For more than a hundred years we have been fueling our cars. And we had a few variants to choose from: regular, mid-grade, premium or diesel. However, the refueling process was relatively simple, everyone understood how it was done, and the process was completed in about five minutes.
Now we live in the world of electricity, and the systems and methods of charging the electric car are mixed up on us. In this electric world, the process of refueling – the process of recharging – is far from being similar to refueling, and it is not that simple or fast. This is due to several reasons, such as the fact that each electric vehicle can accept different amounts of energy. There are also different types of connectors used, but more importantly, there are different levels of electric vehicle charging that determine how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle.
Charging levels and charging times apply to electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, but not to conventional hybrid vehicles . Hybrid cars are charged by regeneration or by the engine and not by an external charger.
Three levels of electric car charging
There are three levels of electric vehicle charging; Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Level 3 are divided into DC fast charging and supercharging such as (Tesla) chargers. The charging period depends on the level of charge, the higher the charge level, the faster the charging process, by delivering more energy to the car. It is important to note that different electric vehicles charge at different speeds on each level, because each vehicle can accept different levels of power from the specialized charger built into the electric vehicle’s power supply equipment.
When an electric vehicle is connected, there is a communication process that occurs before the charger is activated. Where the car asks the charger for the amount of energy that it can provide to it, then the car asks to put the maximum amount of energy that the vehicle can absorb or accept from the charger of the station.
The car always determines how much power it accepts, so you don’t have to worry about plugging it into a charging station that can provide more power than your electric vehicle can handle. The car will not allow the charger to deliver excess power to its carrying capacity.
Level 1 Charging: 120V
Connectors used: J1772, Tesla
Charging speed: 3 to 5 miles per hour
Locations: home, workplace and public places
Level 1 charging uses a common 120V household outlet. It can charge an electric car of any type, and a hybrid car can also be charged from a Level 1 charger by plugging the charging equipment into a regular wall outlet. Level 1 electric vehicle charging is the slowest way to charge an electric vehicle. These chargers add between 3 and 5 miles of range per hour to charge the electric vehicle.
Level 1 charging works well for Plugged Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) because they have smaller batteries, currently with most cars with a battery less than 25 kWh. Because electric vehicles have much larger batteries, first-level charging is too slow for most daily charges, unless the car is not necessary for daily long-distance driving. And most BEV owners find that Level 2 charging better suits their everyday charging needs.
Level Two Charging: 208V to 240V
Connectors used: J1772, Tesla
Charging speed: 12 to 80 mph
Locations: home, workplace and public places
Level 2 charging is the most commonly used level for daily electric vehicle charging. Level 2 freight equipment can be installed at home or in the workplace as well as in public places such as shopping plazas, train stations and other destinations. And a Level 2 charge can regenerate between 12 and 80 miles of range per hour, depending on the power output of the Level 2 charger, and the electric vehicle’s maximum charge rate.
Most BEV owners choose to install Level 2 charging equipment in their accommodations, because it charges the car 10 times faster than a Level 1 charging. Usually, charging from a Level 2 source means the car will be fully charged overnight, even if you plug in the charger With a nearly empty battery.
Level 2 chargers can deliver up to 80A of power. But this would require a dedicated 100 amp 208-240 volt circuit and a heavy and expensive supply line from the electrical box. Most owners will be well served by choosing a 40-amp charger that can provide 9.6 kW to charge the electric vehicle. A 48-amp charger can charge a little faster at 11.5 kW, but requires a wire of a heavier gauge and the charger must be hard-wired to comply with the NEC code. Therefore, 48A chargers can cost significantly more than a 40A unit and only offer marginally faster charging.
Charging Level 3: 400V to 900V (DC fast charging and super charging)
Connectors used: Combined Charging System (COMBO), CHAdeMO & Tesla
Charging Speed: 3 to 20 mph
Locations: Public places and charging stations
Level 3 charging is the fastest charging available and can recharge an EV at a rate of 3 to 20 miles of range per minute. Unlike level 1 and level 2 charging that uses alternating current (AC), level 3 charging uses direct current (DC). The voltage is also higher than level 1 and 2 charging, which is why you don’t see level 3 chargers installed at home. Very few residential locations have a high voltage source required for Level 3 charging.
Additionally, DC fast chargers cost tens of thousands of dollars. So, even if your residence has a 400-volt electricity service, installing a charger will likely cost you more than your electric vehicle. Tesla calls its Level 3 chargers Superchargers; Others are called DC Fast Chargers. Current Nissan electric vehicles use the third specification, called CHAdeMO.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Vehicle Charge Levels (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do all electric cars use the same conductor?
