What is The Difference Between Level 1, 2 and 3 EV charging?
What is the difference between Level 1, 2 and 3 EV charging? This is a question many new electric vehicle (EV) owners ask. Electric Vehicles come in a couple different configurations Plug-In Hybrid or BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) Lets define these first and then get into level 1, 2 and 3 charging.
Plug-in Hybrid vehicles use a smaller battery pack in them to allow for some fully electric operation. These smaller battery packs usually allow for approximately 50-100km of battery range. Once the battery is depleted or if the vehicles needs a bit more power the gas combustion engine will start up and work as a regular vehicle. Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are a great option to extend your vehicles fuel economy without going fully electric. With the smaller size battery pack Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are usually very quick to charge even on a Level 1 charger.
BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) Is a vehicle that runs fully on electricity provided by a battery. In places with lower electricity cost the cost to fully charge can be as little as $2. This allows Battery Electric vehicles to be very cost effective in many parts of the world. BEV usually have 200-600km of range depending on the model and age of the vehicle.
Now that we have Plug-in Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicle defined lets get into charging!
Level 1 : Level 1 charging in Canada and the US is done by using a standard 120v 15A outlet like the one you have to plug in a lamp, vacuum or phone charger in your home. Some people refer to this as slow charging as it only adds about 5km/h of battery range. If you do not drive much and are not concerned about range this is the best option for most home owners, as you can charge on any outlet.
Level 2: Level 2 charging in Canada and the US is the most common type of charging available. level 2 chargers range from 20A-100A of power output/h. Most home owners opt for a NEMA 14-50R receptacle to install the charger of their choice at their home. Most Level 2 chargers can fully charge a BEV in approximately 4-8 hours depending on the charging speed.
Level 3: Level 3 Chargers are Usually DC fast Chargers and are not available to the public to buy. These are mostly used by EV owners to make road trips or to top up your battery quickly . DC fast chargers can get you from empty to 80% in less than 20mins making them ideal for road trips. Many vehicle manufactures already have DC Fast charging networks all over Canada and the USA.
If you have any questions or are looking for more information on EV chargers or installs reach out to us at GW Electric Inc. We are the most knowledgeable installer in Winnipeg, Manitoba of EV charging equipment.
