Electric cars (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles are relatively new on the market and the fact that they use electricity to propel themselves means a new infrastructure has been put into place, one which few are familiar with. This is why we have created this useful guide to explain and clarify the different charging solutions used to charge an electric car.
In this EV charging guide, you’ll learn more about the 3 places where it’s possible to charge, the 3 different levels of charging available in North America, fast charging with superchargers, charging times, and connectors. You’ll also discover an essential tool for public charging, and useful links to answer all of your questions.
Before we get into those concepts, it is good to know the various terms used for charging stations. They usually all refer to the same thing.
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ShareTweetCharging an electric car or plug-in hybrid is mainly done at home.Home charging accounts actually for 80% of all charging done by EV drivers. This is why it’s important to understand the solutions available, along with the pros of each.
There are two types of home charging: level 1 charging and level 2 charging.
For every electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid, the use of a level 2 home charging station is recommended to help you charge faster and enjoy your EV’s full potential. Provincial and municipal incentives are available in some regions to help with purchase and installation costs. You can also check the following websites for more information.
To enjoy all the benefits of charging at home, you need to use a level 2 home charger.
A level 2 charger allows you to charge your electric car 5 to 7 times faster for a full-electric car or up to 3 times faster for a plug-in hybrid compared to a level 1 charger. This means you’ll be able to maximize the use of your EV and reduce stops to charge at public charging stations.
It takes around four hours to fully charge a 30-kWh battery car (standard battery for an electric car), which allows you to make the most out of driving your EV, especially when you have a limited time to charge.
Home charging is normally done on evenings and at night. Just connect your charger to your electric car when you come home from work, and you’ll be sure to have a fully charged battery the next morning. Most of the time, an EV’s range is enough for all your daily travel, meaning you won’t have to stop at public chargers for charging. At home, your electric car charges while you eat, play with the kids, watch TV, and sleep!
Another advantage of home charging is the low cost of residential electricity compared to the cost of public charging stations and the cost of gas.
Public charging allows EV drivers to charge their electric cars on the road when they need to travel longer distances than allowed by their EV’s autonomy. These public chargers are often located near restaurants, shopping centers, parking spots, and such public spaces.
To locate them easily, we suggest you use ChargeHub’s charging stations map that is available on iOS, Android, and web browsers. The map lets you easily find every public charger in North America. You can also see most chargers’ status in real time, make itineraries, and more. We’ll be using our map in this guide to explain how the public charging works.
There are three main things to know about public charging: the 3 different levels of charging, the difference between connectors and the charging networks.
Charging Levels
Charging Station Connectors
Charging Station Networks
There are 3 standard charging levels used to charge electric cars. All electric cars can be charged with level 1 and level 2 stations. These types of chargers offer the same charging power as the ones you can install at home. Level 3 chargers - also called DCFC or fast charging stations - are much more powerful than level 1 and 2 stations, meaning you can charge an EV much faster with them. that being said, some vehicles cannot charge at level 3 chargers. Knowing your vehicle’s capabilities is therefore very important.
Level 1 is the standard wall outlet of 120 volts. It is the slowest charge level and requires tens of hours to fully charge a 100% electric vehicle and several hours for a plug-in hybrid.
Level 2 is the typical EV plug found in homes and garages. Most public charging stations are level 2. RV plugs (14-50) are also considered level 2 chargers.
Lastly, some public stations are level 3 chargers, also known as DCFC or DC Fast Chargers. These charging stations are the quickest way to charge a vehicle. Note that not every EV can charge at level 3 chargers.
First of all, we recommend you avoid level 1 charging stations. They are too slow and are not adapted to EV drivers’ needs when they’re traveling. If you want to charge in the fastest way possible, you should use a level 3 charger, as these charging stations will provide a lot of range to your EV in a short amount of time. However, charging at a DCFC station is only effective if your battery’s state-of-charge (SOC) is below 80%. After that point, charging will slow down significantly. Therefore, once you reach 80% of charging, you should plug your car into a level 2 charger, since the last 20% of charging are as fast with a level 2 station than a level 3, but it is way cheaper. You can also continue your journey and charge your EV back to 80% at the next level 3 charger you meet on the road. If time is not a constraint and you’re planning to stop several hours at a charger, you should opt for a level 2 which is slower but less expensive.
The most common connector is the SAE J1772 EV plug. All electric cars in Canada and in the US can charge using this plug, even Tesla cars as they come with an adapter. The J1772 connector is only available for level 1 and 2 charging.
For fast charging, the CHAdeMO and SAE Combo (also called CCS for “Combo Charging System”) are the most used connectors by electric cars manufacturers.
These two connectors are not interchangeable, meaning a car with a CHAdeMO port cannot charge using an SAE Combo plug and vice versa. It’s kind of like a gas vehicle that can’t fill up at a diesel pump.
The third important connector is the one used by Teslas. That connector is used on level 2 and level 3 Supercharger Tesla charging stations and are only compatible with Tesla cars.
