How & At What Speed Can EVs Be Recharged?
As we transition to more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, we are all hearing about an increasing number of EVs coming to the market, along with the question of how, and at what speed, they can be recharged. EnQuest Energy Solutions is working with customers to provide fast deployment of EV charger solutions in various stationary and mobile configurations.
Let’s start out with a basic explanation: What are the different charging levels?
Level 1, 2, and 3 chargers are different types of electric vehicle (EV) charging standards and the charge speed.
Level 1 charging is the most basic form and typically requires a 120-volt outlet. Level 1 chargers can be used with a standard household outlet and are typically the slowest EV charging method. For example, a fully depleted EV battery could take up to 20 hours to recharge using a Level 1 charger.
Level 2 charging, on the other hand, is a bit faster and requires a 240-volt outlet. They can be installed at home or in public charging stations. Level 2 charging is the most commonly used charging method and can charge an EV in about 4-8 hours. For example, a Level 2 charger could give a Nissan Leaf a full charge in as little as 6 hours.
Level 3 charging (also referred to as DC fast charging or supercharging) is the fastest method and provides a much higher voltage than Level 1 or 2 charging. Level 3 charging requires a special charging station and can provide a full charge to an EV in as little as 30 minutes. However, Level 3 charging is not widely available and is typically only found at public charging stations or on major highways.
Here are some examples of charging times for different types of EVs using different charging levels (YMMV):
- Nissan Leaf:
Level 1: 20+ hours
Level 2: 6-8 hours
Level 3: 30 minutes for an 80% charge
- Chevy Bolt:
Level 1: 53+ hours
Level 2: 9.5 hours
Level 3: 30 minutes for an 80% charge
- Tesla Model S:
Level 1: 75+ hours
Level 2: 9.5 hours
Level 3: 30 minutes for an 80% charge (using Tesla's Supercharger network)
There are several types of plugs used for EV charging, including:
1. Type 1 (SAE J1772 plug): This is the most common standard for charging electric vehicles in North America and Japan.
2. Type 2 (Mennekes plug): This is the European standard for charging electric vehicles and has a wider adoption compared to the other plug types.
3. CHAdeMO: This plug is used for DC fast charging in Asian countries, including Japan.
4. CCS Combo (Combined Charging System): This plug is used for DC fast charging in North America and Europe. We do note that the Biden administration has lobbied for CCS connections to be the industry go-to, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law still requires CCS plugs at charging stations receiving federal funding.
5. Tesla Supercharger North American Charging Standard: This plug is used exclusively by Tesla and only works on Tesla vehicles or other manufacturers with an adapter. However, we should note other manufacturers announced they are adopting this standard. Recently, Nissan is the latest EV manufacturer to announce it's adopting Tesla's connectors, and this follows similar moves by Volvo, Ford, GM , and other carmakers.
We expect to see a lot of installations offer both the CCS and Tesla compatible chargers to meet regulations and support the build-out of charging infrastructure.
It is important to check with your vehicle manufacturer to determine which plug type is compatible with your electric vehicle. We hope this explains the different types of charging levels and how they work.
For more on our options for EV charging infrastructure and utility-scale battery energy storage, please contact Christopher Melley, Head of Energy Storage and EV Infrastructure.