Charging Speeds - What's the difference between the different "Levels" of charging?Updated 6 months ago
Each level of charging is defined by the amount of voltage, which directly correlates to the speed or quickness of the charging session. Level 1 (120V) is the slowest, followed by Level 2 fast charging (240V), and Level 3 (400-900V) is the fastest.
| Level | Power | Range added per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 1.3 - 2.4 kWh | 3 - 4 miles/hr |
| Level 2 | 3.0 - 11.5 kWh | 15 - 60 miles/hr |
| Level 3 | 50 - 400 kWh | 175 - 300 miles/hr |
Charging power is determined by the current delivered by the charger. The range added per hour is determined by the car model and battery size.
Level 1
Level 1 utilizes a 120V outlet, which is the standard residential outlet (NEMA 5-15) for nearly all of your everyday devices such as refrigerators, TVs, or even your phone. This level of EV charging is only found at residential locations. In fact, Level 1 charging is routinely known as “trickle charging” due to its slow speed. A typical EV can charge at around 4 miles of range per hour with Level 1 charging.
Level 2
Level 2 charging is the best option for charging at home. In residential applications, Level 2 charging utilizes a 240V outlet, making it much quicker than Level 1. With double the voltage, a 240V outlet is typically used with high-powered appliances such as an electric dryer, water heater, or range. Level 2 charging can provide well over 30 miles of range per hour depending on the circuit breaker. To fully recharge an all-electric car will take around 6-12 hours depending on the battery size, thus making it the best charging option for daily commuters to charge at home.
How many miles of range are added per hour depends on what EV model you have, what charger you use, and the breaker rating of your outlet. NeoCharge Smart Splitters can be classified as 30A or 50A Splitters depending on the outlet configuration.
- On a 30A breaker (5.7kw load), you can expect to charge around 20-23 miles per hour.
- On a 50A breaker (9.6kw load), you can expect to charge around 28-32 miles per hour.
Level 3
Level 3 charging is commonly referred to as "supercharging" and is the fastest available technology for EV charging. Level 3 charging is what you would find in public spaces and is operated by private charging companies (ChargePoint, Tesla, etc).