Connector types
Connector: Port J1772
Level: 2
Compatibility: 100% of electric cars
Tesla: With adapter
Connector: CHAdeMO
Level: 3
Compatibility: Check specifications of your EV
Tesla: With adapter
Connector: SAE Combo CCS
Level: 3
Compatibility: Check specifications of your EV
Tesla: No
Connector: Tesla HPWC
Level: 2
Compatibility: Only Tesla
Tesla: Yes
Connector: Tesla supercharger
Level: 3
Compatibility: Only Tesla
Tesla: Yes
Wall Plugs
Wall Plug: Nema 515, Nema 520
Level: 1
Compatibility: 100% of electric cars, Charger is required
Connector: Nema 1450 (RV plug)
Level: 2
Compatibility: 100% of electric cars, Charger is required
Connector: Nema 6-50
Level: 2
Compatibility: 100% of electric cars, Charger is required
Before driving to a charging station, it is important to know if your vehicle is compatible with the connectors available. This is especially important for non-Tesla DCFC stations. Some may have just a CHAdeMO connector, others just an SAE Combo CCS connector, and others will have both. Also, some vehicles, like the Chevrolet Volt - a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is not compatible for Level 3 stations. Make sure you know your vehicle compatibilities before planning a trip. With our charging map, you will be able to apply the right filters to only show chargers compatible with your electric car.
To be able to properly use public chargers, you’ll have to learn which charging networks are available in your area. There are many different public charger operators across Canada and the United States. Most of them are specific to certain areas, but there can be several of them in the same area. There are two categories of station network operators:
To use a networked charger, also known as smart public charging stations or connected stations, you must subscribe to the network. In most cases, registration is free and fees only apply when you use their chargers, although some of them can be used free of charge. You’ll need the RFID card or the mobile app of the network to activate and use the charger.
ChargePoint
Membership Required
USA + Canada
Blink (CarCharging)
Membership Required
USA + Canada
SemaConnect / SemaCharge
Membership Required
Activate and pay directly from the ChargeHub app
USA + Canada
EVgo
Membership Required
USA
Electrify America / Electrify Canada
Membership Required
USA + Canada
Webasto (Formerly Aerovironment)
Membership Required
USA
Shell Recharge
Membership Required
USA + Canada
FLO
Membership Required
Canada
ZEF Energy
Membership Required
USA
OP Connect
Membership Required
USA
GE WattStation
Membership Required
USA + Canada
Circuit Électrique
Membership Required
Quebec, Ontario
myEVroute
Membership Required
Ontario
Tesla (Superchargers & Destination)
Membership not required, but limited to Tesla vehicles
USA + Canada
EVduty
Some EVduty chargers require membership while others do not
Canada
eCharge
Membership Required
New Brunswick
Sun Country Highway
No Membership Required
USA + Canada
Volta
No Membership Required
USA
Astria
Membership Required
USA + Canada
Independent public chargers are installed by local businesses or by individuals who want to make charging available on their property. It’s not necessary to be a member of a network to use those chargers. Some conditions may apply to some of them.
Workplace charging works very similarly to home charging. It is offered by an employer to their employees. The employees therefore have access to parking spaces with level 2 or level 1 charging stations during the day. Depending on your habits, charging at work could provide enough power for all of your travels.
When combined with home charging, workplace charging can double your daily electric range. This is particularly interesting for plug-in hybrids, as you can use the electric motor for longer distances and therefore save money on fuel.
Level 2 charging allows you to charge faster, which is particularly interesting for part-time employees or for workplaces where employees are not in for the entire day.
The electricity costs of workplaces charging are often taken on by the employer, which means employees can charge at work for free. In other cases, the employer charges fees to use the charger, but the cost is usually lower than charging at a public charger.
In order to encourage employers to install charging stations for their employees, many governments have put in place programs that reduce purchasing and installation costs, as well as different advantages for the employer. However, many employers are unaware of the existence of these programs, and it falls on the shoulders of interested employees to talk to them about it.
Now that you are more familiar with all types of charging for an electric car or plug-in hybrid, we suggest you read our guide on how to choose your level 2 home charger. Since 80% of your charging will be done at home, it’s really important to choose a charging station that answers your needs.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHARGER?Did you find this content useful? Share it with your friends who may want to find out more on how to charge an EV.
ShareTweetElectric vehicle (EV) adoption is accelerating faster than experts predicted. This accelerated adoption results from government incentives, an increased choice of vehicles, increased public and private funding for EV adoption, and a cultural shift to greener and cleaner vehicles helping to push down harmful emissions. With the rise in EV adoption, it is essential to understand the different levels of EV charging and how these levels of charging can affect the type of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) you consider.
There are three EV charging levels; Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. There are differences between each charging level. However, as a general rule, the higher the Level, the higher the power output from the charger and the faster it can charge.
