The Different Levels of EV Charging Explained

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EVs, or electric vehicles, have gained immense popularity over the last couple of decades. More than 10 million electric vehicles were sold last year in 2022, and many were first-time buyers. This just goes ahead to bolster the aforementioned fact. These electric vehicles have witnessed tectonic shifts in the way their tanks, or rather batteries, are juiced up. Unlike a conventional gas station, the charging paces for an electric vehicle are far more diverse, and the charging time can vary greatly depending on the type of charging station you plug your car into.

Here, we will be discussing the different levels of EV charging and zero in on the specific characteristics of each charging level, like the time taken for charging, the power output, and the type of current powering them, which will help you pick up an EV charger that fits your purposes perfectly.

What are the different levels of EV charging?

EV charging is typically divided into three levels: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. As a general knowledge, the higher the charging level will be, the higher the power output will be. The more the power output, the faster you can charge your electric car.

What is Level 1 Charging?

This is the most accessible way to charge your electric car, but the slowest method as well.

How does Level 1 Charging Function?

Well, in Level 1 charging, all you need to do is plug the cable that came with your electric car into a regular wall outlet. Though Level 1 charging can be used anywhere, the power output is very low and is limited to only what a home’s electrical circuit can deliver, i.e., 2.3kW.

How Quick Level 1 Charging Can Juice Up an Electric Car?

Although charging times may vary on a vehicle-to-vehicle basis and are also dependent on other factors like driving style, onboard current converter, and weather conditions, Level 1 charging can recharge an electric car’s battery at a speed of about 4 to 5 miles of range per hour of charge.

So, going by the calculation, if you have to drive 100 miles, you have to charge your vehicle for 20 to 25 hours with Level 1 charging.

The lack of specific protection and slow charging speeds is what demotivates electric car owners to opt for Level 1 charging. It is not at all a good option for everyday charging and should always be considered as a last resort.

What is Level 2 Charging?

You will come across plenty of Level 2 Electric vehicle charging stations in commercial or public parking spaces, residential areas, or workplaces. Level 2 charging also uses A.C. or alternating current, but they are significantly faster than Level 1 charging.

How does Level 2 Charging Function?

Level 2 charging stations are basically dedicated pieces of hardware that are directly wired into a house’s electrical circuit by a trained professional. They have a wide array of smart functionalities and offer astronomical charging speeds to replenish your car’s battery in no time.

How Quickly Level 2 Charging Can Juice Up an Electric Car?

As a matter of fact, Level 2 Charging is 5 to 15 times faster when compared to Level 1 charging. However, it would depend on the vehicle you are charging and the power output.

If you charge with a 7.4kW power output charger for 1 hour, it will run about 25 miles of range, an 11kW power output will deliver 37 miles of range for a single hour of charge, and 22 kW of power output is capable of adding up to 75 miles of range. Please note that these are just approximate calculations based on an average battery consumption of 18kWh per 62 miles, which is the normal power consumption of a regular commuter electric vehicle. The actual power consumption can vary depending on the battery size, the condition of the vehicle, and the model in question.

What is Level 3 Charging?

DC charging or Level 3 charging is much faster than Level 2 charging. Depending on the power output of the charging station and the vehicle, most electric cars can be charged to their full capacity within just 15 minutes to an hour using Level 3 charging. This is a quick and easy-to-charging option when you are on the go.

It must be pointed out here that the power output required for a Level 3 charging station is much higher than that required for a Level 2 charging station. This makes Level 3 charging stations more suited for commercial businesses like service stops or gas stations. Level 3 charging stations are not typically installed at office spaces or public parking locations.

How does Level 3 Charging Function?

You might be aware of the fact that an electric car’s battery stores only DC energy. What that means is that when you use a Level 3 charging station, the conversion from AC to DC occurs within the charging station itself.

A Level 3 charging station has to house powerful converters that can convert AC to DC power much faster. They are thus quite huge in size when compared to the regular onboard converters inside an electric car. Some Level 3 charging stations can deliver power up to 400kW and thus can charge a vehicle for 100 km in just about 3 minutes.

Why does Level 3 Charging Flow Differently?

This fast power input and huge converters greatly enhance the charging rate. In the case of Level 1 and Level 2 charging, there is a steady power delivery and thus represents a flat line. This is mainly because the onboard converter of an electric car is quite small and can take only a small amount of power at a time.

On the other end of the spectrum, with Level 3 charging, there is a quick peak in the charging rate, which gradually slows down. This happens because the battery’s ability to decrease power reduces as it gets closer to full.

Final Take:

The charging level you opt for, like Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3, can greatly impact how quickly you can charge your electric vehicle. If you want to install an electric vehicle charging station in your workplace or a public parking space, a Level 2 charging station might fit the bill like none other. On the other hand, if you own a service station or a gas station, a Level 3 charging station might just be the thing for you. Get in touch with a good e-commerce site offering different charging stations at highly competitive prices and procure one that fits your purposes perfectly.