EV charger 3

EV Charger Types

While electric vehicles (EV) have been around for decades, both public and private charging systems can lead to confusion regarding what types of EV chargers exist, what they mean and what the best choice is for specific usages.

EV Charger Types

Levels One of the first terms one comes across when researching EV charger types is “Level.” Currently, Levels 1-3 exist.

The “Level” refers to how quickly the charger is able to charge the vehicle from slowest (Level 1) to fastest (Level 3). However, there are additional differences as well:

Level 1

A Level 1 charger is the most common EV charger type. Typically, it’s just a cable that comes with the vehicle at purchase and can plug into a standard 120 Volt, 20 Amp circuit wall outlet. A Level 1 charger usually will deliver 1.4 kW of charge, providing 4 miles of driving range per hour of charging. That means it can take 11-20 hours to fully charge a vehicle. While this works for those who only drive enough to have to charge overnight at home, it can take a long time for more frequent drivers or those who are concerned about being fully charged and the driving range needed throughout the day.

Level 2

Level 2 chargers—like those available from EvoCharge—deliver 6.2 to 7.6 kW of charge vs. 1.4kW for Level 1 chargers. That means a Level 2 charger provides an average of 32 miles of driving range per hour of charge so that it only takes around 3-8 hours to fully charge an EV compared to the 11-20 hours needed for Level 1.

A Level 2 EV charger type can be hardwired by an electrician or plugged into a 240v outlet. If you don’t have a 240v outlet readily available, one can be installed by an electrician.

Another major difference between Level 1 and Level 2 chargers is that Level 2 manufacturers are frequently adding abilities to their units. At EvoCharge, you have the option of non-networked, plug-and-go chargers or OCPP units that are able to connect to a third-party network and your local utility, your local Wi-Fi for ease of use and control, and provide local load management.

Level 3

Level 3 chargers (also referred to as DC Fast Chargers) are the fastest EV charger type on the market. While it would be great for every EV charger type to be a Level 3 capable of charging a battery to full within an hour, the faster the charger, the more electricity it uses. Level 3 chargers aren’t able to be supported by homes or a majority of properties as they take far too much electricity for the localized circuit. Instead, Level 3 chargers are becoming more widely available along highways as part of the local infrastructure, similar to gas stations. Look at it this way: You can have a container of gasoline at home or work, but you can’t have your own private gas pump installed. Level 1 and 2 chargers are available for localized use, but Level 3 aren’t available for private buyers.

220V 32A 11KW Home Wall Mounted EV Car Charger Station