Level 1 EV charging utilizes the slowest EV charger available, which provides between 1 kW and 1.8 kW of power through a standard 120-volt AC outlet. Level 1 EV charging is available in North America and uses a standard 3-prong household plug on one end and a J1772 (Type 1) EV connector on the other, which plugs into the vehicle. Level 1 chargers are unavailable in Europe due to standard residential electricity being 230-volt.
Level 1 is the slowest of the electric car charging levels and can take between 22-40 hours to fully charge a standard battery electric vehicle (BEV) from empty. An hour of charging with a Level 1 charger will give your EV between 3-7 miles (4-11 kilometers) of range. All Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrids (PHEV) can use a Level 1 EV charger, and they are usually provided free when purchasing the vehicle.
Level 1 EV chargers are almost always used at home as a trickle charger or as a backup when there are no Level 2 or Level 3 charging stations available. Unless you are charging your vehicle at home, a Level 1 EV charger is not very practical due to its slow charging speed.
EV Charging LevelConnector TypeTypical Output PowerEstimated Charge Time (40kWh)Estimated Range Per Hour for ChargingUser caseLevel 1J17721 kW – 1.8 kW22 – 40 hours3 – 7 miles (4 – 11 kilometers)Home / BackupLevel 2 EV charging is much faster than Level 1 and utilizes a 208-volt to 240-volt AC outlet in North America and a 230-volt (single-phase) or 400-volt (three-phase) outlet in Europe. In North America, Level 2 chargers top out at 19.2 kW (80A), and in Europe, it’s 22 kW. A Level 2 charger can come with various additional functions and features, such as RFID cards, load balancing, and OCCP (Open Charge Point Protocol) networking.
The EV connector type for North America and Japan is J1772 (Type 1); for Europe, it’s a Mennekes (Type 2) connector. Level 2 charging stations can be provided with tethered charging cables (hard-wired to the charging station) or untethered with just a socket (you plug in your charging cable). Currently, Level 2 EV charging is the most common level of EV charger installed globally. However, the installation of Level 3 chargers is growing.
A Level 2 charger can be as much as 19 times faster than a Level 1 charger, depending on the power output and the charge acceptance rate of the vehicle you are charging. An hour of charging with a Level 2 charger can provide a range between 10-75 miles (16-120 kilometers).
Level 2 charging is the most common type used in public charging stations. Level 2 charging equipment can be installed at the home, workplace, and in many public locations such as hotels, retail parks, and supermarkets. It is the ideal charging level for overnight charging or while at work.
EV Charging LevelConnector TypeTypical Output PowerEstimated Charge Time (40kWh)Estimated Range Per Hour for ChargingUser caseLevel 2J1772 (North America)Level 1 EV charging and Level 2 EV charging are both defined as AC-type EV chargers. Before we move on to Level 3 EV charging it is important to understand the difference between AC-type EV chargers and DC-type EV chargers.
There are two types of electrical currents for EV charging: AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current).
The power that comes from the electricity grid is AC. However, the energy used for an electric vehicle is stored in its battery, and a battery holds its power in DC. The difference between AC-type EV charging and DC-type EV charging is where the AC power is converted to DC power.
In AC-type charging, the AC is converted in the vehicle by its on-board charger, which is time-consuming; however, with DC-type charging, the conversion takes place in the charging station before the power is delivered to the vehicle, and as a result, it can bypass the limitations of the electric vehicle’s on-board charger and deliver more power. This is what makes DC EV charging faster than AC EV charging.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the fastest EV charger level – Level 3.
Level 3 EV charging is also called DC fast charging and is significantly faster than Level 2 EV charging. Level 3 charging stations are the market’s quickest and most powerful EV charging options. A Level 3 charging station utilizes a three-phase supply, 480-volt in North America and 400-volt in Europe, with chargers capable of outputting over 360 kW of power.
A Level 3 charging station also comes with various functions and features, such as dynamic power distribution, multi-charging protocol cables, and networking via OCPP. There are stationary Level 3 chargers and portable Level 3 charging stations available.
CCS (Combine Charging System), CHAdeMO, and Tesla Superchargers (NACS) connectors are used for Level 3 EV charging.
Although Level 3 charging is often used in the industry today for all kW’s of DC fast charging, the origins of Level 3 charging technically refers to charging above 400 kW.
As mentioned earlier, a Level 3 charger converts AC to DC within the charger itself, resulting in faster power delivery directly to the EV battery. A Level 3 charger can fully charge a standard electric car in under 20 minutes, depending on its charge acceptance rate.
Level 3 EV chargers are often found at public service stations near highways as they are essential for use on longer journeys. There are several other locations where Level 3 EV charging is becoming more critical, including EV charging for fleets and auto dealerships. Any place where people park for short periods or the vehicle is in constant use – i.e., delivery vehicles.
EV Charging LevelConnector TypeTypical Output PowerEstimated Charge TimeEstimated Range Per Hour for ChargingUser caseLevel 3CCS 1 (North America)