EV Charger Installation: How to Install an Electric Vehicle Charger at Home. Home car charger cost

How to Install an Electric Car Charging Station

If you’ve been paying any attention to the buzz coming out of the car industry lately, that humming sound you hear is electrical. Automaker after automaker has either introduced new electric vehicles (EVs) or has announced plans to do so. And many more are on the wa6y. Several car companies claim that half or more of the cars, trucks, and SUVs they sell in 2030 will be electric.

Closer to home, you probably know of several people who’ve taken the plunge and already purchased an EV. If they’re like typical EV owners, they sing the praises of their new rides. According to most, EVs are smooth, quiet, reliable, and—perhaps best of all—never require their drivers to stop at a gas station to fill ‘er up.

All those attributes are definite benefits, but the last one—never stopping at a gas station—has an implication of its own. The electricity to recharge the vehicle has to come from somewhere. Unless you plan to swap short stops at the gas station for lengthy sessions at the public charging station, you’re going to want to recharge your EV at home. And, typically, that means you’ll need a home EV charging station.

How do you install a home electric car charger?

The answer to this question is both straightforward and very complex. And one can use those adjectives to describe just about everything attached to EVs and the industry they have spawned.

This article aims not only to tell you how to install an electric car charging station but also to answer several associated questions. Examples include:

• What is an electric vehicle charging station?
• What types of electric charging stations are there?
• How much does an electric charging station cost?
• How long does it take to charge an electric car?
• How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

What you’ll find is that several of these queries are the modern equivalents to the age-old question of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

What is an electric vehicle charging station?

First, it is helpful to define what an electric vehicle charging station is. A simple way to explain that is to look at the smartphone in your or purse as a surrogate for the electric vehicle.

Like your phone, an EV has a battery that enables it to operate. If there is no electricity stored in your phone’s battery, it won’t work. Similarly, if no electricity is stored in an EV’s battery pack, it won’t go anywhere. And just as with a smartphone, the electricity stored in the EV’s battery is consumed when you use the car. You must replenish that electricity by charging the car’s battery.

How do you charge your smartphone? Why, you plug it in, of course. But, in reality, you use a charger that converts the 120-volt alternating current (AC) available from a typical wall outlet into a current that your phone can use to charge its battery.

That conversion of power into a form that an EV’s battery pack can accept is exactly what an electric vehicle charging station does. It takes the type of electrical current available in your house—120-volt or 240-volt AC—and converts it into a current flow the EV battery system can accept.

Similar to those you see in mall parking lots and along some major interstates, commercial electric vehicle charging stations utilize much higher voltages and thus can charge batteries much faster than an at-home charging station. However, they are very costly to install. Plus, even if you had the money to spend on a commercial charging station, your home electrical system and even the electrical grid where your home is located might not be equipped to allow that.

What types of electric vehicle charging stations are there?

There are three basic types of electric vehicle charging stations, often referred to as electric vehicle service equipment or EVSE. They range from basic and simple to more complex than you would ever contemplate installing in your home garage.

What is a Level 1 Charging Station?

A Level 1 charging station is the simplest of the three types. The charging cable that comes with the purchase or lease of an EV is essentially a Level 1 charger. These chargers use basic house electrical current—110-120-volt AC—and many simply plug into a standard grounded wall socket using a common three-prong plug.

The simplicity and low cost of Level 1 chargers are appealing, but their downside is slow—sometimes agonizingly slow—battery recharge times. A good rule of thumb for recharging an EV using a Level 1 charger is four to six miles of battery range for every hour of charging. If your EV has 200 miles of range on a full battery, it can take 35 to 50 hours to recharge the car fully.

We recommend using Level 1 charging solutions only with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). With a typical PHEV, you can easily recharge the battery overnight.

What is a Level 2 Charging Station?

Next up on the EV charging station scale is the Level 2 charger. Level 2 units use 240-volt circuits—the kind typically used for electric clothes dryers.

