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Whether it be placing mobile orders for coffee or getting groceries delivered, certain things can help our day-to-day lives go by smoother.
Charging EV cars is one of the biggest challenges that face most EV owners. There are three different electric charging levels, including level 1, level 2, and Level 3. Level 3 is the fastest charging level, and it's referred to as the DC fast charging or the DCFC. More and more people are leaning towards purchasing environmentally-friendly vehicles like electric vehicles . With EV, owners don't have to worry about gas costs because these vehicles run an electric charge. The fact is that there are just way too many hoops to jump through to have such a device installed at home.
Combined charging system (CCS)
Instead, they're operated by private networks like Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint, and others. Usually they're located near highways or other well-frequented routes. Every new EV you buy in the US today comes with a charger that will work, at the very least, with a 120V outlet.
If that’s not enough, there is also the fact that the wages for each worker need to be accounted for plus any extra for unforeseen problems. Each step in this process requires special training and equipment, making this a non-DIY project. But in this reality, having a level 3 charger is a bit extra and extremely uncommon. Now that we hashed out what each level of charger is capable of, we can think about whether or not having one at home is a worthwhile investment. For more information about what a level 3 charger is, see our other article by clicking here. Samsung Super Fast Charging guarantees 25W of peak charging power, with potential to go beyond.
Level 1 chargers are slowest but easiest to plug-in
It’s perfect for electric vehicles with any size battery and need to be charged at any time of day. If that is not in the cards, another option is to plan your route around a level 3 charger. According to statista.com, there are apparently nearly 113,600 charging stations in the United States as of January 2022.
Currently the fastest-charging car on sale is the Porsche Taycan, capable of speeds up to 270kW. CCS connectors are used to charge EVs at rapid and ultra-rapid speeds. The CHAdeMO is an electrical connector that was established and manufactured by Japanese companies such as Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. The purpose of the CHAdeMO was to create a charging standard that would be used across the EV industry. Both level 1 and level 2 charging methods use AC , and so are understandably slower than that of DC charging.
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While it is possible to only rely solely on a Level 1 charging station to keep your car charged, it is slow, inefficient, and can put a lot of strain on your home electrical network. At the same time, you’ll more than likely have to visit a public charging station at some point, which is more expensive, unsafe, and inconvenient than charging at home. When you charge your EV with a Level 1 charger it’s known as a “trickle charge” due to how slow it is. If you already have your EV in your possession and aren’t waiting for it to arrive, then you probably have experienced just how slow Level 1 charging is.
How does that compare to the cost to drive a car with an internal combustion engine? The cost per mile ranges between $0.13 to $0.22 per gallon and that’s with gas prices at $3 to $4 . Comparing Energy Costs per Mile for Electric and Gasoline-Fueled Vehicles report from the Idaho National Laboratory. According to the report, the average U.S. residential electricity rate is about 11.7 cents per kilowatt-hour . As you are familiar with, electricity rates fluctuate all the time and some states, like California, have notoriously higher rates which could easily be twice the national average.
EV Charging Explained: The Fastest Chargers At Home And On The Road
The scenario is basically the same for going with a level 2 charger in an “at-home” setting. Most likely this will go to homeowners or people with the permission to modify the building to install a level 2 charger. Like level 1 charging, street parking and parking garages aren’t always conducive to charging. Level 3 or DC fast-charging stations are large EV chargers capable of charging an electric car to 80% within 20 to 30 minutes.
One of the biggest disadvantages of DC fast chargers is the fact that they can only be installed at limited locations. A DC fast charger in most cases can only be found at shopping centers or near highways. Whereas a Level 2 charging station can be installed at your home, workplace, or other public locations. A Level 3 charger is by far the fastest type of charging available, with the potential to recharge your EV at a rate of 3 to 20 miles of range per minute. Whereas a Level 2 charging station can provide only 14 to 35 miles per hour of charging.
If you own a home or rent a home, it is likely that there is a good place to plug in. Street parking and parking garages are not really ideal for charging. If you are like most people and can’t afford to install a level 3 charger at home, there are some alternatives. The bottom line is that the car needs to be recharged regularly and that interval depends on driving habits. However, an easy alternative option is to stick with the level 1 charging or spring for a level 2 charger. Tesla went so far as to call their level 3 chargers “Superchargers,” which sounds cooler .
Level 2 charging is far quicker than that of level 1, promising a full charge in just 6 to 8 hours. This means you can do it overnight and simply unplug the car in the morning ready for your commute. As they are also relatively inexpensive to fit, many EV owners seek this method of charging as an upgrade from level 1 charging. Some of them offer up to 170 miles worth of range for compatible vehicles. In particular, the Tesla Supercharger can do this after being charged on a compatible level 3 charger.
Commonly they have a CCS plug, which most new EVs are fitted with. Sometimes it's an option, but it's one worth selecting if you ever plan to do road trips. Less common, but still offered on models like the Nissan Leaf, is the CHAdeMO plug. Often there'll be a mixture of both connectors at the same location, and multiple DC fast chargers on-site. A second option could be that there is a small business opportunity.
If not, it is not a monumental installation if you have some know-how or a trusted electrician. Level 3 chargers make the most sense in specialized public places, such as charging stations that require users to pay to charge. The revenue helps to pay for the equipment and maintenance and makes it a worthwhile business model in the right location. A typical homeowner will likely not have the extra coin to spend on something like that nor will they be in a location to offer the charger as a service. A level 2 charger is a better option, although it is less than perfect. The 240-volt charging gets between 12 and 80 miles per hour, depending on the vehicle and charger.
An important note about level 3 chargers is that not all chargers are compatible with all vehicles. Make sure you understand which public charging stations can be used with your electric vehicle before relying on level 3 chargers for recharging on the road. The cost of installing a new electric vehicle charger depends on several factors. One of the most common EV charging stations is a wall-mounted system with a Level 2, 240-volt outlet. According to Fixr, these systems cost between $1,000 and $2,500 installed.
There is also Tesla’s proprietary plug, which is used on their Superchargers. Level 2 charging is a little faster and requires another household power supply. This type of charging needs the same supply and outlet that you would use for a clothes dryer or electric range. This is typically around 220 volts, double that of a level 1 charger. This is of course the fastest charging option available on the market today. Installing an EV charger at home can be easy and quick if you are prepared and know what you need to do in order to get started.
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