Suomi
Svenska
Deutsch
Français/businessman-charging-electric-car-city.webp)
Implementing HPC charging stations becomes essential if we want to integrate EVs fully into our daily lives. With high power charging (HPC), also called ultra fast charging, EV batteries are charged in a much shorter time than with standard AC charging. The availability of this type of fast charging will become the decision maker for many drivers in switching to electric. For EV charging business owners, HPC guarantees higher utilisation rates, directly resulting in increased revenue.
While standard AC charging offers EV drivers an electricity output of a maximum of 22 kW and DC or fast charging spans from 50 kW to 150 kW, ultra fast charging (HPC) takes it to another level. HPC’s charging power can go up to 600 kW. This shortens the time of a charging session to less than 30 minutes.
The short charging time makes it the ideal type of charging for a successful switch to electric mobility. In 2030, there are supposed to be up to 270 million EVs on global roads. But many EV owners won't have the option to charge their cars at home. That means we're becoming increasingly dependent on a public charging network.
AC chargers with up to 8 hours long charging times will be hardly able to cope with the increased demand. And that's why ultra fast charging (HPC) comes into play.
It's important to note that not every electric vehicle is suitable for HPC charging. But as HPC gains importance, more and more EV models support it. An HPC column is always built in to automatically adapt the power to the capacity of the battery in the vehicle and throttles it if necessary.
More power, more charging sessions, more revenue
While ultra fast charging remarkably decreases the charging time for a single vehicle, it directly increases the throughput of a charging station and upgrades the service level of a single charging spot.
Usually, electric cars can achieve 80% SoC (state of charge) in 20 to 30 minutes when charging at an HPC station. To charge the battery to 100%, the charging time may prolong for another 20 minutes due to the complex battery management system. But charging to 80% is sufficient in most cases.
For a 100 km driving range, it’s usually enough to charge for a few minutes, depending on the car model. Porsche Taycan, for example, only needs 5 minutes and 30 seconds in ideal conditions.
High-power charging times of popular vehicle models
|
Vehicle model |
High power charging time* (80% SoC) |
|
Audi e-tron 55 quattro |
30 minutes |
|
BMW I4 |
31 minutes |
|
Ford Mustang Mach-E |
38 minutes |
|
Hyundai IONIQ 5 |
18 minutes |
|
Mercedes-Benz EQC |
40 minutes |
|
Polestar 2 |
35 minutes |
|
Porsche Taycan |
22.5 minutes |
|
Tesla Model 3 |
24 minutes |
|
VW id.5 |
29 minutes |
*The stated charging times are mostly official manufacturer's specifications (without a guarantee) and consider the maximum possible charging power of the respective vehicle under ideal conditions. Charging times also depend on external factors such as temperature.
The advantages of ultra fast EV charging
Higher revenue
Ultra fast charging is a premium service for EV drivers so that you can set a higher charging price as the charging point operator (CPO). An HPC station offers 2-3 times the throughput compared to a regular fast charging station. This translates into 2-3 times higher revenues during high-demand peak hours.
Shorter charging time
HPC stations offer significant time savings compared to standard AC chargers. In optimal conditions, your customers can recharge their EVs as quickly as 15 minutes – the perfect time to use the services in the vicinity of the EV charger and get a quick coffee or a small meal.
Higher utilisation
The shorter the charging time, the more electric vehicles can be charged on one charger. While on a standard AC charger, one charging session can take up to 8 hours, approximately 16 charging sessions can take place during the same time period on an HPC station.
Where to install ultra fast chargERS?
- High-traffic areas like transportation hubs and locations along motorways. Placing HPC stations in these locations is essential in easing the range anxiety many drivers have when deciding if to switch from an ICE to EV.
- Petrol stations that need to accommodate the new customer segment of EV drivers, who want to charge their cars as conveniently as they would refuel an ICE car.
- Retail chains that want to attract new customers to their locations.
- Fleet operators can benefit from HPC stations and offer their EV drivers convenient and fast charging possibilities.
Install your ultra fast chargERS with Virta
Although HPC stations are significantly more expensive than standard charging stations, higher utilisation and profit margins in the rapidly growing EV market significantly shorten the payback period.
So, you have the perfect location for HPC stations and eager EV drivers who want to charge their cars as fast as possible. Installing HPC stations is a big step towards the future, but luckily you don’t have to take that step alone.
At Virta, we will provide you with suitable hardware and take care of the whole installation process on your behalf.
By joining the Virta network, you become part of one of the largest charging networks in Europe, which includes over 350,000 charging points thanks to roaming. We also put you and your company on the map for over 800,000 EV drivers to find your charging stations with just a few clicks.
