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Electric Vehicle Charging Guide
Written by Saltanat Berdikeeva
Edited by Hannah Hillson
Last updated 12/02/2022
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What is an EV Charger?
An electric vehicle (EV) relies on a battery, instead of gasoline, to power its electric motor and provide motion to the wheels. If your EV battery has no charge, the car won’t move. Like any chargeable device, an EV needs an electronic charger to fill up its battery. The process of using charging equipment to supply power to the vehicle’s battery is known as EV charging. Like a cell phone, such a charger is connected to the primary electrical grid to deliver power to an EV.
How does EV Charging work?
All new EV sales include a Level 1 charger with a traditional 120V outlet. This is the slowest charging option. Consider installing a Level 2 charger at home or using local charging stations for faster charging. An EV charge connects to an EV inlet on one end and the power grid on the other through an electric cable. The EV stores the power in a battery pack to run its electric motor using direct current (DC) power.
How to Charge Your EV at a Public Charging Station
You can charge your EV battery at home or at a public charging station. Charging an EV with a public charger is easy. It’s like filling up your car with gasoline with some distinctions. Here are the typical steps to charge your EV battery:
- Depending on your location, you can begin charging your EV by plugging it into a charger or using a mobile phone app.
- If using a charging station, the charger screen or your app will also display pricing for your session. Charging through a phone app will require linking your account to a credit or debit card.
- Take the connector and plug it into the EV’s charge port. Make sure it clicks.
- Check the charging status through a dashboard indicator, which turns green when a car is being charged, or on your phone app.
- You can enable a notification function on your phone to remind you when your car is charged.
- Once the car is charged or has the range you want, stop the session on the charger screen.
- Remove the connector from your car after you hear a beep and put it back in the station.
Different types of charging options
As of September 2021, more than 100,000public charging stations are available across the U.S. But most EV owners increasinglycharge their cars at home because it’s cheaper and more convenient.
What are the different levels of charging
The charger level dictates how long it will take to charge your vehicle, typically ranging from 30 minutes to four or more hours. There are three levels of charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. What differentiates them is the charging speed. Compared to Level 3, Level 1 and Level 2 charge much slower, as noted in the chart. All EV batteries hold DC power. Level 3 chargers use DC to power the battery, eliminating a step in the electricity conversion process to reduce the overall charging time. Level 1 and Level 2 chargers use AC power, requiring the electricity to be converted to DC before the battery can store it, which increases the charging time. The AC/DC onboard converter used in Level 1 and Level 2 chargers is smaller than the converting power of the Level 3 charger, and it can use only a certain amount of energy at a time.
| EV Charging Speed | ||
| Charging Level | Power Delivery | Range |
| Level 1 | 1.3-2.4 kW | ~ 40 hours |
| Level 2 | 7.4-22 kW | ~ 4 hours |
| Level 3 | 50-350kW | ~ 30 minutes |
Sources:EVBox
What are the different types of connectors
You’ll use a charging cable with two connectors when you charge an EV battery — one end plugs into the car’s socket and the other into the charger.There are AC and DC connector types, which vary by design, power output, and range.
| AC connector type | Expected power output | Estimated range per hour charging | |
| Type 1 | Up to 7.4 kW | Up to 25 miles | |
| Type 2 | 7.4-22 kW | Up to 75 miles |
| DC connector type | Expected power output | Estimated range per hour charging | |
| CHAdeMO | Up to 100 kW | Up to 150 miles | |
| Combined Charging System (CCS) | Up to 350 kW | Up to 525 miles | |
| Tesla Supercharger | Up to 250 kW | Up to 375 miles |
EV Charging Cost
The average EV charging cost with a Level 3 charger is roughly between $10 and $30. The cost with a Level 2 public charger can range between $1 and $5 per hour of use. Therefore, the total cost will be based on the amount of time you use to charge your EV. Generally, commercial electricity rates are higher than residential ones. Charging your EV at a commercial public charging station will cost you more than if you charged the car at home.
Electric Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions
Residential Level 1 chargers use a standard 120V outlet to charge the vehicle, which has the slowest flow of electricity. A Level 2 charger uses a 240V, double the output of a Level 1. These EV chargers use a smaller AC/DC onboard power converter to charge an EV battery compared to a much larger Level 3 charging station. Level 3 chargers use DC power, eliminating an electricity conversion step for faster charge times.
You should follow the EV user manual, which provides battery charging recommendations. Generally, it’s not necessary to charge an EV every night because doing so can reduce a battery pack’s lifespan. According to some experts, it’s good to keep a battery charge above 45% but avoid regularly charging to 100%.
An EV regulates the charging speed. As the battery gets closer to full charge, an EV reduces the charge speed to safeguard the battery and boost its charging efficiency. The level where a charge rate starts to slow down is unique to the specific EV.