EV Charging 101 - How EV Chargers Work
By Complete Electrical Service|January 12, 2022
There are still a lot of traditional cars with internal combustion engines on the road. So it might seem like nothing has changed. However, most major car manufacturers have said that they will be going full electric – some by as soon as 2030. So the days of the gas guzzler are very much numbered.
What’s stepping into the fray? Electric vehicles. Even now, there are more and more full battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) than ever before. They’re only becoming more popular too. So if you don’t already have one parked in your driveway or garage, it’s probably only a matter of time.
You’ve probably already seen EV chargers in your city or town, but if you plan to buy an electric vehicle or hybrid, you might want to have one installed in your home. Here’s what you need to know.
What are EV Chargers?
EV chargers are simply electrical outlets that you plug your electric vehicle into, so you can charge your battery. There are different kinds of EV chargers though, and they offer different charging levels, depending on which one you have.
Charging levels
Level 1 - Portable EVSE
Level 1 EV chargers are pretty much just the regular electric outlets you have in your home. Technically, you can use these to charge an EV car battery – but it’s really slow. In fact, your regular household outlets will probably only charge your battery by 10 - 20km range per hour – so you would need to charge your car for 5 - 16 hours.
Level 2 - Wall Chargers
Level 2 EV chargers are much more powerful. They supply 240V of power instead of your usual household 120 volts, and they can fully charge your battery in about 12 hours. This means that they’re not bad if you plan to charge overnight, but you will still have to plan ahead!
Level 3 - DC Fast Chargers
Level 3 EV chargers, also known as rapid chargers and DC fast chargers are the top of the line, as far as charging capabilities go. These dedicated electric vehicle chargers can charge your battery to about 80% in as little as an hour. So if you need a solution that will get you (and keep you) on the road quickly, this is it.
Conclusion
Level 2 and 3 EV chargers really make owning an electric vehicle more convenient. So if you own or plan to buy one of these cars, it’s a good idea to have them. They do require professional installation though. You can call a qualified electrician to help install your EV charging station, and ensure that you always have power, and it’s safe!
What’s stepping into the fray? Electric vehicles. Even now, there are more and more full battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) than ever before. They’re only becoming more popular too. So if you don’t already have one parked in your driveway or garage, it’s probably only a matter of time.
You’ve probably already seen EV chargers in your city or town, but if you plan to buy an electric vehicle or hybrid, you might want to have one installed in your home. Here’s what you need to know.
What are EV Chargers?
EV chargers are simply electrical outlets that you plug your electric vehicle into, so you can charge your battery. There are different kinds of EV chargers though, and they offer different charging levels, depending on which one you have.
Charging levels
Level 1 - Portable EVSE
Level 1 EV chargers are pretty much just the regular electric outlets you have in your home. Technically, you can use these to charge an EV car battery – but it’s really slow. In fact, your regular household outlets will probably only charge your battery by 10 - 20km range per hour – so you would need to charge your car for 5 - 16 hours.
Level 2 - Wall Chargers
Level 2 EV chargers are much more powerful. They supply 240V of power instead of your usual household 120 volts, and they can fully charge your battery in about 12 hours. This means that they’re not bad if you plan to charge overnight, but you will still have to plan ahead!
Level 3 - DC Fast Chargers
Level 3 EV chargers, also known as rapid chargers and DC fast chargers are the top of the line, as far as charging capabilities go. These dedicated electric vehicle chargers can charge your battery to about 80% in as little as an hour. So if you need a solution that will get you (and keep you) on the road quickly, this is it.
Conclusion
Level 2 and 3 EV chargers really make owning an electric vehicle more convenient. So if you own or plan to buy one of these cars, it’s a good idea to have them. They do require professional installation though. You can call a qualified electrician to help install your EV charging station, and ensure that you always have power, and it’s safe!
