Types of Electric Vehicle Charging
Types of Electric Vehicle Charging
- Level-1 EV Charging (120 Volts): Level-1 electric vehicle charging supports 120 volts and can be done using a power cord and a control box that comes with most electric vehicles. Level-1 charging is very convenient and can be done at home. Level-1 EV chargers do not incur any installation cost and can simply be plugged in. The only drawback with level 1 chargers is that it takes approximately 16-18 hours to charge a 60-kWh vehicle.
- Level-2 EV Charging: Level-2 electric vehicle charging equipment supports currents up to 240V AC and requires installing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and electric wiring capable of handling higher voltage power. The time taken to charge a battery depends on its capacity and the pace at which it is charged. Charging through Level-2 chargers is much faster than Level-1; a 7 kW EV charger takes 7 to 8 hours to charge a 60-kWh vehicle. Level-2 chargers can be used for domestic or workplace environments such as homes and apartments, small workplaces, hospitality, and retail stores.
- Level-3 EV Charging (480 Volts): Level- 3 EV charging, also called DC fast charging, can charge compatible vehicles up to 80% in as little as 30 minutes. Level 3 chargers convert high voltage AC power into DC power for direct storage in EV batteries. DC fast charging is primarily designed for public charging stations. These systems are quite expensive as compared to level-1 and level-2 EV chargers. It takes approximately 20 to 30 mins to recharge an electric vehicle using DC (level-3) charging. DC (level-3) EV chargers have commercial applications as they are the right fit for vehicle fleets and public transport, such as electric buses, that require fast charging and can accommodate a large number of vehicles simultaneously.
