Different Levels of EV Charging
A quick guide to all types of electric car charging, from Level 1 home charging to Level 3 fast-charging.
By Nick Kurczewski Published: Nov 15, 2022
You don’t need a degree in rocket science to charge an electric vehicle. Plugging in an EV to charge is no more difficult than fueling a gas-powered car. That said, things can get a bit confusing if you begin digging into the weeds of the different charging equipment and speeds. Jargon such as SAE J1772, DC fast-charging, or Level 1 and 2 chargers can make replenishing the charge of your EV’s battery seem far more complicated than it is. With that in mind, we’ve taken the time to break things down for you by explaining the basics of EV charging and the various Levels associated with it.
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Electric Vehicle Charging Levels
The Society of Automotive Engineers outlines three levels of EV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. The one you use at a given time could depend on a few factors, such as your home’s electrical system and the makeup of available public chargers in a given locality.
Level 1
Automakers often include Level 1 charging equipment with new electric cars. This device plugs into a typical household 120V outlet. The ubiquity of these ordinary household outlets makes Level 1 charging incredibly convenient, even if this type of charging replenishes your car’s battery pack at a very slow rate. Plan on seeing your EV add around two to four miles of range per hour, depending on the efficiency of your specific battery-powered car, truck, or SUV. This type of charging is much slower, far less efficient, and will cost you more than Level 2.
Level 1 alone won’t be enough to keep up with the charging needs of most EV owners. That said, if you only drive 20 miles or so each day, perhaps you could get by with Level 1 only. One quick point of caution: Never plug your Level 1 charger’s cord into an extension cord, as the wire’s additional length creates resistance that may overheat the extension cord and could also cause the charging equipment to fault out and stop charging.
Level 2
Level 2 charging operates at 240 volts and typically at three to four times the amperage of a lesser Level 1 unit. As such, the majority of Level 2 units add electricity to your EV’s battery pack at a rate that’s roughly six to eight times faster than Level 1 setups, equating to 12–32 miles of driving range for each hour of charging.
But the charging rate of Level 2 can vary quite dramatically. A typical 240-volt, 24-amp unit can put out about 6.0 kW of continuous power. But the fastest possible Level 2 charging is at 80 amps, or 19.2 kW, which is more than three times faster. The hardware on your car dictates the maximum Level 2 charge rate, and most cars aren’t capable of charging at 19.2 kW, so you’ll want to match your charging equipment to what your EV can handle to avoid paying for capability you can’t use.
We recommend that any EV owner install Level 2 charging at home. If your EV’s supplied or optionally available charging cord is incompatible with a 240-volt outlet, you will need to purchase dedicated Level 2 charging equipment for your home. You may also need to add electrical capacity to your home. Consult an electrician to ensure your home’s electric panel is up to the task.
Though installing Level 2 charging capability at home is an additional expense, a number of states and localities provide government incentives to offset some of the cost. Be sure to see if such incentives are available where you live.
Level 2 chargers are also the sort typically found in public spaces, such as parking garages and lots. The end of the cord that plugs into your EV looks identical to those you use for charging at home. These units can add a reasonable amount of range to your EV over the course of a couple of hours.
Are electric car charging plugs universal?
Firstly, when talking about EV connectors, it’s essential to understand that there is a connector – or sometimes called a plug – on the vehicle (which acts like a socket) and a connector on the charging point itself (think of it as a plug). In order for your EV to charge, both connectors need to match (see image below).
Electric car charging plugs are not universal, with there being two distinct connectors – Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 2 EV Connectors (both on the EV and the charging cable)
There are also three different speeds to charge your electric vehicle – slow, fast and Rapid.
Slow chargers typically refer to three-pin plug chargers, which charge at about 2.3kW and use a domestic household 13 Amp three-pin plug to charge. This usually takes about 12-14 hours to fully charge a Nissan Leaf, and a Tesla Model 3 will take, on average, 33 hours. In addition to the sluggish charging speed, 3-pin charging can also be dangerous and is therefore only recommended for emergency use. To read more about 3-pin plug charging, please feel free to read our blog here.
