What is EV Charging and How Does it Work? - Lectron EV

As a new electric vehicle (EV) owner, one of your major concerns must be when and how to charge your car battery.

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Having driven gasoline powered cars all your life and filling up at your local gas stations when the gauge was almost empty, electric car charging is a foreign concept.

Unlike gassing up, EV charging requires more than just pulling in and pumping up. Because it stores electricity in a large battery pack to power its electric motor, you'll have to plug its inlet (essentially, its "gas tank") via EV chargers.

The same concept is implemented in plug in hybrid cars, but they use both battery to power an electric motor and gasoline to power an internal combustion engine.

But once you learn the ropes, you may find it's actually much MORE convenient filling up your old ICE vehicle, especially with rising fuel costs.

We're here to answer what EV charging is and how it works.

What is an EV charger?

Technically, EV chargers are called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). It's used to charge both electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, just like your normal, run-of-the-mill rechargeable devices.

While filling up a conventional internal combustion engine merely takes a few minutes, charging electric cars could take longer.

But with ongoing developments in the electric vehicle industry, it won't be long before electric car drivers enjoy ultra-fast charging with rapid chargers.

Different types of chargers

Level 1 EV Charger

A Level 1 charging station is the simplest and has the slowest charging speed of the three. Most EVs come with a Level 1 electric car charger, which you can simply plug into your standard outlet.

Although it is convenient and affordable, the downside is that this charging cable operates on 110-120-volt AC power, resulting in slower charging speeds.

However, with an added 4 to 6 miles of range per hour, it will likely be enough for your daily commute.

If you have an EV with 200 miles of range, it will take around 35 to 50 hours to fully charge.

Level 2 EV charger

Level 2 charging uses connectors that are plugged into 220-240-volt outlets that are typically used for washing machines, electric clothes dryers, and other major appliances. The Tesla wall connector and Lectron V-BOX are an example of Level 2 chargers.

There are portable ones that you can just plug directly into a three-pronged outlet.

You probably have the outlet and circuit in your laundry room, but unplugging your washing machine every time your vehicle’s battery needs a recharge could be inconvenient.

Because of this, many EV drivers opt to install a Level 2 home charging station in their garage.

You’ll need the service of a professional electrician to install a 240-volt dedicated circuit to supply electrical current in your garage.

Such a circuit will let you hardwire your own charging station at home, but the 240-volt socket will also let you plug in a portable unit.

Though electrical upgrades could be costly, Level 2 chargers are significantly faster than Level 1 chargers.

These chargers are very reliable and can give your electric vehicles up to 200 miles of driving range in under 10 hours, so you’ll likely save money in the long run.

DC fast charging

DC fast charging uses direct current (DC power) instead of alternating current.

These DC fast chargers bypass the onboard charger to deliver DC power directly to your car, with up to 400-900V of maximum power.

This can charge your unit from zero to 80% in just under 30 minutes!

All EVs sold in North America use the Combined Charging System connector for DC charging.

In the case of Tesla vehicles, they have proprietary Superchargers with a charging power of up to 250 kW, which can fill up your Tesla model in just 20 minutes.

Because of the amount of energy needed, these types of EV charging stations aren't usually found in residential areas.

Depending on your location, you may find a public charging station that can handle this level of charging.

You can use the app to search for public charging stations.

How does EV charging work?

An EV charger pulls electrical current from either a 240-volt outlet or the electric grid it's hardwired to and delivers electricity to your electric vehicle, just like any other device you plug into your wall outlet.

What are the different levels of electric vehicle charging?

There are three levels of electric vehicle charging: Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging.

The first two levels use an AC charging system, while DC charging uses direct current (DC).

Level 1 uses a standard wall outlet. Of the three levels, it has the lowest cost to charge, as it doesn't require a dedicated circuit and uses 110-120-volt AC power found in homes.

However, it's also the slowest charging of the three, limited to just 4 to 6 miles of range per hour.

Level 2 charging uses a 240-volt outlet that we usually use for dyers, washers, and air-conditioning. You can either plug it directly or have it hardwired. The portable ones can charge at 40 amps, while the hardwired ones can go up to 48 amps.

Depending on your car's battery capacity, it will take just under 10 hours to fully charge an EV using these AC charging stations.

