FYI: Charging the Chevrolet Equinox EV using different power levels provides surprising results, revealing unique insights into electric vehicle charging efficiency.
Chevrolet Equinox EV: How Charger Power Affects Your Charging Experience
The Chevrolet Equinox EV emerges as a commendable electric vehicle given its price range and features, yet it grapples with a notable constraint: its charging capability. While designed with a high-voltage electrical setup, the Equinox’s battery system remains restricted, never exceeding 400 volts—this limitation is imposed to maximize the battery’s lifespan but subsequently extends the charging duration.
Understanding Charging Speed and Requirements
Theoretically, the Equinox EV peaks at a charging speed of 150 kilowatts. However, to achieve this, the vehicle requires connection to a DC fast charger capable of delivering a current of at least 500 amps. Automotive charging specialist Tom Moloughney conducted a comparative analysis across various charging stations to determine the optimal setup for minimizing charge time, revealing counterintuitive results.
Charging Session Comparisons
Moloughney pitted the Equinox EV against three distinct types of DC fast chargers: a 150 kW Electrify America charger, a 250 kW Tesla Supercharger, and a 350 kW EVgo ultra-fast charger. The goal was to compare the time it took to charge the vehicle from 10% to 80% battery capacity across these options.
Detailed Findings
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150 kW Electrify America Charger: While theoretically close to the vehicle’s charging limit, the stall was capped at 350 amps. Given the vehicle’s voltage constraints, the actual charge never surpassed 96 kW, resulting in a lengthy 44-minute session.
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250 kW Tesla Supercharger: Surprisingly, this mid-range charger provided the fastest charge time, completing the session in just 40 minutes. The Equinox EV managed to maintain consistently over 100 kW longer than with other options, even the more powerful 350 kW station.
- 350 kW EVgo Charger: Contrary to expectations, while this charger began robustly, it started reducing power after a brief 14-minute period, thus dropping under 100 kW at the 16-minute mark. Ultimately, it required 41 minutes to reach an 80% charge, taking longer than the Tesla Supercharger.
Conclusion: The Optimal DC Fast Charging Strategy
For those considering DC fast chargers for the Equinox EV, units offering over 200 kW are advisable. This is because they tend to deliver the necessary amperage to optimize charging times. Nevertheless, the field tests highlight minimal differences in overall charging times between the 150, 250, and 350 kW chargers—only a few minutes set them apart.
Considering cost, accessibility, and efficiency, the Tesla Supercharger stations prove remarkably effective for the Equinox, despite its voltage constraints.
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Authored by William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi.