Fast chargers are either dedicated home charging points or public charging points, which you would find in car parks and supermarkets. Fast chargers have a rating of either 7kW or 22kW. Please note that whilst 22kW home EV chargers are available, you might not be able to take advantage of this charging speed. Your car will need to accept 22kW, and your home will need a three-phase electricity supply. To read more about 7kW and 22kW EV home chargers, please click here.
Rapid chargers are found near motorway service stations and have a charging rate of up to 50kW. Ultra-Rapid charging infrastructure is also being introduced, whereby you can charge over 100kW. Rapid and Ultra-Rapid chargers are the quickest way to charge. However, you cn’t get a Rapid or ultra-Rapid EV charger installed at home.
If you want to understand slow, fast, and Rapid chargers in more depth, please take a look at our blog post here.
There are also two different electrical currents to charge your electric vehicle, either an AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current). The UK domestic power supply is delivered in Alternating Current (AC); however, EV batteries need Direct Current (DC) for charging. In terms of fast charging, the onboard charger in an EV converts AC to DC for safe battery recharging, and for Rapid charging (or ultra-Rapid), the DC connection bypasses your car’s onboard charger and supplies DC straight into the battery, charging quicker.
It’s important to know that some electric vehicles have two charging connector sockets, in the form of DC and AC, and some have just one single connector socket, in the form of AC. There are also two different connectors for each current; type 1 and type 2 for AC connectors and CHAdeMO and CCS for DC connectors.
So, using this information, let’s dive into the different types of connectors for the different electrical currents…
Type 1 Connector (Fast Charging) – Type 1 connectors have a 5-pin design and only work with single-phase electricity supplies. They have a maximum charging rate of 7.4kW. Type 1 is not as common as Type 2 in the UK and is usually the standard in the Asian, American and Japanese markets. Some electric vehicles still have Type 1 as standard, such as Citroen C-Zero, Ford Focus Electric, and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. However, Type 1 connectors are usually found on older models of electric vehicles in Europe.
Type 1’s do not have any locking mechanisms.
Below is a list of electric vehicle models in the UK that utilise the type 1 socket:
It’s always worth checking your manufacturer guide to find out which connector type your EV has, as the new Nissan Leaf comes with a Type 2, whereas older models are fitted with a Type 1.
It’s important to note that some dedicated home electric vehicle chargers and public charge points do not support Type 1 connectors in the UK. However, if you are wanting a dedicated charging point with a Type 2 port and you have one of the above vehicles, you can always purchase a Type 1 to Type 2 EV Cable.
Type 1 Connector
A Type 2 connector is the most common connector type in Europe and has become the standard for many new and high-capacity EVs. Whilst Type 1 has five connection points, Type 2 has a 7-pin design. Unlike Type 1, Type 2 connectors can work with both a single and a three-phase electricity supply. Consequently, Type 2 connectors can charge up to 22kW, although for your electric vehicles to take advantage of this rate, they would have to have a charging capability of 22kW.
Type 2 connectors have an inbuilt locking mechanism and are suitable for both home and public fast EV charging. Most public charging stations are equipped with a Type 2 charging cable. However, if you have a Type 1 connection, you can invest in an adaptor.
Below is a list of car manufacturers that typically fit their EVs with Type 2 connectors:
You have to know when to level-up
Following behind is everyone else. EV ports and the chargers that connect to Non-Tesla vehicles come in several variants across the U.S. You also get different levels of charging: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The higher the number, the more powerful (and faster) the charging should be.
Which one you can use depends on the type of EV you want to charge and its ability to accept the power supply. The good news on that front is the car will be able to figure this out for you, so you won’t inadvertently fry your battery when you plug in.
Level 1, 120 Volt AC charging is the ‘entry-level’ option, and much slower as a result. The bonus is if you don’t mind adding a miserly 3 to 5 miles of range per hour is that it allows you to plug in and charge at home without having to install any specialist charging equipment. Overnight makes the most sense and lets you avoid the public charger scenario altogether.
Level 2, which is 208 Volts to 240 Volts AC, is speedier and your options are greater, although there are still limitations. You might get up to 80 miles from an hour’s charge, though this could drop down to just over 10 in other cases. EV chargers that offer Level 2 charging are becoming more commonplace, however, and can often be the ones to look for at locations like fast food outlets, shopping mall complexes and hotels.
