Last Updated on July 6, 2023 by
There are various subcategories of charging. Thinking about EV charging in terms of charging levels is the most typical approach. Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 are the three EV charging levels. Generally speaking, the greater the level, the higher the power output and the quicker your new vehicle will charge with Rolec EV Charger
In general, your new car will charge more quickly and with more power output the higher the level.
However, the length of time it takes to fully charge a car depends on a number of factors, including the type of battery it has, its charging capacity, and the power output of the charging station.
Level 1 Chargers
When you use a regular AC power plug to plug your EV into the socket, level 1 charging is taking place. The slowest method of charging an EV—only providing 6 to 8 kilometers of range per hour—is using a Level 1 charger because a typical domestic outlet can only deliver a maximum of 2.3 kW. (4 to 5 miles). This method is not only sluggish, but it can also be risky for your safety and the safety of your vehicle because there is no connection between the power outlet and the vehicle. As a result, we advise against using Level 1 charging to recharge your vehicle unless absolutely necessary.
Level 2 Charger
Any normal AC charging station that is either fixed to a wall, perched on a pole, or freestanding is specifically referred to as a Level 2 charger. Residential, public parking, business, and commercial areas frequently include level 2 charging stations, which typically produce between 3.4 kW and 22 kW. Your battery’s range will increase by about 120 km (75 miles) in an hour of charging at the highest output of 22 kW. Compared to Level 1 charging, this is a lot quicker. Many EV owners decide to invest in a home AC charging station for this reason, in addition to the variety of clever capabilities, and smart networking choices.
Level 3 charging station (DC fast charger)
Level 3 charging, also referred to as DC or rapid charging bypasses the onboard AC/DC converter and uses direct current (DC) to charge a vehicle’s battery directly. This enables Level 3 chargers to supply the battery with DC power directly. Level 3 charging stations can therefore offer more power more quickly, which makes them perfect for quick-stop places like gas stations and fleet depots. Level 3 chargers may charge a vehicle in minutes as opposed to Level 2 or Level 1 charging stations, which can take hours or even days to complete.
DC vs. AC power
As a result, the speed increases with the level. So far, everything seems obvious. How can you know when something is AC and when it’s DC, and why is DC so faster?
AC vs. DC current
Direct current, or DC, runs in a straight path while alternating current, or AC as it is often known, regularly changes direction. Without getting too scientific, AC travels more effectively over long distances, which is why it comes out of your socket at home and at work. Nevertheless, batteries in general can only store DC power.
You may not be aware of it, but every time you charge your phone (or any other electrical gadget for that matter), the charger transforms the grid’s AC electricity into DC power to charge the device’s battery.
How do electric vehicles charge?
For electric vehicles, the same rule applies. Whether a conversion process takes place or not determines how AC and DC charging differ. But ultimately, the car’s battery is always charged with DC regardless of how you charge it.
While a DC charger allows direct power to enter the battery right away, an AC charger first converts the electricity to DC.
The onboard charger has a limited capacity for electricity, therefore this process will always take longer.
What influences the speed of charging?
Electric vehicle battery
A bigger battery will take longer to charge. Simple, yes? In electric vehicles, the battery’s level of charge is mainly measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which are like liters or gallons but for electricity.
One kWh is equal to the energy required to power a 1,000-watt appliance for one hour. Most electric passenger car batteries on the market today have a capacity of 25 to 100 kWh when completely charged.
Vehicle’s capacity for charging
The amount of power that each type of vehicle can handle varies, sometimes even depending on the car’s model. The charging capacity get displayed for both AC and DC charging and is usually expressed in kW. Both have a significant impact on the charging time. For example, if two vehicles with comparable battery sizes are charging side by side at a high-power DC charging station, but the first vehicle can only accept 50 kW of DC power while the second vehicle can absorb 250 kW, the later vehicle will charge significantly more quickly than the first.
Charging capacity of the station
How long it takes to charge an EV is significantly influenced by the varying output of the charging stations near me. A charging station will charge more quickly the higher its kW output (assuming that your new vehicle accepts the higher power output).