Some Level 2 charging stations are portable and use the special multi-pronged plug and associated outlet used for clothes dryers. Many homes have such a circuit and outlet in their laundry rooms. But, of course, it is inconvenient to unplug your dryer so you can plug in the charger for your electric car.

For that reason, the vast majority of people who install a Level 2 charging station in their home hire an electrician to run a 240-volt circuit to their garage. Once the power is accessible in the garage, consumers can have the charging station hard-wired into that circuit. Or they can plug a portable Level 2 charger into that special 240-volt socket in their garage while also enjoying the ability to take the charger on the road with them.

Indeed, hiring an electrician and changing the home’s electrical system can be a costly hassle. But the big advantage is much faster recharging rates that speed recharge times. A Level 2 charging station will often recharge an EV battery in a quarter of the time it would take with a Level 1 charging unit, making it the best charging station for people who buy a purely electric car.

You can recharge the battery for an EV with 200 miles of range in about 10 hours or less. Use a Level 2 charging station with a PHEV, and you can recharge in under four hours.

What is a Level 3 Charging Station?

The third type of electric car charging station is a Level 3, and it is designed for commercial use or for those looking to make a quick stop before getting back on the road.

Level 3 charging stations enable DC fast charging (

If you are considering the purchase of an EV, you certainly want to know how much it will cost to install an electric vehicle charging station. As with so many things regarding EVs, the answer is: It depends.

If you are content with prolonged Level 1 charging, it might cost you nothing. You simply plug the charging cord into a socket in your garage or even outside your home and charge your vehicle’s battery that way. New EVs include a Level 1 charging cord compatible with your home’s electrical outlets. But if you’d rather not wrangle with it every time you need to charge your vehicle, you can buy a Level 1 charger for about 180 to 300, depending upon its sophistication and complexity. They mount to the wall and plug into an existing outlet.

Level 2 charging stations are more expensive. They start at about 300 and can easily exceed 1,000 for a sophisticated, hard-wired, wall-mounted unit. For a Level 2 charger installation, you almost certainly will need to hire an electrician, and, depending on the age of your home and the load on the existing electrical panel, you might also have to upgrade your home‘s electrical system. It is also likely you will need to get a permit from your locality authorizing the work. Total costs can easily run 1,000 to 2,000.

Installing a Level 3 charging station at home is, as we said, cost-prohibitive. Do you have a spare 50K lying around doing nothing? And even if you do, a residential structure will generally not have access to the high-power electrical infrastructure needed to support such equipment.

Many states now offer rebates and tax credits for installing charging infrastructure. These incentives may also be available at the local city level and from utility companies. California, by far, has the broadest range of rebates, discounts, and credits for EV buyers. Anyone buying an EV should research their state’s EV rebates for eligibility requirements. Start by checking here.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

We’ve given you an idea of how long it takes to charge an electric car in our descriptions of the various charging stations available, but again the real answer is: It depends.

One important thing to consider is recharging an EV is a different process than filling up a conventional car with gasoline. With a home EV charging station (and especially if you also can recharge your car at work), many EV owners never come close to depleting their vehicle’s supply of electricity. Keep the battery topped off, and recharging time should never become a concern.

Now, let’s say you’re away from both home and the office, and your EV’s battery is almost empty. How long does it take to charge an electric car in this scenario?

Use a public DCFC, and you could recharge your EV in an hour or less (in some cases, within 18 minutes). Connect to a more common (and affordable) Level 2 public charging station, and you can recoup 15 to 25 miles of driving range for each hour the EV is plugged in. If you’re visiting friends or relatives, it could take as long as four days to trickle-charge the longest-range Tesla by plugging it into the same household wall socket you’d use to charge your phone.

Recharging time depends on the battery’s overall capacity, its state of charge, and the type of charging station you use.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

By now, you can guess the answer to this question: It depends. The factors involved include how much your utility charges for electricity and even the time of day that you charge your vehicle.

