
In high-temperature environments, the chemical reactions inside the battery will accelerate, leading to an increase in battery temperature. When the temperature exceeds the safe range, thermal runaway may happen.
In low-temperature environments, the battery’s chemical reaction slows down, leading to a decrease in charging efficiency and battery capacity.
If the environment changes a lot, like big storms or dust, it can also cause safety problems. Dust and water could get inside the charger and harm the battery charging parts. Different weather conditions also make it tough to keep the charger enclosure in good shape over time.
Therefore, a household charger for Level 2 charging is more beneficial for battery health and charging safety than relying solely on cables for Level 1 charging.
5. Charging Monitoring Platform Malfunction
The charging monitoring platform is a system used for real-time monitoring of EV charging stations. It can collect and analyze various data during the charging process, such as charging current, voltage, temperature, etc., and timely alarm when abnormal situations occur.
Normally the monitor lets you see charging details on an app. It knows if the charging process is good or bad. Charging monitoring platform malfunction may lead to the inability to detect and handle problems during the charging process in a timely manner, increasing the risk of safety accidents.
Small monitor mistakes are fixed quickly. However, some monitor glitches happen fast due to infrequent maintenance. Common causes of charging monitoring platform failures include abnormal power connections, line failures, communication failures in charging stations, or aging or damage to electric components. All of these may cause the monitoring platform to malfunction.
What Measures Should I Take to Safely Charge?
Following some basic best practices equips EV owners to charge their vehicles reliably without risks to safety or asset longevity.
Standard procedures stress the importance of qualified installations, environmental consideration, active monitoring of charging habits, and station maintenance. Being prepared to address uncommon emergencies also provides peace of mind. Here are some recommendations:
1. Standardize Charging Equipment
Utilize officially certified Level 2 car charger solutions, including chargers and charging cables. Ensure that these devices are compatible with your electric vehicles and have necessary safety protection functions such as overload, short circuit, and overheating protection.
Standardizing level 2 car chargers accelerates recharge times to mere hours rather than days through Level 1 charging solutions from household outlets. In addition, compared with a level 3 car charger, a level 2 car charger has become the preferred selection for many users due to its moderate charging speed and power. It reduces the heat accumulation of the battery during the charging process and can better balance charging efficiency and battery health.
In addition, the battery management system inside the level 2 car charger can reliably promote efficient charging processes. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about battery health risks caused by the inability to intelligently adjust temperature and power transmission.
2. Avoid Damp and Sun Exposure Environments
When installing the level 2 car charger, choose a dry and well-ventilated location to avoid charging in a damp or direct sunlight environment. Moist environments may cause damage to electrical components and increase the risk of electric shock. High-temperature environments may accelerate chemical reactions inside the battery, reduce charging cycles, or cause safety accidents.
In addition to the serious impact mentioned above, long-term moisture may cause corrosion of charging interfaces and electronic components. It may also affect the battery’s charging and discharging efficiency, affecting the user experience.
Ultraviolet radiation can accelerate the aging of plastic and rubber materials, reducing the durability of cables and connectors.
3. Keep the Battery Healthy
Take care of your EV battery properly. You can help it last longer by charging it the right way.
Firstly, try to avoid fully charging or discharging the battery every time. Instead, use and charge it within 20% to 80%.
Secondly, occasional charging and discharging can help calibrate the battery management system.
Thirdly, avoid frequent rapid acceleration and braking, which can reduce the rapid consumption of energy and the pressure on batteries.
Finally, regular inspection and maintenance should be carried out to avoid battery accidents.
4. Pay Attention to Charging Time
Paying attention to charging time can help you prevent overcharging, which affects battery life. If you find it troublesome to monitor yourself, you can pay attention to whether it is equipped with an APP monitoring function when purchasing a Level 2 car charger.
You can set the charging time through the intelligent charging app to avoid excessive charging.
The app can provide real-time charging status updates, such as charging progress and predicted finishing time. If an abnormal situation is detected, such as a high temperature, the app will immediately alarm to prevent safety issues.
In addition, you can be set to start charging during lower electricity prices and stop before the battery is fully charged, thereby saving electricity costs.
By precisely controlling the charging time and battery level, the APP can help reduce unnecessary energy consumption. This helps to reduce the impact on the environment.
5. Properly Disconnect the Connector
Always properly end the charging session when you finish charging your electric car. Many people often overlook the correct steps.
First, make sure the charging is complete. The app or station display will show 100% full. Then, you can disconnect the cable.
