SAE Approves Faster Level 3 Charging Tech

The Society of Automotive Engineers has agreed to a new electric car charging standard that could charge an electric vehicle in as little as 10 minutes. DC fast charging, also known as Level 3 charging, has been agreed upon by 190 automakers, parts makers and utilities. 

The system is known at Level 3 charging because it is essentially the third generation of vehicle charging. Level 1 charging uses 110v current and takes about eight hours to charge a vehicle. Level 2 charging uses 220v current and would charge the same vehicle in about three hours. Level 3 charging runs on up to 500v of current and would charge the same vehicle in about 20 minutes.

The specific Level 3 charging solution approved by SAE is called Combo because it can be used for either Level 2 or Level 3 charging. 

"This new standard reflects the many hours that top industry experts from around the world worked to achieve the best charging solution -- a solution that helps vehicle electrification technology move forward. We now can offer users of this technology various charging options in one combined design," said Gery Kissel, a GMGMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
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engineer working on vehicle electrification. 

GM will offer the Spark EVChevrolet SparkUnited States of America, 2009 > present28 versions
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in the US next year with the Combo charger. 

Unfortunately, there is still no unified standard for electric vehicle charging. Combo is mainly be backed by American and German automakers, but CHAdeMO is its major competitor. It is supported strongly by NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
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and RenaultRenaultFrance, 1898 > present189 models
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, and there are already about 1,500 CHAdeMO charging stations worldwide. 

The two formats have different connectors and CHAdeMO does not support direct current, which is needed for Level 3 charging with Combo. 

Source: Automotive News