First, electricity rates vary widely depending upon where you live. Further, electricity providers often offer a variety of rate plans. This means that you might be paying more for electricity than your next-door neighbor but a lot less than your cousin in Connecticut.

Many utilities also charge different rates for electricity depending upon the time of day it is being used. Rates can be most expensive during the day when demand is higher and lower at night when electricity demand is much lower. This is why you’re able to program many EVs to start charging at a specific time to take advantage of low electricity rates.

Generally speaking, a reasonable estimate is that charging an EV will cost the typical consumer between 3.1 and 11.3 cents per mile driven. Compare that to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, which costs between 4.4 and 38.75 cents per mile driven.

Electric Car Vs. Gas Cost

Let’s compare apples-to-apples using the Volvo XC40, which comes with a choice between an internal combustion engine and an electric drive system.

According to the EPA, a 2022 Volvo XC40 with all-wheel drive consumes four gallons of gas for every 100 miles traveled. Based on the average price of a gallon of gas (3.38) in the U.S. on February 2, 2022, it costs 13.52 to drive this SUV 100 miles. This is for gasoline costs only and does not include oil changes and other maintenance and repair expenses common to internal combustion engines.

Volvo offers an electric version of the XC40. The EPA says it uses 43 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles traveled. At an average U.S. electricity rate of 14.11 cents per kWh, it costs 6.07 to drive this SUV 100 miles. This is for electricity costs only and does not include the amortized charging station and charging station installation costs. It also does not take into consideration that the electric XC40 costs 16,600 more than an equivalent gas-powered XC40 (before applying the Shopping Guides section.

This range is based on the lowest (24 kWh/100) and highest (50 kWh/100) kilowatt-hour per 100 miles rating assigned to 2022model-year EVs by the Environmental Protection Agency, measured against the lowest (Louisiana) and highest (Hawaii) average electricity rates in the U.S. in February 2022.

This range is based on the lowest (9 mpg) and highest (60 mpg) average mile-per-gallon EPA rating assigned to 2022 model-year vehicles with internal combustion engines, measured against the lowest (Texas) and highest (California) per-gallon gasoline in the U.S. on February 2, 2022.

EV Charger Installation: How to Install an Electric Vehicle Charger at Home

Electric vehicles have become increasingly popular in recent years as people have become more aware of the environmental impact of gas-powered cars. With the growth of the electric vehicle market, there has also been an increase in the need for charging infrastructure to support these vehicles. While public charging stations are becoming more common, installing a home EV charger provides numerous benefits. including cheaper and more convenient charging. So, how do you install an EV charging station at home?

In this Redfin article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about EV charger installation, from getting started, to benefits and drawbacks, to cost considerations. Whether you live in an apartment in Wilmington, NC. to a house in Duluth, MN. read on to learn more.

What is an EV charger?

An EV charger, also known as an electric vehicle charger or charging station, is a device that charges the batteries of electric vehicles (EVs). EV chargers supply electricity to a vehicle’s battery and are designed to work with specific types of electric cars and battery configurations.

Installing an EV charger at home is convenient and cost-effective. Not only does it eliminate the need to visit a public charging station, but it also allows for charging anytime without worrying about availability or waiting in line.

EV charger installation: how to install an electric car charger

The installation process requires some planning and preparation, but is usually straightforward. Here are the six general steps for installing an EV charger at home:

• Determine the type of charger you need : Before you start the installation process, determine the type of charger you need based on your vehicle’s charging requirements and your budget. You can choose from Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 chargers, although Level 3 chargers are unsuitable for residential use due to installation costs and electricity requirements.
• Get necessary permits : Depending on your location, you may need to obtain permits before installing an EV charger. Check with your local authorities before starting the installation process.
• Choose a location for the charger : The ideal charger location is close to where you park your vehicle, with easy access to the electrical panel. You should also consider factors such as the length of the charging cable and if you need weather protection.
• Install a dedicated circuit : If you’re installing a Level 2 or Level 3 charger, you need to install a dedicated circuit that can handle the electrical load of the charger. This requires hiring a licensed electrician to install the circuit and any necessary upgrades to your electrical panel.
• Install the charger : Once the dedicated circuit is in place, you can install the charger. The installation process varies depending on the type of charger and the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Test the charger : After the installation is complete, it’s time to test the charger to ensure it’s functioning correctly. You can test the charger by plugging in your electric car and monitoring the charging process. Many charging stations come with apps that help you determine charging rates and electricity costs.

