What is The Difference Between Level 1, 2 and 3 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging?
What is the difference between Level 1, 2 and 3 electric vehicle (EV) charging? This is a question many new EV owners ask. Electric Vehicles come as Plug-In Hybrid or BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle). Let’s define these first and then get into the differences between level 1, 2 and 3 charging.
Plug-in Hybrid - Vehicles use a smaller battery pack to allow for some fully electric operation, providing 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 vehicle’s fuel economy without going fully electric. With the smaller size battery pack, Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are also usually very quick to charge even on a Level 1 charger.
BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) - Vehicles that run fully on electricity provided by a battery. In places with lower electricity cost, the cost to fully charge an EV can be as little as $2. This allows BEV 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 BEV defined, let’s discuss the differences between chargers.
Level 1 : Level 1 charging in Canada and the US is done by using a standard 120v 15A outlet (similar to the outlets you 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 per hour. 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 convenient to charge with during road trips or to top up your battery quickly . DC fast chargers can get you from <5% battery to 80% in less than 20 minutes, making them ideal for longer range rides. 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.