Level 2 chargers are the top choice when installing charging stations at home, as it's suitable for overnight charging. These can also be seen in public charging stations, as well as in offices, shopping centers, malls, and parking spaces.

DC fast chargers, as the name suggests, use direct current to charge electric vehicles. DC charging stations can deliver up to 400-900V of maximum power. This can charge your car from zero to 80% in just under 30 minutes.

Because of the incredible power it requires, a DC fast charger cannot be used as a home charging station. You'll often see these in commercial EV charging stations. If you're lucky, you may stumble upon a public charging station that offers free chargers for the first 30 minutes. Some paid chargers have a fixed hourly or per kilowatt rate, while others will only ask for a parking fee.

How long does it take to charge an EV?

How long it takes to charge and electric vehicle will depend on the type of charging point you're using and the battery electric vehicles have.

A Level 1 EV charger is limited to just 4 to 6 miles of range per hour, which could be enough for your daily commute. If you have an electric car with a 200-mile range, it will take around 35 to 50 hours to fully charge.

Level 2 EV charging station is the top choice for EV drivers for a home charging session because it uses 220-240-volt outlets that can supply up to 60 amps of power. These EV charging stations can give your electric vehicle up to 13 to 75 miles of range per hour. A full charge is possible in under 10 hours.

DC fast charging stations can give electric vehicles up to 400-900V. This EV charging station can charge your electric car from zero to 80% in just under 30 minutes.

The weather also affects charging speed. EV batteries take longer to charge during colder days as they have to maintain an operating temperature

How do public EV charging stations work?

If you plan on using EV charging stations to top up your car EV's battery, there are a few things you'll need to keep in mind.

An EV charging station may be free to use, or it may require a key fob or other access devices. Some may require credit card payment.

Parking spaces in malls, supermarkets, and offices may offer free charging for customers.

There are also charging memberships offered by commercial EV charging stations for discounted prices.

Not all chargers can fit your EV - but adapters can help

The J plug is the commonly adopted standard for electric vehicles across North America and Canada.

As for Tesla, it has its proprietary charger that only Tesla EVs can use.

So, initially, only non-Tesla EVs had access to J chargers, including the ultra-fast DC charging stations, while Tesla EVs had to stick with their own form of connector.

That's until the introduction of adapters.

J to Tesla adapters greatly increased the number of charging destinations for Tesla drivers.

While Tesla has its own Supercharging network for rapid charging, they're greatly outnumbered by CCS fast charging stations.

But thanks to CCS charger adapters for Tesla, Tesla owners can now access over 5,000 CCS fast chargers nationwide.

When it comes to Level 1 and Level 2 charging, in some areas like California, Tesla charging stations may be more available than J chargers.

Luckily, there are Tesla to J adapters that allow non-Tesla EVs access to more than 15,000 Tesla charging stations across the country.

Do note, though, that these adapters are only compatible with the Tesla High Powered Wall Connectors, all generations of Destination Chargers, and Mobile Connectors.

How to charge an electric car at home

Most electric vehicles already ship with a Level 1 electric car charger included, except for Tesla, which stopped including one starting April this year.

These chargers can be plugged into your standard home outlet. Though convenient, they offer very slow charging.

An overnight charge may give you enough juice for a short commute, but a full charge will take more than a day.

You may want to install a Level 2 charger at home to fully optimize your car’s power. You may purchase one from your car dealer or check out EV charger manufacturers like Lectron for more options.

Such chargers are significantly more powerful than Level 1 chargers and can fill up your car’s battery overnight.

Level 2 chargers are plugged into the same outlet you use for your bigger appliances (think air conditioning units, washers and dryers), so you’ll need to call a licensed electrician to install one.

For example, the Lectron V-BOX is a Level 2 charging station that provides up to 240V and 48A of power. It charges at 11.52 kWh and can fully charge an EV at home in less than six hours.

How does the cost of charging compare to gasoline?

With a current average gas price of $3.28 a gallon, it would cost around $45 to fill up a 12-gallon car tank.

For a car that gets 30 miles of range per gallon, a full tank would give it 360 miles of range.

Driving an average of 1,183 miles per month means having to refuel more than three times a month and spending around $144.

In comparison, driving the same range with an electric vehicle would only cost about $59.15. That's a 40% increase!

