If you’re considering an electric vehicle (EV) for your next car, the biggest question you’ll probably ask yourself is, “How will I charge it?” With a variety of charging options available, ranging from slow charges where you’d park for long periods of time, to fast charges at public stations for convenient top-ups. Here is what you need to know to understand the different types of EV charging options you’ll want to consider to ensure your needs are met.
Charge Power Guide
- Overnight: 3-7kW
- 4-6 hours: 3-22kW
- 2-4 hours: 7-22kW
- 1-2 hours: 22kW+
- Under an hour: 50kW+
- On-the-go: 100kW+
Charging Levels
1. Level 1 Charging: AC Charging
Level 1 charging is the most basic form of EV charging and is done using a standard 240-volt household outlet. Though technically possible to simply plug your EV into a regular home outlet with an adaptor, it is not realistic, as this type of charging is extremely slow, and it will require long charges between drives.
- Charge power: Less than 3kW
- Time required for full charge: Between ~20-40 hours depending on model
- Practicality: Only for those with a small battery and solely use their EV for short trips. This type of charging would be more of a last resort if no other charging options are available.
2. Level 2 Charging: AC Charging
Level 2 charging is the most common type of charging and is done using mostly three phase charging stations. This type of charging is faster than Level 1 charging and can charge an EV in a matter of hours. Level 2 charging is ideal for those who charge their EV overnight or whilst parked at work, school, or during longer errands.
- Charge power: Up to 22kW
- Time required for full charge: Between ~5-10 hours from empty to full, which is unnecessary
- Practicality: Those parking for periods 1 hour or longer. This is the most practical charging option for daily use, even for top-ups.
3. Level 3 Charging: DC Charging
Level 3 charging is the fastest type of charging. Level 3 charging is typically found at public charging stations for top-ups.
- Charge power: 25kW+, depending on station
- Time required for a full charge: Charges to 80% in ~30 minutes
- Practicality: Those on the go who need to refill their vehicle quickly, rather than a daily primary use to recharge. Often found at petrol stations.
Where EVX Charging Solutions Come In
While there are a variety of charging options available for EVs, there is no denying the superiority of level 2 charging. Even for those with a home garage, level 1 charging wouldn’t be ideal, and most people wisely install their own at-home level 2 AC charge point. On the other hand, while DC charging has a time and a place, especially for those travelling long distances or doing extraordinarily high kms daily, and should be part of the charging solution plan as a whole, it should not be the only focus for expanding public charging stations.
Rather than quick top-ups, the majority of the time EV drivers will most commonly need to charge overnight or whilst parked during work, school, and other activities of daily life. As we focus on the expansion of the EV charging network across Australia, level 2 AC charging offers practical day-to-day charging based on typical consumer parking behaviour and needs.
With our sustainable and future-proof charging infrastructure, we are equipped for robust rollout of level 2 charge points that meet a variety of needs, from on-street parking across city streets thanks to our own EVX Polecharger, designed specifically to fit Australian pole infrastructure already in place.
Ready for robust roll-out, we help people charge where they live, work, and play.
Contact us here to discuss how we can help local councils & governments meet charging needs.
