Mode 3 is a communication protocol that ensures the safe charging of electric vehicles. There are several factors that require close attention when charging an electric vehicle:
- A car does not have its own grounding, which needs to be verified.
- Is the used cable sufficiently strong (thickness) to safely carry the requested current?
- At what power level can the car be charged?
- Both the car and the charging station must be secured so that the car cannot be driven away while the cable is still attached.
In Belgium, all public charging stations are equipped with a Type 2 socket with a Mode 3 controller. During each charging session, the charging point will first check if the plug of the cable, both in the charging station and in the car, is securely attached. It will then verify if the capacity of the cable is sufficient, which is done by measuring the resistance values built into the plugs. Next, the controller will communicate with your car to determine the maximum charging power. Finally, the plug in the charging station and the car will be locked to initiate the charging process. The controller remains in communication with the car throughout the entire charging process. In case of any unwanted changes, the power will be immediately disconnected. The security measures to prevent driving away while charging remain active. Thanks to this Mode 3 protocol, charging your electric vehicle is extremely safe.