Can you turn on the air conditioner or entertainment while the electric car is charging?
Charging the electric vehicle battery in the condition of the car on
Charging the electric vehicle (EV) battery still takes longer than refueling in conventional cars. Even though it is carried out at a public electric charging station (SPKLU) or using an ultrafast charger, this process still takes several minutes to hours depending on the battery capacity and the type of charger used.
This makes many EV users wonder if they can do charging while running devices such as AC or information systems in the car. This question often arises because of the driver’s habit of staying comfortable during the charging process.
According to Iqbal Taufiqurrahman, Product Planning and Strategy from GAC Aion Indonesia, charging the battery can be done even though the car is on. “This process is safe and can be carried out,” he explained. He explained that when charging took place, the electric current went directly to the high voltage battery. Meanwhile, devices such as AC or infotainment work using a 12 volt or low voltage battery.
Iqbal also emphasized that the car can be charged directly in ON condition. However, he reminded that the use of AC or DC chargers in these conditions will extend the charging time compared to if the car is off.
Views from Hyundai Motors Indonesia
Meanwhile, Bonar Damarjati Pakpahan, Product Expert Assistant Manager of PT Hyundai Motors Indonesia (HMI), gave a consistent view. He stated that charging the battery with the car in ON condition and devices such as air conditioning and infotainment on are still safe to do, especially on models such as IONIQ 5 and Kona Electric.
However, he stressed that there are several things to note. Unlike Aion, on Hyundai vehicles, the driver must turn off the car first before charging. “The first step is to connect to the charger, after the charging process runs, then the car can be started and devices such as AC or infotainment are turned on,” explained Bonar.
He also explained that the security systems on modern EVs are designed to continuously monitor grounding, insulation, and leakage conditions. If an anomaly is detected, the system will immediately turn off the charging process, even before the effect is harmful to the driver.
In addition, communication between the car and the electric charging station occurs in two directions. This allows the power settings to be channeled to the car as needed and the optimal charging speed.
Conclusion
Although there is a slight difference in charging preparation between the Aion and Hyundai brands, basically the process of charging the battery in the condition of the car is still safe to do. However, it is important for users to understand the instructions of their respective vehicle manufacturers and pay attention to safety measures so as not to interfere with the charging process and the user’s safety.