Level 3 DC Rapid charging is the most appealing in terms of speed and efficiency. The 400 Volts to 900 Volts DC Rapid charge and Supercharging options can deliver up to 20 miles per minute thanks to that direct current supply and higher voltage rating. Tesla owners get to enjoy this via the Supercharger network, while other makes and models don’t always get that luxury.
If you don’t have a Tesla but want to be up there with the big boys, then Level 3 charging is the one to head for — provided it’s available where you are, or where you’re headed.
Different chargers have different plugs
In terms of the plugging-in part of the charging process, in North America the connectors are standardized for both Level 1 and Level 2 charging using a so-called ‘J-Plug’. This plug is also known as Type 1, with the alternate Type 2 charger being used in Europe and other parts of the world.
Level 3 comes with a trio of standardized connection options. While Tesla has its own proprietary thing going on, the majority of other auto manufacturers currently use the Combined Charging System, or CCS, which is a combination style plug. The CCS charging standard shares the same J Plug as Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, but also includes two additional DC pins at the base to support higher electrical current.
Meanwhile certain automakers, particularly Japanese automakers like Nissan and Mitsubishi, have been using the CHAdeMO charging system. This utilizes a totally separate plug and socket combination than the slower AC charging, and has slowly been supplanted by CCS in North America and Europe.
The only recent car you’re likely to come across with a CHAdeMO charging is the Nissan Leaf. However since the Nissan Ariya is set to launch with a CCS charger, it looks like CHAdeMO’s days are numbered.
Finding a charger is a cinch
The easiest part of the EV charging procedure is locating a compatible unit that can replenish your battery. Like everything else, there’s an app for that.
In fact, there are numerous apps that can help you find a suitable charger, check its compatibility with your vehicle, tell you the availability and detail plus any costs involved. Each charging network has its own app that can guide you, while there are plenty of other options, like PlugShare or EVGo, that offer better support for multiple networks.
Alternatively, Google Maps has tools to help you search for nearby chargers, while your EV should have built-in features — often as part of the infotainment system — that can point your vehicle in the right direction. In some cases, if you use the built-in navigation system, the EV will automatically route you to a charging station if you’re likely to run out of power mid-trip.
Of course, what you find when you arrive at the location of the charger doesn’t always match that of the description you’ve been getting during the journey. When it works, using tech to find a suitable charger is one of the easiest ways to charge an EV. When it doesn’t, well, you could find you’re greeted by an incompatible charger though more likely it won’t work as expected. It might be in use or, annoyingly, blocked by another non-electric vehicle.
Worst of all though, it might not be working at all. That’s why EV ownership, or rental for that matter, involves a little more thought and, ideally, a plan of action. Short hops around town are no biggie as you should be able to find at least one location where you can top up as needed.
Longer journeys, or beefy road trips, require careful planning using an app and any available in-car tech so you do at least have a fallback charging option if the location of choice is out of commission.
Which chargers are best?
It’s not so much which charger is best, as much as what will be compatible with your EV. The best thing about charging connectors and their respective ports is that they only fit if they’re compatible with each other.
If you’re new to charging, or just in a state of minor panic due to a battery that’s nearly empty, it can be easy to overlook this point. However, a deep breath and quick examination of the connector head and port is all that’s needed to check one will mate happily with the other.
Assuming you’ve got that figured out, the next thing is the speed factor. Chargers are, generally speaking, getting faster and more efficient. However, there are factors that can slow things down, such as the electricity infrastructure where you’re charging along, the number of other vehicles being charged in close proximity, your current battery level and the car itself.
In fact, all sorts of dull, contributory factors can slow a charge. And, as if that isn’t bad enough, cold conditions will help to slow down any charge being added to your battery. Tedious, huh?
