Hyundai EV9 (and other 800V EVs) charges slower on Tesla Network (It's the voltage thing again)

[srspring551]

https://insideevs.com/news/761017/hyundai-ioniq-9-tesla-supercharger/

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[mr.Magoo]

P=U*I

 

[FloridaMan655321]

For right now, I'll take quantity over quality, and by quality I mean speed. Eventually we will get to a somewhat standard, which how things are going seems to be over 400kw. Let's get the 'slow' 250kw across the nation like gas stations first, then we can worry about charging at 800kw or whatever will be standardized.

 

[chl]

Hyundai steps up the voltage from 400v to 800v at Tesla chargers.

When you step up voltage the current goes down for the same power (rate of energy transfer). That's a good thing for energy conservation and material conservation since it means less wasted energy through IxIxR and less copper required to carry the current safely.

Since charging apparatus is mostly limited by the current carrying capacity of the wire, plug, etc. (current times wire resistance squared = heat), 800V systems are less energy wasting.

For the same reason, in power distribution systems, utilities step up the voltage for long distances, then step it down at the transformers in your neighborhood.

If the most of Tesla chargers can only supply 150kW at 400V that's 375A (150kW/400V).
But if they supplied 150kW at 800V the current would be half that = 187.5A (150kW/800V).

So the same charger if operating at 800V and 375A (the current used at 400V for 150kW) could provide twice the power = 300kW (800x375).

Of course higher voltages can be more dangerous, insulation needs to be more rigorous as the voltage goes up. The higher the voltage, the easier for arcing to occur - think of lightning. And some components may be more expensive.

So there are trade offs.

But the speed of energy transfer, which is what power is, is a big advantage for EV charging on the go, so expect EVs to move to higher voltages down the road.

 

[chl]

Note: the higher power the 800V chargers provide will have an impact on the supply systems (utilities) since they will have to supply energy faster, which is what higher power means.

I wonder what effect the higher power will have on battery materials and longevity as well?

I guess time will tell.

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