We know electronics and water don’t bode well. So, how can electric vehicles (EVs) charge out in the wild – wind, rain and snow?
Whether you’re at a public EV charger or simply plugging in on your driveway, the vehicle’s battery, charging station, and charging ports are protected from minor and extreme weather conditions.
This applies to every EV from a classic 2011 Nissan Leaf small hatchback, to a Tesla Model 3 sedan, to the Audi e-Tron SUV.
Brisbane-based DC fast-charging station manufacturer, Tritium, says all its products – from the common 2013-released RT50, to the latest RTM75, and the ultra-rapid PK350 chargers – have an IP65 rating.
In detail, this means an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of six against particles (the highest rating) and five against liquids (out of nine).
But that doesn’t mean an EV charger has the same protection as your smartphone.
EV chargers are not only protected from the outside but also inside components and the charging cable, too. For example, KEBA’s 22kW EV charging station outlines it has 22 individually protected electric components inside its wallbox casing.
Meanwhile, most loose (bring-your-own) EV cables and adapters – including Type 1, Type 2, CHAdeMO, Tesla, and China’s GB/T plugs – have an IP54 rating.
Other home, commercial and public chargers – from third-party providers like Schnieder, EO, ABB and Delta, plus first-party ones like Tesla’s Supercharger network and manufacturer-branded wallboxes – are outdoor-rated, can operate at extreme temperatures (typically around -30° to 50° celsius), and have a laundry list of electrical protections to safely cut power when needed.
All major EV chargers are safe to use in rain or snow – but be sure to check the fineprint before buying one yourself.
Not all chargers are equal
Some older products are rated at a weaker IP44, meaning they’re only splashproof and require dust and dirt filters to keep particles out. This is critical since dust and moisture contamination can result in the early ageing of electronics to a lifespan of three-years; EV chargers usually last about 10 years.
Ensure you hire a professional to install home chargers to ensure everything is correct, sealed and protected.
Additionally, be sure to not charge in the wild during a storm or flood – electronics are never foolproof. If you’re trickle charging using a standard wall socket outside, it’s best practise to not charge in severe rain; older outlets are not always watertight and may not have a cover flap.
Charge at home overnight under a carport or garage if possible.
Software and hardware smarts
Public and home wallbox chargers only activate and output electricity when it’s plugged-in tightly and locked, communicates with the car’s computer, and checks its own electrical systems in a “handshake” process.
If anything happens with the vehicle, station or electricity grid (i.e. over voltage, short circuit, over temperature, etc.), it’ll terminate charging to be on the safe side.
Like internal-combustion vehicles, all car manufacturers rigorously test weather insulation before each vehicle leaves the factory.
Although its effectiveness has yet-to-be proven, some electric car models even feature extra safeguards to physically cover the charging connector. The Tesla Model 3s charging flap flips up to shade the port from the top – likewise the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and MG ZS EV – and most EVs have caps that cover the CCS combo or CHAdeMO port.
With the backing of a weather protected charger, cable and charge port, juicing up in the rain is not an issue – at public chargers or in your own driveway.
The Connected by Henry Man 