Primary factors influencing EV charging

There’s no fixed rate for charging an electric vehicle. The cost will vary depending on several factors. Here are some of the things you should consider for maximum EV savings:

State of charge and depth of discharge

Depth of Discharge (DoP) helps you know how much of your EV’s battery capacity can be used and how long it will last. DoP refers to the amount of battery that has been discharged relative to the total electrical energy supply available. To put it into perspective, discharging 16 kilowatt hours from a 40-kilowatt hour EV battery means the DoP is 40% (16 kWh / 40 kWh).

With competitive price and timely delivery, Inventronics sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

State of Charge (SoC) is the complete opposite. It refers to the percentage of batteries still available for use. Using our example earlier, a 40 kWh EV battery with a 40% DoP has a state of charge of 60% or 24 kWh.

Amperage

The amperage matters during a charging process if you want to maintain a healthy battery. Most batteries used in electric cars can handle up to 32 amps.

A 32-amp charger can give your car battery up to 25 miles of range per hour.

An average deep cycle battery has a voltage of 12, but this doesn't necessarily mean that you can just grab any 12-volt car charger and assume it can be fully charged safely.

If the charger exceeds 10% of the Amp-hour rating or capacity of your battery, you run the risk of overheating it. The amps can make or break your car's battery.

Investing in a smart charger can save you money in the long run. These chargers communicate with your car, the charging operator, and your utility company through data connections. This optimizes your energy consumption and costs.

FAQs

• What does an EV charger do?

  An EV charger pulls electrical current from either a 240-volt outlet or the electric grid it's hardwired to and delivers electricity to your electric vehicle, just like any other device you plug into your wall outlet.

• What are the three types of EV charging?

  There are three levels of electric vehicle charging: Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging. The first two levels use an AC charging system, while DC charging uses direct current (DC).

• Can I charge my EV on any charger?

  All EVs sold in North America use the SAE J connector or the J-Plug for Level 1 and Level 2 charging (besides Tesla/NACS), while the Combined Charging System (CCS) connector is the standard for DC charging.

  Tesla has its own proprietary chargers, but these (except Superchargers) can be used by non-Tesla EVs using Tesla to J adaptors.

• Can you charge an EV with a regular outlet?

  Level 1 chargers can be plugged into a regular 120V outlet. Level 2 chargers use 220-240-volt outlets that are typically used for washing machines, electric clothes dryers, and other major appliances.

• Is an EV charger a battery?

  No, an EV charger only supplies power to your EV battery packs.

EV charging technology is faster and more convenient than ever. Today, the focus of EV charging has shifted from the feasibility of charging at home to understanding your individual preferences and unique charging needs.

Charging at home can range from effortless convenience to intricate planning, depending on factors like your EV model, electrical panel, charger, and your parking situation. While some can enjoy the simplicity of overnight charging without additional electrical work, others face significant electrical upgrades and wait times for a full charge. 

Let’s get into the ins and outs of charging an EV at home, share some notes on the top-rated EV chargers, and give you some tips on finding an installer.

EV chargers are classified as Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, with Level 1 being the slowest to charge and Level 3 being the fastest. Level 3 chargers require far too much power to install at home, making Level 2 chargers the fastest at-home charging solution. 

The most common type of charger is the J. It’s almost universally accepted by EV models. Tesla is the exception. Either way, plenty of home chargers are available in a version with a Tesla-shaped connector, and a simple clip-on adapter lets Tesla vehicles charge through the standard J plug.

The cost to charge an EV depends on the price of electricity, measured in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). A kWh is the basic unit of EV charging economics, sort of like a gallon of gas for a traditional gas-powered car.

If you're charging at home, the cost per kWh is generally the same rate you pay for the rest of your electricity. As of November , the average electricity cost by state ranges from 11 to 44 cents per kWh, according to the Energy Information Administration. You can look up the precise rate on your utility bill or your utility company's website.

If you plug in with a standard wall outlet, you'll get about 4 miles of range per hour of charging. At that rate, it'll take a few days to charge a long-range EV completely, though it should give you enough power for a reasonable commute or to run your local weekend errands.

Most EVs come with an L1 cable, so there usually aren't any upfront costs. As long as you have a standard outlet close to where you park your car, you won't need any electrical work, either. You just pay for the electricity.

