Electric cars charge by converting alternating current (AC) power from the electrical grid to direct current (DC) power, which is then stored in the car's battery pack.
Understanding the Charging Process
The charging process involves the following steps:
- AC Power Supply: The electrical grid delivers AC (Alternating Current).
- Onboard Charger: Electric cars need DC (Direct Current) to charge their battery pack. Therefore, when an EV uses an AC charger, it supplies the EV's onboard charger. According to the reference, the size of the onboard charging device is constrained by space.
- AC to DC Conversion: The onboard charger converts the AC power to DC power.
- Battery Charging: The DC power is then used to charge the car's battery pack.
In essence, the car utilizes an onboard charger to convert the AC power from a standard outlet or charging station to the DC power needed by the battery.
