Simple Trick to Slash Electric Vehicle Charging Times

Electric vehicle charging takes a long time
Tips to save time have been revealed
Especially effective in the summer

What is the biggest inconvenience in driving electric vehicles? Most owners will mention charging problems. The driving distance on a single charge is shorter than that of an internal combustion vehicle, and charging takes a long time. The refueling time for an internal combustion engine vehicle is 3 to 5 minutes at most, but for an electric vehicle, the wait is about 10 times longer, even when using fast charging.

Although the automobile industry continues to make efforts to reduce this even slightly, it is difficult to reduce the charging time of already purchased electric vehicles significantly. However, there is a tip that allows drivers to feel some effect only in hot weather. Since it does not cost much and is simple, it is attracting the attention of electric vehicle owners.

Simply Wrap in a Wet Towel
Improves Charging Speed by Cooling Contact Points

It is known that electric vehicle charging efficiency decreases in cold weather, but on the contrary, it is difficult to achieve ideal charging speed even in hot summer. This is because the charging connector also generates heat, so it is designed to reduce the charging speed in hot weather to reduce heat generation. Accordingly, Inside EVs, an American electric vehicle media outlet introduced tips for improving charging speeds focusing on Tesla vehicles.

All drivers need is a wet towel. They connect the charging connector to the vehicle and wrap it with a damp towel. The principle is that the moisture in the damp towel evaporates, reducing the heat generated from the connector and slightly improving the charging speed. This method has been known for several years but receives attention again as summer approaches.

1.5 to 2 times faster in certain sections
Proved by Local Media

It may seem like an absurd myth, but various electric vehicle owners have already experienced the effects of this method. Depending on the charging section, a speed improvement of 1.5 to 2 times was confirmed. One Tesla owner experimented with wet towel cooling while charging with a V2 Supercharger and found that the charging speed increased from 60 kW to 95 kW.

Out of Spec Studios, an American automobile media outlet, also conducted the same experiment. When charging a Tesla vehicle with a supercharger without a wet towel, when the remaining battery capacity reached 34%, the charging output was only 58 kW. However, when the cable was wrapped with a damp towel, it was confirmed that the output reached a maximum of 119 kW.

No Need to Worry About Waterproofing, but Prepare for Contingencies

However, this method did not appear to affect all charging sections significantly. The charging speed decreases as the remaining battery capacity approaches 100%. Additionally, some have raised safety concerns due to flooding. Electric vehicle chargers, including Tesla Superchargers, have a basic waterproof design to enable safe charging even in rainy weather.

It is unlikely that safety issues such as electrical leakage will occur as long as a wet towel is wrapped around the connector. However, since no electric vehicle manufacturer, including Tesla, recommends this method, the user is responsible if any problems arise. Additionally, to ensure safety from issues such as poor waterproofing, it is recommended to end the charging session using the vehicle screen or smartphone app before disconnecting the connector.