All charges are not created equal
Electric vehicle chargers come in three primary types: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 (DC Fast Chargers). Level 1 chargers use a standard 120-volt household outlet and provide the slowest charging speed. Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt outlet, similar to those used by large home appliances, and significantly speed up the process. DC Fast Chargers, or Level 3 chargers, provide the fastest charging speeds, using direct current to deliver high power.
Level 1 charging
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This is by far the slowest but also the most accessible way to charge an electric vehicle. Level 1 charging refers to charging from a standard home outlet using the dedicated cable that comes with the electric vehicle when the vehicle is purchased. Because it relies on a standard socket, it’s limited in how much power it can provide, at around 2.3 kilowatts (kW). In other words, level 1 charging will replenish about 6-8 km per hour, so it takes around 20 to 25 hours to charge the vehicle for 160 kms of range.
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Location: homes
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Cost to install at home: No charge because a level 1 charger uses a standard home electrical socket.
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Cost to charge: Home charging costs about $277 per year.
Photo Credit: Central Hudson
Photo Credit: Central Hudson
Level 2 charging
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Level 2 charging is a dedicated EV charging station specifically wired into a buildings electrical circuit to draw higher power. This is the level of home EV charging stations and most public chargers. Level 2 chargers are about 5 to 15 times faster than a level 1 charger, drawing 7.4 to 22kW of power. A level 2 charger can replenish anywhere from 40-120 kms of ranger per hour. It takes roughly between 5-8 hours to fully charge for most vehicles.
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Location: homes, retail venues, public parking garages, workplaces, hospitality facilities (hotels/restaurants), gas stations
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Cost to install at home: Homeowners can expect to spend between $2,000 – $7,500 for a level 2 charger. This includes the charger unit, electrical upgrades, labor and permit fees (if needed).
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Cost to charge: Once the level 2 charger has been installed, home charging costs about $277 per year with a level 2 charger. Public charging with a level 2 charger is between $1.00-$2.50 per hour. Some cities have free level 2 charging stations.
Overall annual cost: An annual distance of 20,000km with an average energy price $0.15 per kWh means it will cost $687 annually to charge a vehicle. The annual cost for a gas vehicle at $1.45 per liter and 20,000km is $2668.
Level 3 charging (Fast Charging or Supercharging)
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Level 3 charging is the fastest-charging option compared to the other two. This is because unlike level 1 and 2 charging, level 3 charging feeds a direct current into an EV’s battery, bypassing the slower onboard converter that limits the charging speed in the previous levels.
Due to this load and the requirements for a 3 phase power supply, it would be difficult and expensive to be able to install a level 3 charger at a home as an electrical supply can’t deliver the required loads.
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The power output ranges anywhere between 50 and 350kW, with new 400 kW charging being launched recently. Vehicles can be charged fully in as little as 15 minutes or in as long as 1.5 hours.
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Locations: gas stations, charging hubs, possibly at home if infrastructure can handle it
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Cost to install at home: Level 3 chargers are only installed at commercial sites and in homes if the electrical system is powerful enough.
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Cost to charge: Most level 3 charging stations are pay-per-use and bill by the minute with an average cost of $15.00 per hour.