The 3 Levels Of EV Charging Explained
All over the world, there seems to be an insatiable appetite for electric vehicles. The data shows that an increasing number of vehicle owners are opting for eco-friendly cars, and interest in these models has increased in light of skyrocketing gas prices. In fact, EV sales increased almost 200% in the U.S. between the second quarters of 2020 and 2021, according to data from McKinsey Company. Electric vehicle manufacturers like BMW are taking notes and ramping up production in response to this demand. By 2030, many industry leaders expect electric vehicles will make up 52% of new car sales (via CNBC).
Unlike their gas-guzzling counterparts, EVs don’t rely on typical fuel sources like gas or diesel to power their motors. Instead, these vehicles feature large battery packs that are charged either at home or using a public charging station. While that may sound straightforward enough, there are various charging options aside from location, namely the type of charger you’re getting, and they’re divided into three levels. Knowing which charging level is best will first require you to look at your needs, including how many miles you drive per day and whether your car is fully electric or a hybrid.
Level 1 charging
Out of the three EV charging levels, Level 1 is the most affordable way to charge your electric vehicle. This is a good option if you don’t need to drive a lot, as it requires no installation for it to work. Almost all EVs come with a charging cord that features a J1772 connector on one end (that plugs into the vehicle) and a standard three-prong connector on the other end that plugs into an ordinary household wall outlet.
If you are in the United States, 120-volt outlets are common and can be found in most homes and garages. Level 1 chargers deliver around 15 amps maximum from a 120-volt socket. This is the most readily available option for most EV owners and makes it possible to charge a vehicle overnight in one’s own garage. The downside to charging your EV’s battery with a Level 1 charger, however, is that it is extremely slow.
For every hour spent plugged in and charging, you only get 2 to 5 miles of driving range. For that reason, you’ll likely want to only utilize Level 1 charging if you own a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, can go only around to 20 to 40 miles on average using only battery power. After that, the PHEV will switch over to using whichever fuel type it was designed for, likely gasoline.
Level 2 charging
If you need to travel more than 50 miles per day, then Level 2 charging might be your best option. A Level 2 charger is the type that’s most commonly used for everyday life — in fact, almost 80% of public EV charging stations are Level 2. These chargers have different voltage requirements and use either a 240-volt outlet — which can be found or installed in most homes — or a 208-volt connection that’s mostly used in public areas like hotels and shopping centers.
Compared to Level 1 chargers, a Level 2 charger can juice up your EV’s battery much faster. A single hour of charging at Level 2 is equal to 25 miles of range, according to the Department of Energy. Installing a Level 2 Charger at your residence is simple — they use the same J1772 connector that’s used for Level 1 charging equipment, though Tesla vehicles have their own connector that supports Level 2 charging. If your garage isn’t already wired with a 240-volt connector, you can hire an electrician to install a Level 2 charger for personal use, which will make EV ownership far more convenient.
Though they can deliver up to 80 amps of power, the Department of Energy notes that Level 2 chargers in the home typically only provide 30 amps and require a 40-amp circuit to do so. That’s still double or more the paltry 15 amps you get with a Level 1 charger. With that said, the amount of time it takes to charge an EV on a Level 2 charger at home may be greater than the time it takes at a public charging station.
Level 3 charging
Finally, there’s Level 3 charging, which is also called DC fast charging. You won’t find Level 3 chargers in residential homes due to their lack of necessary infrastructure, not to mention these charging systems typically cost at least 15,000 at the low end. Level 3 chargers also utilize different connectors than Level 1 and Level 2 charging — the proprietary Tesla connector aside — and your vehicle must support DC fast charging to take advantage of the option.
The biggest upside to using a Level 3 charger is that it can quickly add mileage to your EV, making it possible to top up your vehicle on your lunch break or add a bit more range before heading out on a long drive. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that every half-hour spent on a DC fast charger results in 100 to 200 or more miles of range. This is because Level 3 chargers deliver at least 100 amps and 480 volts of power — again, assuming your vehicle supports this charging option.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 15% of public EV charging ports in the United States are DC fast chargers. These include fast chargers in Tesla’s network of Superchargers and Electrify America’s growing network of DC fast chargers. Experts expect the number of fast chargers will increase as more consumers and commercial industries adopt EVs, particularly transportation companies, the long-haul trucking industry, and other sectors that need to minimize the duration that vehicles spend sitting stationary at charging stations.