With the rapid advancement of technology, the future of the automotive industry is undoubtedly heading toward new energy and self-driving vehicles. As these innovations take center stage, charging stations play a crucial role as the power supply infrastructure for electric vehicles. The development of charging infrastructure has gained significant attention from both central and local governments. In this article, we will explore how charging piles work and what the future holds for them.
On November 7, 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration officially released the "13th Five-Year Plan for Power Development," which emphasized accelerating the construction of charging facilities to support the growth of electric vehicles. By 2020, it was expected that more than 4.8 million distributed charging piles would be in place, along with over 12,000 power station replacements. The goal was to establish a smart, efficient, and moderately advanced charging infrastructure system capable of meeting the needs of over 5 million electric vehicles nationwide. Experts predict that by 2030, the number of new energy vehicles could reach 50 million, requiring an estimated 140,000 charging stations and 50 million charging piles.
Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have also embraced national policies promoting electric vehicles. Beijing aims to build a fully interconnected, intelligent, and efficient charging network by 2020, ensuring the charging needs of 600,000 electric vehicles are met. Shanghai plans to construct 651 public charging stations, 39 bus charging stations, 225 taxi charging stations, and 3,495 special charging piles for sanitation and logistics.
In Anhui Province, a joint notice issued in August 2017 outlined plans for electric vehicle charging infrastructure between 2017 and 2020. It included building 200 special charging and replacement stations for buses, sanitation, and logistics, along with 130 urban public charging stations and 30,000 decentralized public charging piles, all aimed at supporting over 200,000 electric vehicles.
As these policies drive the development of the charging pile industry, many consumers still find charging piles unfamiliar. This article aims to clarify the classification of charging piles and explain the basic working principle of DC charging piles.
**1. Classification of Charging Piles**
Charging piles are generally divided into AC and DC types. AC charging piles, often referred to as "slow charge," use the on-board charger (OBC) to convert alternating current from the grid into direct current. Common power levels include 3.3kW and 6.6kW, depending on the input voltage and current. DC charging piles, or "fast charge," integrate a DC charging module that directly converts AC to DC, allowing output currents up to 100A or more, making them much faster.
DC charging piles can be further classified based on power size, number of charging guns, structural form, and installation method. The most common classification is based on structure: integrated DC charging piles and split-type DC charging piles.
**2. Basic Working Principle of DC Charging Piles**
According to the industry standard NB/T 33001-2010, DC charging piles consist of several key components: a power unit (DC charging module), a control unit (charging pile controller), a metering unit, charging interface, power supply interface, and a human-computer interaction interface.
The charging process involves applying a constant high current to the battery until its voltage reaches the nominal value, then switching to a smaller current for top-up. This requires a DC charging module to provide power, a controller to manage the charging process, and a touch screen for user interaction.
The electrical part of a DC charging pile includes a main circuit and a secondary circuit. The main circuit handles high-voltage inputs, while the secondary circuit manages control, monitoring, and user interface functions. Safety features such as air switches, fuses, and insulation testing are essential to ensure safe operation.
**3. Technical Development Trends of DC Charging Piles**
Looking ahead, five key trends are shaping the future of DC charging piles:
**3.1 Ultra-High Power Charging & Dynamic Power Distribution**
Future charging solutions may move toward ultra-high power charging reactors, especially for electric buses and taxis. Dynamic power distribution allows multiple modules to share power efficiently, increasing flexibility and performance.
**3.2 Smart Charging in Community Parking Lots**
Smart charging systems in community parking lots enable automatic charging of vehicles at night, optimizing energy use and reducing costs compared to traditional DC charging stations.
**3.3 Wall-Mounted Charging Piles for Homes**
As power distribution improves, wall-mounted DC charging piles may become household appliances, sold in stores and online. These compact units could offer fast charging experiences similar to home appliances.
**3.4 Integrated Charging and Storage Solutions**
Combining photovoltaics, energy storage, and charging stations creates a flexible energy ecosystem. Future charging stations could draw power from solar panels, batteries, or the grid, offering greater sustainability.
**3.5 Shared and Free Charging**
Inspired by the sharing economy, personal charging stations could be shared among users, making charging more accessible and cost-effective. This trend could transform charging stations into important O2O nodes, enhancing user experience and advertising opportunities.
As the charging pile industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that innovation, efficiency, and user convenience will remain at the forefront of development.
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