Fast Charging vs. Slow Charging: Pros and cons for the New Age of Electric Vehicles

This paper presents the issues facing the future widespread use of electric vehicles (EVs) relative to battery charging infrastructure for both fast charging and slow charging. In particular, we discuss: 

• Charge scheme definitions: What is fast charging? What is slow charging? 

• Infrastructure requirements and grid impacts: The role of connectors, charger/vehicle communications, time-of-use electricity costs, and grid upgrades/synergies. 

• The trades between cycle life and charge schemes for the major competing lithium battery chemistries. Pack size versus vehicle cost and charge time. Energy density versus power density. The psychological factors of deploying EV infrastructure that includes both fast and slow charging.