Re: Battery charging system (a third method)

[webmaster@ccdemo.org (Leonard G. Barton, Webmaster)]

Greetings:

There is a third method, AC conductive, used by the conductive chargers
found in some malls and a few private garges.  These are used for the Honda
EV and the Ford Ranger EV.  This is an AC power supply that drives an AC to
DC converter and charge controller carried in the vehicle.

For safety these units do not apply 240AC until the proper connection has
been established through low voltage wires.  On the unit I saw at Concord
CA Sunvalley Mall, a speaker in the stationary unit even reported the time
required to bring up to a reasonable charge level (80%). I don't know if
this voice was generated by the station or by the vehicle's charge
controller.

BTW, the mall is required to use TOU metering, so peak summer cost is
$0.30/KWH for them.

Leonard.

>Ben asked:
>>What kind of battery charging system are you guys using for you EVs?  I
>>heard of RF inductive charging.  Is there any alternative?
>
>The two methods are inductive and conductive.
>
>99.99% of all battery charging is by "conductive" chargers. Basically, you
>take a big DC power supply and hook two leads to the battery.
>
>"Inductive" charging is being promoted by GM. Inductive chargers have no
>direct wire connection between charger and battery. They use a transformer,
>with half of it in the car and half of it in the cord. The energy is coupled
>magnetically (inductively). They use high frequencies to make the
>transformer smaller.
>
>Lee Hart                     If you would not be forgotten
>4209 France Ave. N.          Soon as you are dead and rotten
>Robbinsdale, MN 55422 USA    Either write things worth the reading
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