Cord length

It’s important to consider cord length when installing an EV charger at home; it’s much easier and less expensive if you can park your car close to an existing power source. Luckily, new chargers usually come with around 25 feet of cable, which is more than enough for most setups.

What types of EV chargers are there?

Several EV chargers are available on the market, differentiated by their charging capabilities and installation methods. Chargers range from Level 1 to Level 3. Level 1 chargers are the slowest and only require a standard outlet, while Level 3 chargers are the fastest and are typically used in commercial settings. Some chargers also include features to help with cord management and installation.

In the US, most electric cars are compatible with Level 1 and 2 chargers. Level 3 chargers, on the other hand, often require a Combined Charging System connector or another type of DC fast charging plug, which may or may not be available to you.

Let’s break these levels down a bit further.

Level 1

Level 1 chargers are the slowest type of EV charger, providing a charging rate of approximately 4-5 miles of range per hour of charging. They use a standard 120-volt household outlet and are typically included when you purchase a new electric vehicle. Level 1 chargers are best suited for overnight trickle charging at home, as they can take up to 24 hours to fully charge an empty battery.

Level 2

Level 2 chargers provide a faster charging rate than Level 1 chargers, typically providing 10-20 miles of range per hour of charging. They require a dedicated 240-volt circuit and may require installation by a licensed electrician depending on your municipality and home’s capabilities. Level 2 chargers are commonly found in public charging stations and are also suitable for home use, as they can fully charge an EV battery in 4-8 hours.

Level 3

Level 3 chargers, also known as DC Fast Chargers or Rapid chargers, are the fastest type of EV charger and can provide a full charge in as little as 20-30 minutes. They require a specialized charging connector (called a fast charging plug) and typically use a higher voltage and amperage than Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. Level 3 chargers are commonly found in commercial or public charging stations and are unrealistic for personal use.

How much does an electric car charger cost?

Most EV chargers cost between 300 and 1,500. depending on the type of charger and installation requirements. Level 1 chargers are usually included with a new electric vehicle, and a replacement will cost around 300. Level 2 chargers cost between 400 to 1,500, although that price may rise depending on your electrical situation. Level 3 chargers are unsuitable for personal use and can cost up to 50,000.

In addition to the charger’s cost, there may be additional costs associated with installation, permits, and electrical upgrades, particularly for Level 2. Installation costs can vary widely depending on factors such as the location of the charger, the electrical infrastructure of the building, and the need for additional equipment or permits. If you have questions, call your local electric company or government hotline.

Other cost considerations

Many government tax credits. grants. and rebates are available throughout the US to help offset the cost of EV chargers and installation. These incentives vary by location and range from monthly payments to subsidized purchases.

Some states and cities may have higher electric vehicle registration fees to offset the lack of gasoline taxes, which many governments use for road maintenance. Do your research before investing in electric vehicles to see if the cost is right for you.

It’s also important to consider the higher electric bills that come with charging an electric vehicle. Luckily, most EV chargers have companion apps to help you track data such as electricity usage, estimated cost, charging time, and more.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Charging times vary depending on your charging station (Level 1, 2, or 3), your home’s electrical capabilities, and your car’s model. In general, Level 1 chargers provide a full charge in 12-24 hours, Level 2 chargers provide a full charge in 4-8 hours, and Level 3 chargers fill an empty battery in around 30 minutes.

