One of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle adoption is familiarity with and availability of charging infrastructure. For resellers and other emerging businesses in the EV space, learning the ABCs—or rather, 1-2-3s—of EV charger levels is a must. Understanding Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3 charging can help you invest in the right hardware and software tools so you can provide EV drivers with the power they need to keep going.
In this article, we’ll cover the different charger Levels, when they’re used, how much they cost, and the ranges they provide. So, what is a Level 1 charger versus a Level 2 charger? What’s the difference between Level 2 and Level 3 charging? We’ve got the answers.
Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3 charging stations: What’s the difference?
You’re probably familiar with octane ratings (regular, mid-grade, premium) at gas stations. Electric vehicle charger levels are similar, but instead of measuring the quality of fuel, EV levels denote the power output of a charging station. The higher the electrical output, the faster an EV will charge. Let’s compare Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3 charging stations.
Level 1 charging stations
Level 1 charging consists of a nozzle cord plugged into a standard 120V electrical outlet. EV drivers get a nozzle cord, called the emergency charger cable or the portable charger cable, with their purchase of an EV. This cable is compatible with the same type of outlet in your house used to charge a laptop or phone.
The majority of passenger EVs have a built-in SAE J1772 charge port, also known as the J plug, which allows them to use standard electrical outlets for Level 1 charging or Level 2 charging stations. Tesla owners have a different charging port but can purchase a J-plug adapter if they want to plug it into an outlet at home or use a non-Tesla Level 2 charger.
Level 1 charging is affordable and requires no special setup or additional hardware or software, making it a convenient choice for residential use. However, it may take up to 24 hours to fully charge a battery, which makes Level 1 charging impractical for drivers that log a lot of miles on a daily basis.
For an in-depth look at Level 1 charging stations, read What is a Level 1 charger for electric vehicles? next.
Level 2 charging stations
Level 2 charging stations use 240V electric outlets, which means they can charge an EV much faster than Level 1 chargers due to higher energy output. An EV driver can connect to a Level 2 charger with the attached nozzle cord using the integrated J plug built into most EVs.
Level 2 chargers are often equipped with software that can intelligently charge an EV, adjust power levels, and bill the customer appropriately. That fact is reflected in the cost, making Level 2 chargers a larger investment. However, they’re an ideal option for apartment complexes, retail spaces, employers, and university campuses that want to offer EV charging stations as a perk.
There are many Level 2 charger options on the market, so resellers and network owners who want maximum flexibility may want to consider hardware-agnostic EV charging station management software that works with any OCPP-compliant charger and allows them to manage their devices from one central hub.
Check out What is a Level 2 charger for electric vehicles? to learn more about Level 2 charging.
Level 3 charging stations
A Level 3 charger is the hostess with the mostest in the world of EV charging, because it uses direct current (DC) to charge EVs much faster than both Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. Level 3 chargers are often called DC chargers or “superchargers” due to their ability to fully charge an EV in under an hour.
However, they’re not as standardized as lower-level chargers, and an EV requires special components like a Combined Charging System (CCS or “Combo”) plug or a CHAdeMO plug used by some Asian automotive manufacturers, to connect to a Level 3 charger.
You’ll find Level 3 chargers alongside main thoroughfares and highways because while most passenger EVs can use them, DC chargers are primarily designed for commercial and heavy-duty EVs. A fleet or a network operator can mix and match a selection of Level 2 and Level 3 chargers on-site if they’re using compatible open software.
Learn more about Level 3 charging in What is a Level 3 charger for electric vehicles?
Charger levels compared
Here’s a comparison of Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3 charging stations:
Electrical output
- Level 1: 1.3 kW and 2.4 kW AC current
- Level 2: 3kW to under 20kW AC current, output varies by model
- Level 3: 50kw to 350kw DC current
Range
- Level 1: 5 km (or 3.11 miles) of range per hour of charging; up to 24 hours to fully charge a battery
- Level 2: 30 to 50km (20 to 30 miles) of range per hour of charging; overnight full battery charge
- Level 3: Up to 20 miles of range per minute; full battery charge in under an hour
Cost
- Level 1: Minimal; nozzle cord comes with the EV purchase and EV owners can use an existing outlet
- Level 2: $300 to $1,000 per charger, plus the cost of installation
- Level 3: ~$10,000 per charger, plus hefty installation fees
Use cases
- Level 1: Residential (single-family homes or apartment complexes)
- Level 2: Residential, commercial (retail spaces, multi-family complexes, public parking lots); can be used by individual homeowners if a 240V outlet is installed
- Level 3: Commercial (for heavy-duty EVs and most passenger EVs )
As you can tell, the three charger levels have varying use cases and pretty dramatic cost differences. The key takeaway here is that the faster and more complex the charger, the higher the costs of installation and maintenance are.
