How to Effectively Maintain Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Today, the popularity of electric vehicles is unstoppable, however, the charging responsibility that comes with it has become particularly important. Whether it's a home or a business, installing electric vehicle charging stations is a forward-looking move, but regular maintenance is essential to ensure their efficient operation over the long term. Fortunately, the maintenance of electric vehicle charging stations is not complicated or time-consuming. In this article, we will explore how to tell if your electric car charger needs maintenance and provide relevant advice to help you better manage your charging station.

How to Determine Whether an EV Charger Needs Maintenance?

Obvious External Damage

Electric vehicle charging stations are often exposed to the external environment and are therefore susceptible to weather, climatic conditions, vandalism or other external factors, especially public charging stations, which are more susceptible to external damage due to frequent use. These damages can cause the charger to function abnormally or even become completely unusable. Therefore, it is vital to regularly inspect and clean the external components of the charging station to ensure that potential problems are detected and fixed in a timely manner.

The Voltage is Abnormal

The operation of electric vehicle chargers depends on a stable voltage. The Level 1 charger operates at 120V and produces an average of 1.4 kW of power. The level 2 charger uses 240V and the output power is between 6.2 and 7.6 kW. In order to speed up charging, the level 3 charger uses a DC power supply, which can reach 50 to 350 kW. These figures will vary depending on the charging capacity of the electric vehicle.

If you find that the output of the charger is lower than the average for this level of charger, then it may mean that the charger needs maintenance.

Extended Charging Time

Normally, a level 1 charger takes 11 to 20 hours to fully charge, and a level 2 charger takes 4 to 10 hours. With a Level 3 charger, the vehicle can be fully charged in 30 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you find that charging takes longer than usual, it could be caused by a voltage problem, but it could also be caused by other factors (such as cold weather). Therefore, if the charging speed of the charging station drops significantly, it is recommended to check whether the charger needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

Make a Maintenance Plan

Even if charging stations are not currently experiencing significant failures, regular maintenance is still the best way to extend their service life. Following the recommended maintenance schedule and actively performing maintenance can prevent minor problems from developing into major failures.

How to Test the Charger?

Vehicle Testing

After any electrical or body repairs, electric vehicles should be tested. If the vehicle is operating under harsh conditions, it is recommended to test it at least every 12 months. Regular testing helps identify potential maintenance needs before problems arise, thereby preventing trouble caused by the triggering of a protective RCD (leakage protection device).

Cable Test

It is very important to check the charging cable before using the charger each time. Even if the cable is separate from the vehicle, an independent electrical test should be conducted at least once every 12 months. If the cable is frequently used outdoors, or if it is physically damaged, exposed to water or contaminants, electrical testing is recommended more frequently, preferably every six months.

In addition, cables should be inspected and tested after being run over by vehicles, subjected to high strain, worn or exposed to bad weather, even if there is no obvious damage. It is also important to prevent wires from getting trapped in doors or buildings, or from being damaged by squeezing or cutting.

Outlet and Charging Station Test

Before and after first use, it is recommended that any outlet used for electric vehicle charging be electrically inspected on a regular basis (at least once every 12 months). Some electrical devices may prohibit the use of certain outlets for charging, so ensuring the safety and suitability of the outlet is critical.

Is Constant Connected Charging Harmful?

The battery of an electric car is one of its most important and expensive components, so drivers are usually very careful to protect it. Many people may be concerned that prolonged charging can cause damage to the battery, similar to what happens when the battery of a device such as a smartphone or iPods ages after being charged overnight. In fact, however, it is best to leave the electric car connected when not in use, not only to ensure that the battery is fully charged, but also to prevent any potential damage to the battery.

Service Life of EV Charger

Because electric vehicle charging devices (EVSE) are a relatively new technology, there is currently not much information about their service life and maintenance costs. However, industry experts expect that the life expectancy of electric car chargers is about ten years. The most common damage to chargers usually occurs during the wet, rainy summer months, so regular maintenance of charging stations is the best way to extend the life of chargers.

Maintenance Cost

The maintenance costs of an EV charging station mainly include keeping the equipment clean, regularly testing components and safely storing the charging cables. Although occasional repairs may be required, for the most part, maintenance costs are relatively low. It is also important to know who is responsible for maintenance costs, whether it is the installer, the charging network, or the site host.

Conclusion

In short, by proactively maintaining and managing electric vehicle charging stations, we can not only improve the performance of charging equipment, but also extend its service life, providing a solid guarantee for the popularity and use of electric vehicles. Hopefully, this guide will provide you with effective help in managing your charging station to ensure that your EV charging experience remains smooth and efficient.