3 Levels of Home Electric Vehicle Charging Systems

So you are thinking of leaping to an all-electric vehicle or at the very least a plug-in hybrid. The world is slowly becoming more friendly to these vehicles and making it more convenient for EV owners to charge them. Depending on what kind of electric car you have, there are three levels of charging methods.

Level 1 charging: This is the standard plug-in with a cord to a 110-volt outlet. This is the preferred method for limited range hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt and Fiat 500e. You park in the garage and let your car charge overnight. For EV vehicles with larger batteries, this charging process is inefficient and is incredibly slow; it would take days for some of them to charge.

Level 2 charging: For vehicles with larger batteries with a range of over 200 miles need a level 2 charging device. With 32 amps this method charges at 25 miles of range per hour. The vehicles that this method would work best for are the Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Kia e-Niro, Hyundai Kona Electric, and some models of Teslas. Charging this way usually takes 10-14 hours. Most people don’t drive 200 miles in a day so you won’t need to wait 14 hours every day before you can drive your EV. Level 2 chargers do require some help from an electrician to make sure you have the proper setup.

Level 3 charging: DC fast charging utilizes direct-current electricity. It is very complex and is more costly than most homeowners would spend for an in-home EV charging station. Technology is rapidly changing, and we may see this kind of charging method being fitted for home use, perhaps even with the use of solar panels and a more simplified.

If you are an EV owner or are thinking of purchasing an all-electric or hybrid vehicle Got Watts Electric can install the proper charging station in your home. Contact us today to get started!