Are EV chargers interchangeable?
In some cases, EV chargers are interchangeable. A driver with a passenger EV can easily use a Level 1 charger setup in their garage, then drive down the street and use a Level 2 charger at the mall while they’re running errands. When it comes to Level 2 vs. Level 3 EV chargers, passenger EV drivers may need to exercise some caution. For one, many EVs may not be compatible with Level 3 chargers, but more importantly, vehicles with smaller batteries, such as plug-in hybrids or compact models like the Fiat 500e, should not use DC fast chargers. A current of 350kW can easily overwhelm a small battery.
If you’re overseeing multiple EV charger sites, chances are they will be a mixture of Level 2 chargers for the everyday EV driver and Level 3 for commercial EVs. Being able to manage all of your deployments, including load balancing, monitoring for faults, and collecting payments all from one dashboard can save you time and many a headache. ChargeLab’s open CSMS is hardware-agnostic and provides you with a bird’s eye view of your chargers. Reach out to our team to learn more about what we do.
Find out how fast a level 2 charger is for your vehicle
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Whether you already own an electric vehicle (EV) or are looking to purchase one in the near future, the biggest topic of concern for most drivers comes down to where charging will occur and how much it will cost.
Despite having an environmentally friendly vehicle that cuts reliance on gasoline, using a Level 1 home charger is not reliable or convenient for most EV drivers. Instead, having a faster, Level 2 charging station can reduce range anxiety and calm logistical fears, as you become less reliant on charging on the go.
But what exactly is a Level 2 car charger and why does it present better value than its Level 1 counterpart?
Types of EV Charging Connectors: What is Level 2 Charging?
Vehicle owners are often supplied with Level 1 chargers from automobile manufacturers at the time of purchase to use at home with 120v standard outlets. However, upgrading to a Level 2 EV charger is a good and practical investment. A Level 2 charger is like having your own gas pump in your garage, but it is a smart appliance that charges your vehicle. An added convenience: not only is a Level 2 car charger ready when you need it to be, you can save on electricity by charging during lower rate times.
A Level 2 EV charging station delivers an electrical current from an outlet or hardwired unit to the vehicle via the connector, similar to a standard-issue charger. Level 2 car chargers use a 208-240v power source and a dedicated circuit — potentially up to 60 amps. However, 32 amp charging stations like the EvoCharge EVSE or iEVSE Home Smart EV Charger offer more flexibility and potential costs saving by requiring a lower 40 amp circuit.
A Level 1 will deliver around 1.2 kW to the vehicle, while a Level 2 charger ranges from 6.2 to 19.2 kW, with most chargers around 7.6 kW.
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How Fast is a Level 2 EV Charger?
While a Level 1 charger will typically get 4 miles of driving range per hour of charge, a Level 2 charger will get an average of 32 miles of driving range per hour of charge. This means that you’re charging up to 8 times faster with a Level 2 charging station. Typical charging time for a Level 2 EV charger is around 3-8 hours from empty to full while the average Level 1 EV charger will take 11-20 hours to fully charge.
Level 2 chargers will deliver 6.2 to 19.2 kW versus the 1.2 kW you get with a Level 1. For a direct comparison, check out this resource to see how fast a Level 2 charger is compared to its counterpart.
When One Might Consider a Level 1
A Level 2 EV charger needs a 240v outlet, which many new homes or new multi-unit homes and building standards require. If you do not have a 240v outlet, a certified electrician can easily install one and the cost can sometimes be offset through local, federal, state or utility companies which offer rebates and financial incentives for the charger, installation, or for charging during lower electric rate times.
Additionally, Level 2 charging stations like the EvoCharge iEVSE Home Smart EV Charger allow you to customize charging schedules with the EvoCharge mobile app to better control charging, lessening your overall cost and making you eligible for further rebates through your municipality so you get faster charging times at a lower cost. The mobile app also provides usage history, multiple vehicle controls, and much more.