What are the different types of EV chargers?
What are the different types of EV chargers?
There are many different brands of EV chargers to choose from. However, they all use the same set of charging standards: Level one, level two, and level three charging. The three different levels represent the power output they give out; i.e., level one charging is the least powerful and slowest, and level three is the fastest and most powerful.
Most homes have a level one or level two charger. Level three chargers are not available for home use, and are only installed in commercial or public areas.
See which type of DC charger is compatible with your vehicle (Do all evs use the same charger)
Level 1 charging
Level one chargers use a 120-volt AC plug, found in typical households. At level one, no special installation is needed since it can plug into a standard outlet.
Level one charging charges at up to 5 miles per hour, putting it at the slowest charging speed possible. This makes it ideal for overnight charging and for vehicles that are low usage. It is also ideal for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Because PHEVs have smaller batteries and dont need as much of a charge, level one charging is a good option. For those that use their fully electric vehicle as a daily driver, level one charging might not be the right choice.
We recommend level one chargers to be kept in vehicles, because they are transportable. They can be used as a backup option in case of an emergency.
Level 2 charging
Level two chargers use a 240-volt AC plug, which is not found in a standard home. Level two chargers need to be installed by electricians. They will be able to install the level two charging plug; this is called hardwiring.
There are many advantages to having a hardwired charger. First, it charges your vehicle much faster than a level one- it charges an average of 25 miles per hour. This means it will complete a full cycle of charging overnight, which is not possible with a level one charger.
Second, many utilities companies are offering rebates of up to $1,000 per install. You can also apply for tax incentives, both for the purchase of you electric vehicle and for the purchase of your charger.
Level 3 charging
Level three chargers, also called DC fast chargers, range anywhere from 400-900 direct current volts. Rather than use AC currents, they charge vehicles off DC currents (hence being called DC fast chargers.) These chargers can charge your battery up to 80% in as little as 15 minutes, depending on their power range. This makes them by far the fastest charging station available.
While level one and two chargers will typically have universal charging ports (Tesla being the exception), level three chargers will have different ports for different vehicles. See do all EVs use the same chargers to see which charger will be compatible with your vehicle. Level three chargers are only available commercially, and cannot be installed in residential homes.
image: Freepik.com
