The 3 types of EV chargers
The three types of EV chargers
Charging an electric vehicle is similar to fueling up your gasoline vehicle. With a gas engine, you need to know what type of gas it takes: regular, mid-grade, premium gasoline, or diesel. With an EV, you need to know what kind of charging unit it uses and what level of charge it can handle. There are three levels of charging units available for recharging your EV. There are three levels of EV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging. When an EV is plugged in, it asks the charger how much power it can deliver, and then the car calls for the maximum amount of power that the station can provide and the vehicle can accept. We will cover the names, amount of power, and charging times of each.
Level 1 Charging: 120-Volt
Level 1 charging unit uses a standard 120-volt household outlet. Every electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid can be charged on Level 1 by plugging the charging equipment into a regular wall outlet. Level 1 is the slowest way to charge an EV. It adds between 3 and 5 miles of range per hour. You will likely find these units at houses, workplaces, and public charging units. Level 1 charging units work well for PHEVs because they have smaller batteries and don't take as long to recharge.
Level 2 Charging: 208-Volt to 240-Volt
Level 2 chargers are the most commonly used level for daily EV charging. Level 2 chargers can deliver up to 80 amps of power. But that requires a 100-amp 208-240V dedicated circuit and a heavy, costly supply line from the breaker box. These charging units can be installed at home, workplaces, and public locations like shopping plazas and train stations. Level 2 charging can replenish between 12 and 80 miles of range per hour, depending on the power output of the Level 2 charger and the vehicle's maximum charge rate. Most EV owners install Level 2 charging equipment in their homes, charging the car ten times faster than Level 1. In addition, charging from a Level 2 source usually means the vehicle will be completely charged overnight, even if you plug in with a nearly empty battery.
DC Fast Charge: 400-Volt to 900-Volt
DC Fast Chargers are the fastest type of charging available and can recharge an EV at 3 to 20 miles of range per minute. Unlike Level 1 and Level 2 units, which use alternating current (AC), Level 3 charging uses direct current (DC). The voltage is also much higher than Level 1 and 2 charging, so you don't see DC Fast chargers installed at home. Additionally, DC Fast Chargers cost tens of thousands of dollars. So even if your residence has 400-volt electricity service, installing the charger would most likely cost more than your EV.
Lynch Mukwonago is Here to Help
With six different manufacturers under one roof, Lynch Mukwonago is the place to go for all things EV! Our sales team is knowledgeable on the subject and is excited to help you find the perfect electric vehicle for you. Since 1957, the Lynch family has strived to earn each customer's business with an approach that ensures every customer feels like family and assures every automotive need our customers have can be conveniently met.
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