Charging Levels for Electric Vehicles
Understanding levels of charging for electric cars is vital to every electric car owner and potential ones. Nevertheless, trading a gas pump for an electric plug is more than just another experience. It’s a luxury to enjoy from convenience in time, efforts and money; and avoidance of the toxic smell from gasoline fuel. So, here’s to jumpstart your knowledge about the particulars of charging electric cars.
Charging levels indicate the utility requirement and the time required to achieve your car’s full charge.
Level 1 Charging
This charging type uses a standard 120V outlet and an alternating-current plug. Forget about the technical jargon, simply, it’s charging your EV to a standard household outlet. It is portable with a three-pong plug to the outlet on one end and a connector to the electric vehicle on the other. In a matter of 8-12 hours, your fully depleted battery is completely charged.
Take it this way. You drive about 40 miles per day. And when the day is over, you can just relax to bed and go to sleep while you charge your car overnight for 9 hours. While you enjoy a good rest, you are ready for another drive the next day.
How about if you drive more than 40 miles per day, like 80 miles? A full charge would mean your car plugged into an outlet for 18 hours. Here’s the catch – you don’t need a full charge to keep your car from running. Go ahead with your normal drive during the day and charge your car for 9 hours overnight. The next day, you are still good to go.
Whether you charge at home or at work, you can enjoy your less hassle charging experience with your portable level 1 charging equipment.
Level 2 Charging
Level 2 charging is the same as level 1 charging in such a way that they both deliver household electricity to the car. The difference is that level 2 charging requires installation of charging equipment at home or in public places. This type of charging uses a 240V, AC plug and 40 amp circuit. It generally requires 3 to 6 hours of complete charging. Level 2 charging is also called as opportunity charging as it calls for charging during opportune times of the day, including sleep, work or play.
If you have an electric car or if you plan to have one, you might want to consider installing a level 2 charging at home. Although it has high upfront costs, it can benefit you in the long run especially if you drive your EV for more than 40 miles per day.
Level 3 Fast DC Charging
Level 3 charging is fast and reliable. However, it is not suitable for all types of electric cars. It is ideal for large vehicles with big batteries charged in public charging infrastructures. Unlike the level 1 and level 2 charging that requires hours to charge completely, level 3 charging only takes minutes to full charge a depleted battery.
When you learn all these charging types, you will be able to maximize your electric car at its best. So, understand the intricacies of EVs and save huge amount as a result.