In North America, all electric vehicles except for Tesla use the same connector for Level 1 and Level 2 charging, labeled J1772 or “J-Plug”. For Level 3 charging, there are three standards currently in use. Tesla uses its own plug, Nissan and Mitsubishi use the Asian standard called CHAdeMO ,
All other manufacturers use the Combined Charging System, or CCS, known as “Combo”. However, Nissan recently announced that it will switch to a Combo plug for Level 3 charging in its new electric vehicles in North America and Europe starting later in 2021.
Can I install a level 2 charger in my home?
In the United States and many places in the world most homes can add a Tier 2 charger circuit without the need for a service upgrade. A level 2 charger requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit, which is available in homes, such as in an electric clothes dryer or electric kitchen set.
In some cases, you can even share the current circuit used to power the electric clothes dryer with a Level 2 charger to charge the EV if the charger is in your garage or nearby.
How much does it cost to install a level 2 charger?
Level 2 chargers cost between $250 and $1,000, depending on the power and available features. A typical installation ranges from $200 to $1,000, and into the thousands if you need to upgrade your service to add the required additional circuit. It is wise to consult a licensed electrician before purchasing an EV charger, so you know exactly how much it will cost to install home charging equipment in advance. You can review the costs of charging an electric car on our website from here.
What level of charging cable came with my car? And if I have, do I need a charging unit in my garage or just a 240V outlet?
Each electric car comes with a portable charger. Some are Level 1, some are Level 2 and some come with adapters that allow them to plug in and charge from both Level 1 and Level 2 outlets. Some units are all an owner needs to charge their EV, but others aren’t powerful enough and owners will want to buy More powerful charger. You need to check the power output of the standard charger and see if it matches your charging needs, based on the miles you drive on a typical day.
Can I charge my electric car with a Tesla Supercharger?
No, Tesla Superchargers can only be used to charge Tesla cars. The Tesla Supercharger Network is a Tesla-owned network intended only for Tesla customers.
Can I charge my Tesla on a non-Tesla DC fast charger in places where I can’t find a supercharger?
Yes really. Tesla sells a $400 adapter that allows Tesla owners to connect to CHAdeMO DC fast chargers. Tesla also plans to sell a Combo adapter so that Tesla owners also have access to DC Fast chargers with the Combo standard. These adapters are known as Tesla to Combo and are already available in Europe, but the North American Combo plug is a little different, so a different adapter needs to be developed.
What is the shipping cost on a level 3 charger?
Level 3 chargers are operated by private charging networks, and the price varies greatly from network to network. Some bill the customer for the period during which the car was connected to the charger, while others provide invoices that assess the amount of energy expended.
Charging your EV on a Level 3 charger will always cost significantly more than charging at home and can cost 2 to 3 times as much as home charging in some locations. At this point, the cost of driving with electricity is roughly the same as driving with gasoline, although overall emissions are lower.
Are there ways to get cheaper prices for L3 chargers? And can I join a club to get huge discounts?
Most electric vehicle charging networks offer discounted fees if you join a monthly or annual service plan that requires you to pay a fee. However, if you use the network more than once a month, the savings are usually more than covering the cost of the monthly membership.
If my automaker has an L3 fee service link, does that give me a discount?
Many automakers offer discounted or free fees for a number of years on a particular freight network. In some cases, an EV can come with unlimited free charging for up to three years on a partner network. Always ask your agency if there are any discounted or free charging plans that come with the electric vehicle you’re considering buying.
| charge level | power delivery | Add range per hour | The default charging time is 60 kW |
| Level 1 | 1-1.4 kW | 3-5 miles | 30-40 hours |
| Level 2 | 3.9-19.2 kW | 12-80 miles | 2.5-4.5 hours |
| Level 3 | 24-300 kW | 75-1200 miles | 30-40 minutes |
| The time required to charge the battery with a capacity of 60 kWh is the time to raise the battery charge level from 10% to 80% |
Parameters showing charging levels, their added value, and the time required to charge them
The range addition time for Level 3 chargers is often described in miles per minute (not per hour) because of the speed (3-20 miles of range added per minute in this example). Level 3 charging rates (speeds) can vary greatly depending on the vehicle, depending on the ability of the EV to accept power from the fast charger, whatever the speed and power of the charger.
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