When it comes to electric vehicles, not all chargers are created equal. A few different types will all get the job done, but each has its pros and cons. When looking into purchasing one of these vehicles, be sure to familiarize yourself with all of your options for electric vehicle chargers.
How Does Charging Work?
Like any other electronic device, electric vehicles have a battery pack that gains energy when plugged in, then uses it to run the car’s motor. Electric cars, along with any other battery-powered device, all use DC (or Direct Current) electricity. However, the electricity that is emitted from home electrical systems is AC or Alternating Current. Therefore an essential part of the car’s charging system is the component that converts the AC power from the outlet to usable DC power that it can store in the battery.
Types of Electric Vehicle Chargers
There are three levels of chargers available for an electric vehicle. Each provides a range of charging times; keep in mind that the onboard charging capacity of the individual model will also affect the charge time.
Level 1: These chargers are a universal fit for all models of EV and the easiest of the chargers to install. You simply plug the charger into a standard 120 Volt outlet, then plug it into the vehicle’s charging port. Every EV will come with a Level 1 charger for you to use. Unfortunately, these are extremely slow to charge the car. Since they only have a 120V outlet powering the charge (operating at 12 or 18 amps), these chargers increase the range by just 2 – 6 miles per hour. It could take upwards of 20 hours to fully charge a car with a 100-mile battery capacity range.
Level 2: These chargers are the fastest option to have at home and can be bought separately from the vehicle. They need to be plugged into a 240V outlet (the type of outlet used by a dryer or AC unit). A trusted electrician will need to install a 240V outlet in your garage if there isn’t one already for you to use a Level 2 charger. You may also need to increase the amperage for the circuit so that the charger operates optimally. Once installed, a Level 2 charger can fully charge an EV in less than 8 hours.
Level 3: Unlike the other two electric vehicle charging options, Level 3 chargers use DC power. Since the car does not need to use the onboard charger to convert AC power to DC power, charge times are much faster with a Level 3 charger. They run on more than 480V and can fully charge an EV with a 100-mile battery range in about an hour. Unfortunately, the amount of power that these chargers use can negatively affect the car’s battery function and life span if used too frequently. For this reason, you should only use Level 3 chargers when you desperately need a quick charge, such as on a road trip. These chargers can’t be installed at a residential home because of the necessary permits and utility lines, but if you own a commercial property where many EV owners often park, some Level 3 charging stations could be an excellent investment. As opposed to Level 1 and Level 2 chargers which can be used by all EVs (except Tesla—they need an adapter to connect to Level 2 chargers), Level 3 chargers have three possible connectors. The SAE Combo works for BMWs, Chevys, and Volkswagen vehicles; the CHAdeMO connector works with Mitsubishi, Kia, and Nissan models; and the Tesla Supercharger works solely for Teslas.
For more information on installing electric vehicle chargers at your home or commercial location, call the professionals at Promise Electric. We can assess your garage space and provide upfront pricing for your EV charging station installation. You can trust us to obtain all necessary permits and complete the installation to your complete satisfaction.
