Electric Vehicle Home Chargers

Despite the fact that hybrid vehicles have been available for a while, installing a separate charger for your electric vehicle is a relatively new innovation. Hybrid vehicles recharge their electric battery systems using their internal engine and other components such as brakes. These automobiles don’t need a special charger or need to be plugged in at all. Most new electric vehicles come with a 300 mile range per charge so it’s important to keep the power topped up. MH Electric can help you install the correct EV Charging system for your vehicle and home.

Different Outlets and Options for EV Chargers

The majority of new electric automobiles are plug-in hybrids (PEVs). Your PEV will arrive with a charging cord, just like your laptop or cell phone. The majority of EV charging cords are “Level 1” charging cords. To charge your car, simply put these cords into a typical 120 volt outlet.

When picking an outlet for your car charger, there are a few things to keep in mind. It should, first and foremost, be on its own circuit. Second, it should be connected to a GFI outlet so that power is turned off in the event of a power outage. An electrician will ensure that your electrical panel has the capacity to support the charging of an EV during the installation. They can also provide you with additional information on current rebates, discounts, and other offers. They will just need to add a new circuit for your charger if your panel is ready for one. If you need a panel upgrade, you’ll have to get that done first.

The Three Levels of Electric Vehicle Charging

• – Level 1 Charging: 120-Volt
• – Level 2 Charging: 208-Volt to 240-Volt
• – Level 3 Charging: 400-Volt to 900-Volt (DC Fast Charge & Supercharging)

EV charging is divided into three levels: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. DC Fast Charging with (Tesla) Supercharging make up Level 3. The faster the charging procedure is, the higher the charging level is, because more electricity is transferred to the vehicle. It’s worth noting that different EVs charge at varying speeds on each level due to the fact that each EV can accept different levels of electricity from the EVSE, or electric vehicle supply equipment, or the charger.

Level 1 Charging: 120-Volt

– Connectors Used: J1772, Tesla
– Charging Speed: 3 to 5 Miles Per Hour
– Locations: Home, Workplace & Public

A standard 120-volt household outlet is used for Level 1 charging. By putting the charging equipment into a conventional wall outlet, any electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid can be charged on Level 1. The slowest way to charge an electric vehicle is at Level 1. It increases range by 3 to 5 miles per hour.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) benefit from Level 1 charging because their batteries are smaller, often less than 25 kWh. Because EV batteries are significantly larger, Level 1 charging is too sluggish for most everyday charges, unless the car isn’t driven very far on a daily basis. The majority of EV owners think that Level 2 charging is more suitable for their everyday charging requirements.

Level 2 Charging: 208-Volt to 240-Volt

– Connectors Used: J1772, Tesla
– Charging Speed: 12 to 80 Miles Per Hour
– Locations: Home, Workplace & Public

The most common charging level for everyday EV charging is Level 2. Level 2 charging stations can be installed at home, at work, and in public places such as shopping malls, railway stations, and other sites. Depending on the power output of the Level 2 charger and the vehicle’s maximum charge rate, Level 2 charging can replace between 12 and 80 miles of range per hour.

The majority of EV owners opt for Level 2 charging equipment since it charges the vehicle up to ten times faster than Level 1 charging. Even if you plugged in with a virtually empty battery, charging from a Level 2 source frequently results in the vehicle being fully charged overnight.

Level 2 chargers have a maximum output of 80 amps. However, this necessitates a 100-amp 208-240V dedicated circuit as well as a long, expensive supply line from the breaker box. The majority of owners will benefit from a 40-amp charger capable of delivering 9.6 kW to the EV. A 48-amp charger may charge somewhat faster at 11.5 kW, but it requires a thicker gauge wire and must be hardwired to meet NEC requirements. As a result, 48-amp chargers might be much more expensive than 40-amp chargers while only providing somewhat faster charging.

Level 3 Charging: 400-Volt to 900-Volt (DC Fast Charge & Supercharging)

– Connectors Used: Combined Charging System (Combo), CHAdeMO & Tesla
– Charging Speed: 3 to 20 Miles Per Minute
– Locations: Public

Level 3 charging is the fastest available and can recharge an electric vehicle at a rate of 3 to 20 miles per minute. Level 3 charging, unlike Level 1 and Level 2, uses direct current instead of alternating current (AC) (DC). Level 3 chargers have a far higher voltage than Level 1 and 2 chargers, which is why you won’t find them in most homes. Level 3 charging requires a high-voltage source, which is only available in a few residential locations.