What are the different types of EV charging stations?
We have been refueling our internal combustion engine cars with petrol ,diesel ,gasoline and the process is relatively simple.
Everyone knows the process is super easy and done in minutes.However,with electric vehicles there are different types of connectors used, but most importantly, there are different levels of EV charging that determine how long it takes to charge an EV.
If you are thinking to buy electric vehicle, there are many questions comes to your mind
Most common question comes into mind is,what is level 1,2,3 charging stations.Let's dive into more details
Different types of EV charging stations
There are three levels of EV charging. The higher the level of charging, the faster the charging process.EVs charge at different speeds on each level, because each EV can accept different levels of power from the EVSE.
-Level 1 electric vehicle charging stations
-Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations
-Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations or
DC fast charging station
Level 1 electric vehicle charging stations
Level 1 electric vehicle charging is mostly used at home.Level 1, also known as trickle charging.Level 1 charger uses 120V AC plug which can easily plug into a standard wall outlet. There are some plus points about these chargers like they are the cheapest amongst all available charging stations and they don't need any additional installation.Negative points are they consume the largest amount of time to charge EV batteries.
Level 1 charging is best suited for Plug-In hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).
Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations
Level 2 charging option is used at commercial as well as residential location.For residential purpose 240V AC plug is the option.For commercial purpose 208V AC plug is used.These chargers can deliver 10 to 60 miles of range per hour of charging. These chargers need a proper installation process done by a skilled electrician.These chargers are fast compared to level1 chargers.They fully charge the car battery in 2 hours.
Level 2 charging stations are ideal for times while you're shopping, at the movies, or eating out at a restaurant,or at work because your vehicle is parked for at least an hour.
Level 2 charging is commonly used for daily EV charging as it charges up much faster than Level 1 charging.
Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations
Level 3 electric vehicle chargers are also called as DC fast chargers.DC fast chargers are usually used only in industry and commercial applications. These DC charging stations require high-powered, highly specialised equipment to install and maintain.In just 30-40 minutes of charging they give 100+ miles of range for your electric vehicle.Many EVs can not be charged using level3 chargers.Level 3 charging uses direct current (DC), unlike Level 1 and Level 2 charging which use alternating current (AC). It is usually rated at 480V.Due to the high power, DC Fast Charging is only found at commercial charging stations. Additionally, there is no EVSE with DC Fast Charging stations as the station itself is the charger.
The Mercedes EQC and MG ZS EV are examples of electric vehicles that are DC fast chargers enabled.
Summing up
EV charging depends on the car's battery capacity, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), and vehicle on-board charger (OBC) capabilities.Level 1 and Level 2 chargers supply alternating current (AC) from the grid, which has to be converted by the electric car’s battery to direct current (DC) since EV batteries can only accept DC current. This conversion is what makes Level 1 and Level 2 chargers so much slower than DC fast chargers.The key differences between the three levels of electric car charging gives each level a reasonable time and place.