Additionally, some electric cars have larger onboard chargers that can accept higher charging rates, reducing the charging time. Charging times can also vary depending on the battery’s condition, the weather, temperature, and more.

How to incorporate an EV charger into your home design

With various designs and styles available on the market, it’s simple to choose an EV charger that complements your home’s design.

One option is to choose a modern charger with a minimalist design that blends seamlessly into your home’s exterior. This style of charger often features clean lines and a simple color scheme, and is available in all three charging levels.

Additionally, you can consider the charger’s location when incorporating it into your new home’s aesthetic, especially if you’re building a new custom home. For example, if you have a driveway, pick a charger you can mount on a concealed post or wall, allowing it to blend seamlessly into your design.

Final thoughts on EV charger installation

As electric vehicles become more popular and affordable, accessible and reliable charging infrastructure is becoming more critical. Installing EV chargers in homes, workplaces, and public areas not only benefits EV owners but also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. With advancements in technology and increased government support, installing EV chargers has become easier and more affordable than ever before.

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint at home and help the environment, EV chargers can be an excellent choice for you.

If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines here.

EV Charging Station Cost

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The cost of an EV charging station can vary significantly based on the requirements and current electrical infrastructure, but averages ~1,000 all-in for a Level 2 home charger. This guide details the cost of EV chargers for home and also discusses the cost of Level 2 chargers for business and Level 3 (DC-fast charging) stations.

Many consumers tell us that it can be difficult to find electricians with specific EV charger experience. It may be worth checking out Amazon Home Services EV Charger Installation (the reviews have been excellent so far).

Electric Car Charging Stations Cost Level 2 Charging Station Cost EV Charging Station For Business Cost Level 3 Charging Station Cost Detailed EV Charger Cost Breakdown

Electric Car Charging Stations Cost

The cost of an EV charging station can vary depending on the owner’s preferences and there are two main options for individual EV owners:

• Use a Level 1 Charger (Free) – All EV models come with a basic chord that will plug into a 120V outlet, which is the standard outlet for homes in the U.S. Assuming you already have a 120V outlet in your garage, this option is essentially free. This set-up will only allow for charging rates of 3-5 miles per hour, so if you have a moderate commute, a faster charge is required.
• Purchase a Level 2 Charger (~1,000) – Most EV owners elect to purchase a Level 2 EVSE, which stands for Electric Vehicle Service Equipment, for use in their home. The Level 2 chargers require a 240V outlet ( NEMA 6 which many clothes dryers use). The cost of a Level 2 charging station is typically around 1,000 all-in, which includes the equipment and installation cost. There are a range of Level 2 models ( read our detailed EV charger model review) and costs, which we discuss below.

If you are interested in electric car charging stations for your business or retail location, please refer to the section on Level 2 charging stations for business or read our detailed review of these products. There is also the option for businesses to purchase DC fast charging stations (also called Level 3), but the cost of a Level 3 EV charger is significantly more and is typically purchased through one of the EV charging network providers.

Level 2 Charging Station Cost

The chart below includes the of the most popular EV chargers available as of December 2017.

The installation cost data is from a study by the Rocky Mountain Institute, a leading cleantech institute, which broke the installation cost down into electrician labor, materials, permitting and mobilization (traveling to the installation location). The study was completed in 2014, so please note that we have adjusted the EV charger equipment cost in our estimate as have come down.

EV Charging Station For Business Cost

According to RMI, the installation for Level 2 chargers for businesses is the largest component of the cost and can be between 4,000 and 7,000. If the charger is located in a public parking garage the installation cost will be less than a curbside installation as the charger can be wall mounted and wiring is easier. A curbside charger is typically free-standing and trenching or directional boring for wiring increases the installation cost.

Level 3 Charging Station Cost

A Level 3 or DC fast charging station are typically installed through one of the EV charging station networks and can cost more than 50,000 to install. The main contributors to the increased cost are both the equipment and installation. The installation can require a 480V transformer and the electrician labor hours can be greater than 40 hours.