The trade-off for that simplicity is that L1 chargers are slow. Also known as "trickle chargers," they only add a few miles of range for every hour they're plugged in. It takes around 12 hours to fully charge a car like the Toyota Rav4 Prime, which only has a 42-mile electric range. The larger battery in the 341-mile Tesla Model 3 would need a couple of days to fill up on an L1 charger. (Of course, you can always drive on a partial charge.) 

A Level 2 (or L2) charger uses a 240-volt circuit, like most electric stoves and clothes dryers. That makes it at least twice as speedy as an L1 cord and typically much faster than that. 

The challenge is that about 75% of people will need to hire an electrician to do some work before installing one. That usually means new wiring, a new circuit on your electrical panel, often a new four-prong outlet, and sometimes an electrical panel upgrade.

Not really, besides the cost of the equipment and installation.  According to one study, it's even slightly more energy efficient than Level 1 charging (meaning more electricity from your outlet makes it into the car's battery without getting wasted as heat). 

Level 2 charging is also fine for the long-term health of an EV's battery. In theory, faster charging is worse for rechargeable batteries of all types because it creates more heat, and heat can damage the system. We couldn't find any studies suggesting that it's a problem in the real world, though. 

Thousands of EVs have been on the road for a decade with no apparent downside. If battery health is still something you're worried about, you can always buy an L2 charger and set it to run at a relatively low speed by default, then bump it up when you need it.

Lots of people will be just fine with L1 charging. Slow as they are, they can still add 20 to 50 miles of range overnight, depending on the car and how long you leave it plugged in. You don't necessarily need a full battery daily, and you can always find a public charger if you need a quicker fill-up. If your daily commute isn't too long, or if you drive a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that can fall back on gas when you need it, L1 can suffice.

Level 3 chargers (also known as DC Fast Chargers or Tesla Superchargers) are even faster still than Level 2. The exact speeds vary (and some plug-in hybrid EVs don't even support Level 3), but the general idea is that you'll get about an 80% charge in about 30 minutes, give or take. On a long road trip, it's more than enough range to keep you going for several hours—probably until the next time you need to use the bathroom. 

They're also wildly impractical to install at home. The charging equipment is pretty expensive, but the bigger obstacle is that most homes don't have the electrical supply you need (480 volts, 400 amps), and utility companies can't easily add it to a home in a residential neighborhood. It'd be like installing a gas pump at your house. 

You can usually find a way to charge your EV at home. If you rent and your landlord doesn't want to pay for electrical upgrades, you might have to settle for an L1 charger plugged into a standard outlet. If you own your home and property rights aren't an issue, you can almost always get an L2 charger. There are very few technical reasons that would prevent it from happening.

If not, do you have a deeded parking spot? Is there a clear path for you to run wiring between your electrical panel and the parking spot? It gets complicated, but sometimes it's possible.

You'll probably depend on public chargers. If your car supports it, Level 3 / DC Fast Charging can be a good way to juice up relatively quickly. Still, EV manufacturers caution that heavy use of super-fast charging could reduce the lifespan of your battery. 

You could also try to charge while you work or shop. Some office buildings and shopping centers have L2 chargers in their parking lots, while some cities have even begun to install streetside public chargers, including some built into streetlights. 

L1 charging at home can be as easy as plugging the charger into an exterior power outlet near your parking spot, but not everyone has that kind of setup. If you need to add an outlet, or if you want to install an L2 charger, you'll need to think about a few things first. 

That's the typical length of an EV charging cable. If you're within that range, you're all set at least for a Level 1 charger. You might have a 240-volt, 4-prong outlet that can support a Level 2 charger if it's a new house built with EVs in mind or you park near your electric clothes dryer. Some products let you use the circuit for a dryer and an EV charger. 

If not, you’ll need to hire an electrician to install a new hookup. Extension cords and EV chargers are an unwise pairing; the amount of power required to charge an EV is greater than what typical extension cords are designed to handle. Plugging in your EV with an extension cord increases the risk of fire and electric shock (in addition to slowing down the charging process). 

In a private driveway or garage, the answer is almost always yes. Ideally, your panel is in an unfinished basement right near your spot. An electrician will know how to locate the circuit and will have the tools to make it work. 

Again, the answer is usually yes. First, go check out your panel. You're in great shape if there are at least two open “slots” for breakers. If the number on the big switch at the top of the panel is 200 amps, that's another strong sign it'll be an easy installation. A smaller number (often 100 amps) is usually fine, too. It depends on how many other high-draw items you have and how fast of a charger you're trying to install.