If the charging has just been completed, wait for some time to cool down. Operating connectors at high temperatures may increase safety risks.
Afterward, the connector on the vehicle side should be disconnected first, and then disconnect the type 2 EV charger side. This can avoid electric arcs during the process.
Finally, the charging connector should be properly stored and neatly placed back into the vehicle’s charging port.
6. Regularly Inspect the Charging Station and Charging Interface
Inspecting the level 2 car charger helps avoid larger issues down the road. Inspections help find cracks, rust, or worn insulation on cables and plugs. Catching faults early through routine diagnosis allows simple fixes. This prevents costly repairs from neglecting minor problems and prevents them from getting worse.
If you purchase a level 2 car charger equipped with an intelligent app, it can conveniently record inspection results and test various charging station functions. For common accidents, it also provides reliable suggestions to reduce your helplessness when facing small problems.
7. Prepare Fire-fighting Equipment
While EV charging stations and EVs exhibit robust internal safety mechanisms that excellently manage thermal runaway events, no system eliminates all risks. Simple on-site preparedness measures like fire extinguishers appropriately equip you to address most malfunctions quickly, protecting lives and property with no unnecessary delays.
Despite how rarely problems happen, taking some small precautions makes EV charging even safer. After equipping your home with fire-fighting equipment, be sure that family members understand how to use these fire-fighting equipment correctly and regularly check their effectiveness. Only in this way can uncertain accidents be effectively and quickly resolved.
Level 2 Car Charger Solutions by EVB Charger
A quality EV charging solution from an electric car charging company is needed to ensure safety and battery life. EVB Charger is an EV infrastructure brand established in 2011 that is committed to supplying high-quality electric vehicle products and associated services.
For the most reliable charging in your home, the company’s level 2 car chargers offer safety, compatibility with different vehicles and install situations, intuitive APP features, and round-the-clock technical support. The following is their solution for every family:
1. Dual Socket AC EV Charger
The Dual Socket AC EV Charger is designed to efficiently power multi-vehicle home charging. Its integrated dual-port design removes the limitations of single-head units by enabling two EVs to charge simultaneously at ample charging power per socket. This level 2 electric car charger streamlines operations. Here are its features:
- Charging for 1 hour allows for a range of 120km with this 22kW level 2 car charger.
- Intuitive color touchscreen displays charging data, even in direct sunlight, for convenient monitoring.
- Sturdy cabinet design with high impact standards protects components from weathering or incidental bumps.
- Multiple optional network connections offer flexible remote monitoring and usage reporting.
- IP55 and full protection function reduce maintenance frequency and protect charging safety.
- Compatibility with the OCPP 1.6J protocol allows seamless data transmission and remote monitoring through an APP.
- Wireless DLB function can balance the power of different devices without ground digging to bury transmission lines.
- Temperature monitoring function can perfectly avoid thermal runaway.
2. Rack-mounted LFP Energy Storage Battery Pack
This battery energy storage system, developed with safety and reliability as the top priorities, provides a future-proof foundation for residential renewable energy self-sufficiency.
Its flexible rack-mounted energy storage pack can naturally integrate with solar and inverters to promote more sustainable transportation. Its top characteristics include:
- Scalable energy storage battery packs (up to 15 layers) can adapt to future demand growth without reinvestment.
- A-grade LFP battery maintains longevity with up to 5000 cycles at 80% DOD.
- The all-aluminum body design gives a larger heat dissipation area, significantly preventing overheating and extending system life.
- Strong compatibility with multi-model inverters and reputed brands
- Compact profile makes installation easier.
- IP54 rating ensures durable outdoor use.
In addition to the above product advantages, EVB Charger also equipped their EV charging stations with Z-BOX monitoring software. Users can easily monitor the charging situation and set charging current, voltage, and maximum power values through this charging management software.
Plug-and-play and RFID charging allow instant and easy operation. Enabling ground detection and emergency stop buttons can also prevent safety accidents and ensure worry-free charging.
The app also allows different modes to be set, such as pure PV mode, hybrid mode, and full speed mode, to utilize photovoltaic power or grid power according to different situations, enabling flexible charging and saving charging costs.
Conclusion
Adhering to manufacturers’ basic charging protocols and selecting trustworthy level 2 car chargers from reputable suppliers helps maximize the long-term benefits of electrified transportation while reducing risks.
Companies like EVB Charger design products with complete protections, compatibility across automakers, simple maintenance, and efficiency optimization to enable dependable charging.
Visit EVB Charger’s official website to explore all its EV charging solutions and learn more information about charging safety on your sustainable journey!