Detailed EV Charger Cost Breakdown

The chart below details the costs for Level 2 home chargers, Level 2 chargers for business and Level 3 chargers.

As noted by RMI, installation rates for home EV chargers can fluctuate based on the electrician labor time at 50-80 an hour depending on the location. A new breaker can also increase the price by 500-1,000.

Commercial installations have a wider variance based on the current electrical infrastructure and the extent of trenching/boring required.

Guide On How To Charge Your Electric Car With Charging Stations

Electric cars (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles are relatively new on the market and the fact that they use electricity to propel themselves means a new infrastructure has been put into place, one which few are familiar with. This is why we have created this useful guide to explain and clarify the different charging solutions used to charge an electric car.

In this EV charging guide, you’ll learn more about the 3 places where it’s possible to charge, the 3 different levels of charging available in North America, fast charging with superchargers, charging times, and connectors. You’ll also discover an essential tool for public charging, and useful links to answer all of your questions.

Before we get into those concepts, it is good to know the various terms used for charging stations. They usually all refer to the same thing.

• Charging station
• Charging outlet
• Charging plug
• Charging port
• Charger
• EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)

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Electric Car Home Chargers

Charging an electric car or plug-in hybrid is mainly done at home.Home charging accounts actually for 80% of all charging done by EV drivers. This is why it’s important to understand the solutions available, along with the pros of each.

Home Charging Solutions: Level 1 Level 2

There are two types of home charging: level 1 charging and level 2 charging.

• Level 1 charging happens when you charge an electric vehicle (EV) using the charger included with the car. These chargers can be plugged with one end into any standard 120V outlet, with the other end being plugged directly into the car. It can charge 200 kilometers (124 miles) in 20 hours.
• Level 2 chargers are sold separately from the car, although they’re often purchased at the same time. These chargers require a slightly more complicated setup, as they are plugged into a 240V outlet which allows charging 3 to 7 times faster depending on the electric car and the charger. All of these chargers have an SAE J1772 connector and are available for online purchase in Canada and the USA. They usually have to be installed by an electrician. You can learn more about level 2 charging stations in this guide.

For every electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid, the use of a level 2 home charging station is recommended to help you charge faster and enjoy your EV’s full potential. Provincial and municipal incentives are available in some regions to help with purchase and installation costs. You can also check the following websites for more information.

• Quebec incentives for electric car home chargers
• British Columbia incentives for electric car home chargers (the program is temporarily suspended)
• For the United States, we suggest you check your government website.

The pros of home charging

To enjoy all the benefits of charging at home, you need to use a level 2 home charger.

A fully charged battery in a few hours

A level 2 charger allows you to charge your electric car 5 to 7 times faster for a full-electric car or up to 3 times faster for a plug-in hybrid compared to a level 1 charger. This means you’ll be able to maximize the use of your EV and reduce stops to charge at public charging stations.

It takes around four hours to fully charge a 30-kWh battery car (standard battery for an electric car), which allows you to make the most out of driving your EV, especially when you have a limited time to charge.

Start Your Day Fully Charged

Home charging is normally done on evenings and at night. Just connect your charger to your electric car when you come home from work, and you’ll be sure to have a fully charged battery the next morning. Most of the time, an EV’s range is enough for all your daily travel, meaning you won’t have to stop at public chargers for charging. At home, your electric car charges while you eat, play with the kids, watch TV, and sleep!

Save Big on Charging Costs

• In Quebec, it is about 30% less expensive to charge at home than at a public charger and 6 times less expensive to drive 100 km (62 miles) on electricity than on gas.
• In Ontario, it is roughly 65% less expensive to charge at home than at a public charger and 5 times less expensive to drive 100 km (62 miles) on electricity than on gas.
• In British Columbia, it is roughly 30% cheaper to charge at home than at a public charger and 5 times less expensive to drive 100 km (62 miles) on electricity than on gas.
• In the United States, it all depends on the price of electricity and gas. You have to compare the consumption of electricity in kWh/100 miles of the EV multiplied by the cost of the kWh vs. the consumption of gallons/100 miles of the gas car multiplied by the price of a gallon of gas. That way, you will be able to quickly know how much you could save on your travel costs.

