Electric Vehicle charging is simply the method of supplying electric vehicles with electricity. There are three ways this is achieved:

• Level 1 – 120V
  • Standard electrical outlet seen in most residential environments
• Level 2 – 208 to 240V
  • Method used in most residential and office settings
  • Works best when cars are parked for 6-12 hours
• DC Fast Charging (DCFC) – 480V, 3 phase
  • Best for road trips or when a quick charge is needed

Level 1 and 2 charging uses AC power and is converted to DC by the EV’s on-board power converter. DCFC receives DC power from the charging station, so does not need to be converted.  With DCFC, the voltage architecture of the EV’s battery determines what voltage the DCFC outputs at. The image below is a good representation of the different types of EV charging:

From https://blinkcharging.com/what-are-the-different-methods-of-charging-an-electric-vehicle/

The plugs used for the below methods can be seen on this image (made by Blink)

We go into more detail on our Basics of EV Charging article and in a post describing the difference between Level 2 and DCFC.

Other topics we have written about include:

• DCFC Infrastructure and Site Architecture
• Plug & Charge
• Keys to Better DCFC Utilization
• Understanding EV Charging Stations
• Costs to Fuel EV vs. Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)

Check out EV Charging for Multi-Family guide!