Most EV charging takes place at home and work, so most drivers are not used to waiting at public chargers the way they wait at gas stations. This can be frustrating if the charger is busy or not working.
It can also be costly if demand charges eat into profits. That’s why it’s important to think about charging infrastructure holistically and plan ahead.
Charger Types
A lot of electric vehicle drivers may be confused by all the different charger types and connectors out there. While it can seem intimidating at first, the good news is that it’s much more straightforward than it might look. In reality, it comes down to two key considerations: WHERE you decide to charge your EV and HOW FAST you decide to charge it.
Home, workplace, and public charging stations are all becoming more commonplace in North America as the electric vehicle (EV) market grows. In fact, many major retail stores, restaurants, and even some grocery stores are installing EV charging stations as a way to attract and retain the business of EV drivers.
EV chargers come in different types and powers, but all of them plug into a standard 240-volt outlet (similar to those used for an electric clothes dryer). Level 1 charging is the most popular option, as it’s the fastest at just under 4 miles of range per hour. This type of charging can be found in most EV charging station networks across the country.
Level 2 charging offers up to 8 times the speed of a standard home outlet, with the average recharge time for a battery from empty to full being about 3-8 hours. It’s more than enough to get most EV drivers out and about on their day-to-day adventures, and it’s the type of charging that most EV owners will install at home.
Rapid charging points are typically marked with purple icons on our live desktop map. These provide power at 50 kW, using either the CHAdeMO or CCS rapid standards, and are capable of getting your EV to 80% charge in 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the starting state of the battery and car model.
These fast chargers are usually untethered, with only EV models that support that connector type being able to use them; for example, the Nissan Leaf uses the Type 2 CCS inlet, while the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV uses CHAdeMO.
Some of these charging stations are networked, with advanced capabilities such as charge scheduling and load management. These can be found in commercial/workplace settings where payments are required, and they’re also becoming more common in multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) where the charging station is shared among residents.
Level 1 Chargers
A common question from drivers and businesses considering an EV charging solution is whether or not they need to invest in Level 1 or Level 2 chargers. The answer depends on a variety of factors, including range anxiety and how far the vehicle is driven daily.
Level 1 charging involves plugging your EV into a standard 120-volt, alternating current (AC) outlet. This type of charging is the most affordable and easiest to install. It typically takes between 8 and 12 hours to charge a fully depleted battery and is most commonly conducted at home. Many single-family homes with garages already have these outlets, and the cord needed for Level 1 charging comes with most EV models. In multifamily residential communities, it’s often easier for residents to share one or more outlets in a garage with their neighbors.
While Level 1 chargers are convenient and cost-effective, they do have some drawbacks. Most importantly, their charging speed is significantly lower than that of Level 2 chargers. This can be an issue for EV owners who travel long distances on a regular basis or have to use their EVs for work-related activities, such as deliveries.
Luckily, there are ways to increase the charging speed of your Level 1 charger. For example, you can enjoy faster charging by installing a specialized EV charging station with a 240-volt AC splitter. Another option is to install a DC fast charger, but these are typically only found in public places and cannot be installed in private locations such as homes.
Upgrading your charging setup will greatly impact how much an EV costs to operate. Understanding the different charging levels and their benefits will help you decide which option is best for your EV needs.
Level 2 Chargers
The kind of chargers that most people see in public parking garages and lots, Level 2 chargers deliver a significant amount of extra range in about an hour. They also tend to be much more cost-effective than the cord with your EV.
You’ll have to install a 240-volt AC outlet in your home and plug the charger into it; most electric car chargers use an SAE J1772 connector, so they work with all current EV models (except Teslas, which require a special adapter). If you’re considering buying one of these, it helps to know where you’ll park your car at home—that way, you can find a spot that’s convenient for your charging needs. It’s helpful to plan on a 25-foot cord or more, as the connector end of these chargers typically extends about that far from the outlet plug.
Before you buy a home charger, look in your owner’s manual or on the spec sheet for your electric car for its maximum charge rate. It may be listed in kW, not amps, so you’ll want to look up a kilowatts-to-amperes converter if necessary. The higher the number, the faster your car will charge; however, it’s not a good idea to choose a charger that delivers more power than your vehicle can accept, as this could be dangerous.
Many of the home chargers on our Best list come with their own apps that allow you to monitor your car’s charging progress and keep statistics on energy use. Some also offer a voice interface with your EV, so you can tell it to “charge my car” or communicate with local electric utilities, which lets you participate in demand response programs and charge your EV during off-peak hours to lower electricity costs.
Most of the chargers on our Best list are designed to be mounted on a wall or on a post in your driveway or garage, and they’re packaged in cases that can be removed and relocated as needed. Most are rated NEMA 3 or 4, meaning they can resist dust, debris, and light water. However, you’ll probably want to consider the option of a NEMA 4X-rated charger if you live in an area that gets serious rain.
Fast Chargers
In a world where consumers demand the same level of service and simplicity for their EVs as they do for conventional cars, it will be important to offer them convenient public fast charging options. According to a recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to support a mid-adoption scenario of 33 million EVs in 2030, the nation will need 28 million charger ports. These would include private residential and workplace chargers and 182,000 publicly accessible direct-current fast chargers.
Currently, most EV drivers juice up their cars at home with a Level 2 charger provided by their automaker or a third party. But many people don’t have a garage to plug their EV into, and for them, access to public charging stations is crucial.
Public EV charging options are growing, with a number of businesses and institutions offering them for their customers. For instance, some restaurants are installing EV chargers in their parking lots. Others are partnering with charging networks to provide EV charging as an add-on to their business services.
Some EV charging providers are also expanding into the residential market, where they can provide a more user-friendly charging experience. For example, Chargepoint, which started in the EV business building public charging stations, now has its own home option called Home Flex, which is designed to be installed in the garage or driveway of an apartment or condo and can also connect to an on-street spot. This charger comes with a mobile app that allows you to set charging schedules, keep track of your car’s status, and take advantage of cheaper EV charging rate windows when available.
In addition to providing convenience, EV charging stations can serve as a valuable marketing tool for businesses that offer them. Surveys have shown that 57% of EV drivers say they visit a business more often because it has an EV charger. Businesses can highlight the presence of their EV charging station in their marketing materials and promote it through social media, partnerships with navigation or EV apps, and on-site signage.
EV charging is becoming a reality for millions of American drivers, but it will be several years before the country is fully EV-ready. In the meantime, we can all help make it easier for EV drivers by supporting the expansion of chargers.
