Models using CHAdeMO rapid charging sockets are set to benefit from planned improvements to the system, with the CHAdeMO Association announcing plans for a new 150 kW charging protocol to be launched next year.
With more manufacturers launching EVs and battery sizes increasing, the current 50kW maximum power output will struggle to support rapid charging to 80 per cent of battery capacity within half an hour, the current standard.
With this in mind, decision makers behind the CHAdeMO set-up have proposed to triple the power output, starting in 2017, while test are already underway for the next phase at 350kW.
It has been confirmed that the connector will remain the same as the current set-up, and that upgrades to hardware will be fitted where required, with the main considerations being temperature control for charging units and the size of cable connecting the charger to the EV.
All units will be backward compatible with current and older EVs still able to charge at current 50kW speeds, while newer models with higher charging capabilities will charge at higher power outputs.
Although not as popular with incoming EV market manufacturers as the Combined Charging System (CCS) – which uses a Type 2 connector as a base – the CHAdeMO system remains a major charger type by virtue of the fact that is is used by the likes of Kia in it’s Soul EV, and more importantly by the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Nissan Leaf, two of the best selling plug-in cars in the world.
CHAdeMO’s Secretary General Dave Yoshida said: “One of the purposes of the Association is to evolve CHAdeMO protocol so that it can better respond to market needs. We see a movement towards mass market EVs with higher capacity batteries and we, as the Association of fast charging protocol, prepare for it by working on the high power protocol. This will enable faster deployment of the high power charging infrastructure, in preparation for EVs that can charge with higher power.
“We are very pleased that, thanks to the hard work of our technical team, we will soon be able to release the new version of the protocol to our members. We expect first 150kW standardised chargers to be deployed in 2017.”
Find out more about EV charging types on our Connector Selector page.