Electric Car Public Charging Stations

Public charging allows EV drivers to charge their electric cars on the road when they need to travel longer distances than allowed by their EV’s autonomy. These public chargers are often located near restaurants, shopping centers, parking spots, and such public spaces.

To locate them easily, we suggest you use ChargeHub’s charging stations map that is available on iOS, Android, and web browsers. The map lets you easily find every public charger in North America. You can also see most chargers’ status in real time, make itineraries, and more. We’ll be using our map in this guide to explain how the public charging works.

There are three main things to know about public charging: the 3 different levels of charging, the difference between connectors and the charging networks.

Charging Station Connectors

Charging Station Networks

In This Section

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Charger Types and Speeds

EVs can be charged using electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) operating at different charging speeds.

Level 1

Level 1 equipment provides charging through a common residential 120-volt (120V) AC outlet. Level 1 chargers can take 40-50 hours to charge a BEV to 80 percent from empty and 5-6 hours for a PHEV.

Level 2

Level 2 equipment offers higher-rate AC charging through 240V (in residential applications) or 208V (in commercial applications) electrical service, and is common for home, workplace, and public charging. Level 2 chargers can charge a BEV to 80 percent from empty in 4-10 hours and a PHEV in 1-2 hours.

Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC)

Direct current fast charging (DCFC) equipment offers Rapid charging along heavy-traffic corridors at installed stations. DCFC equipment can charge a BEV to 80 percent in just 20 minutes to 1 hour. Most PHEVs currently on the market do not work with fast chargers.

Level 2 and DCFC equipment has been deployed at various public locations including, for example, at grocery stores, theaters, or coffee shops. When selecting a charger type, consider its voltages, resulting charging and vehicle dwell times, and estimated up-front and ongoing costs.

The figure below shows typical Level 2 and DCFC charging stations 1.

EV Charging Minimum Standards Rule

FHWA, with support from the Joint Office of Energy Transportation, unveiled new national standards for federally funded EV chargers in February 2023. These new standards aim to ensure that charging is a predictable and reliable experience for EV drivers. This includes ensuring that drivers can easily find a charger, do not need multiple apps and/or accounts to charge, chargers work when drivers need them to, and are designed to be compatible in the future with forward-looking charging capabilities.

The rule establishes minimum technical standards for charging stations, including required number of charging ports, connector types, power level, availability, payment methods, uptime/reliability, EV charger infrastructure network connectivity, and interoperability, among other standards and requirements.

Overview of EV Chargers

The below table summarizes the typical power output, charging time, and locations for PHEVs and BEVs for the different charger types. For more information on the power requirements of different chargers, see the Utility Planning section of the toolkit.

1 Note that charging speed is affected by many factors, including the charger manufacturer, condition, and age; air temperature; vehicle battery capacity; and vehicle age and condition.

2 Different vehicles have different charge ports. For DCFC, the Combined Charging System (CCS) connector is based on an open international standard and is common on vehicles manufactured in North America and Europe; the CHArge de Move (CHAdeMO) connector is most common for Japanese manufactured vehicles. Tesla vehicles have a unique connector that works for all charging speeds, including at Tesla’s “Supercharger” DCFC stations, while non-Tesla vehicles require adapters at these stations.

3 AC = alternating current; DC = direct current.

4 Assuming an 8-kWh battery; most plug-in hybrids do not work with fast chargers.

6 To 80 percent charge. Charging speed slows as the battery gets closer to full to prevent damage to the battery. Therefore, it is more cost- and time-efficient for EV drivers to use direct current (DC) fast charging until the battery reaches 80 percent, and then continue on their trip. It can take about as long to charge the last 10 percent of an EV battery as the first 90 percent.