Is This The Fix For Electric Car Charger Speed Stress?

Robert Barrosa, a senior executive at Electrify America and its Canadian wing, remarked that the company wants to “make the transition to EV charging easier by translating kilowatt ratings into simpler names.” In addition to simplifying things with the Hyper-Fast and Ultra-Fast labels, the company is also embracing a new breed of chargers classified as Balanced. Charging outlets with the Balanced sticker will be able to deliver 350 kW of peak output, the same as Hyper-Fast type stations.

However, the core idea behind Balanced chargers is prioritizing power sharing between two vehicles while also delivering the highest charging rate possible. As such, if a vehicle is currently hooked to a Balanced charger plug and drawing 150 kW of power, the other plug linked to the same station will draw the remainder. But as soon as the first vehicle leaves, power is routed to the adjacent plug to boost it all the way up to 350 kW.

Every new Electrify America charger that is rated for 350 kW output will feature the Balanced label moving ahead. The new Hyper-Fast, Ultra-Fast, and Balanced labels will start appearing at Electrify America charging stations this Fall, while those installed in Canada will get the same treatment early next year. To further boost customer convenience, Electrify America recently partnered with Ikea to install over 220 fast chargers with 350 kW output across 25 store locations in 18 states.