Are All Electric Vehicle Chargers The Same?

There are three types of levels of charging that EV chargers can be at. Some cars will need specific levels of charging while others prefer different chargers over others. A guide to the different levels of charging with electric vehicle chargers are:

Level 1 Charging

Level 1 chargers are best suited for cars with smaller battery sizes or when charging the car for long periods of time is possible. These chargers are able to be plugged into simple electrical outlets and are best for home chargers. When limited space for a whole charging station is available, such as people living in units, level 1 charging is also suitable. As they require simple outlets they can also be brought onto road trips as well for people who drive petrol-hybrid electric vehicles.

It is recommended that people who drive 40km a day can utilise level 1 charging. This means though that it is only recommended for people who drive less than 4000km a year as charging is slower. 

Level 2 Charging

Level 2 chargers are more powerful than level 1 and can still be plugged into their own simple outlet. This type of electric vehicle charger is the most common for homes and also public spaces as it offers a wide range of charging speeds. With its high charging speed range level, 2 chargers need their own dedicated circuit because it will need more electrical power. 

It is recommended if possible to install a level 2 charging station at home. This is because it is more convenient, powerful and is faster at having the car fully charged. For home ev charger installation and also for businesses that offer ev charging station level 2 chargers are the way to go. 

Level 3 Charging

Level 3 chargers use DC power and upgrading the switchboard from single phase to three phase is often needed. These chargers can quickly charge electric vehicles as they are able to draw out more power. Because they are expensive though they are mainly seen in petrol stations, street side charging and in certain commercial areas.

There are three main types of plugs used in electric car charging infrastructure:

• Type 1 – J1772 – this plug has five pins on it which will communicate with the charger and the car with how much current is needed. This is to help protect the battery and ensure that the car is not being charged for more than it needs to be. Three of the pins are used for the AC power and this type of plug mainly complies with Japanese ev charging standards.
• Type 2 – Mennekes – these plugs are the standard ones used across Australia which can be used for both electric and hybrid cars. There are seven pins where the extra two are used for three phase charging.
• Type 3 – CHAdeMO – these plugs are mainly used for cars and stations that require DC power. This is because they charge quicker and use more power, which is why they are not as common.

Tesla chargers, and especially the Tesla Supercharger, are great charging stations that efficiently charge the car. It is important to know though that only Tesla cars can charge with Tesla stations. This is the same with other brands where most electric vehicles can only be charged with the specific brand charging station. As technology with electric vehicles develops in the future charging any car at any station may be possible though.