If your panel doesn't have the capacity for a new 240-volt circuit, or there's already a lot of demand on your panel, and EV charging might trip the breaker regularly—you still have plenty of options. About 20% of homes worked on by Qmerit, the largest network of EV charging and other electrification technology installers in North America (and an EnergySage corporate partner), have needed one of these upgrades. 

While the traditional approach has been to install a larger panel and have the utility company provide a service upgrade, more cost-effective and simpler alternatives have emerged. Circuit-sharing and load-shedding devices are fast becoming the industry standard. Joe Miller, Director of Technical Support at Qmerit, advises their electricians to use these innovative devices whenever feasible.

EV chargers aren't as sophisticated as you might think. They're less like a major appliance and more like a USB brick for charging your . The car itself does most of the work managing the flow of electricity. 

The most helpful thing to understand when you're shopping for an EV charger is your own preference. Are you looking for the lowest price? Highest speed? The most useful app? There's no correct answer. A new EV might even come with a charger as part of a package deal, which is perfectly valid. 

EV chargers are generally safe, but ensure the model you have in mind is UL-certified (an industry-standard mark of safety based on third-party testing by Underwriters Laboratories). As long as it’s UL-certified and you use it as directed, the charger is unlikely to cause a fire. All the models mentioned above are UL-listed, but some lower-cost models sold through Amazon are not.

Some EV chargers use a hardwired electrical connection – no plug, no outlet. Others plug into an outlet. For L2 chargers, that's typically a 4-prong, NEMA 14-50 outlet, like many electric stoves or clothes dryers. A lot of models come in both types.

It makes some sense to get a charger with a connector that matches your car's port, but it doesn't actually matter because they're cross-compatible. Adapters to get a Tesla EV to work with a J charger cost about $50. Adapters to plug a J vehicle into a Tesla charger are about $150. 

We've all pulled up to the gas pump on the wrong side, and we'll all end up parking our EVs too far from the charger at least once. You probably won't regret having the extra length of a longer cable.

EVs draw a lot of electricity. If you can find ways to pay less for electricity, you can save a lot of money over time. Solar power is an excellent way to save (and EnergySage can help you get quotes for rooftop or community solar). You could also look into discounted rates from your utility company.

More than 60% of households in the US are eligible for discounted electricity at certain times of day, according to the Energy Information Administration. Utility companies usually call these programs "time-of-use" or "dynamic pricing" plans. 

If you sign up for one of these plans and do most of your EV charging when power is relatively cheap (usually overnight), you can save a ton of money.

An EV charger with a scheduling feature (via mobile app) can help you take advantage of those discounts. You can physically plug in the car whenever it's convenient, but it won't start charging until a time that you've specified in the app. You can always override the schedule if you need to start charging immediately.

Some lower-end chargers have a timer rather than a scheduling feature. You'll set it on a basic LED interface built into the power "brick" on the cord. It's not elegant, but it works.

An app: Most L2 charging stations can connect to Wi-Fi and have some sort of mobile app. It's where you'll set charging schedules (see above), adjust the power output (see below), monitor the charging status, and track your energy use over time. They all basically do the same thing, but some are better looking, others more prone to glitches, and a few try to shoehorn in an extra interface for public charging networks, too. If you think this will be something that matters to you, check the app store ratings before buying.

Output control: This lets you control the charging rate. If you own a 32-amp charger, you can usually set it to supply just 24 amps, 16 amps, or even 8 amps to your car. Why would you do this? Maybe you're trying to manually manage your home's electrical load to avoid tripping an underpowered breaker, or you’re acting out of some sense of courtesy for the electrical grid. 

You never really need to do this. The EV itself will only ever draw as much power as its battery can safely handle, and there's no good evidence that L2 charging is any worse for an EV battery's longevity than L1 charging. Still, most L2 chargers provide this option if you want it, though not all of them.

Demand response typically works like this: The utility can turn off or turn down an EV charger at peak demand to help avoid overloading the grid. That might be during the early evening on the hottest days of the year, as people arrive home from work and crank the AC or frigid winter mornings in regions with a lot of electric heat. All the demand response programs we know of allow you to override the utility company's control, but you might lose out on the rewards.

If you already have the right outlet for your preferred charger, around 20 feet from where you’ll park your car, you don’t need a professional installation. Just hang it up, plug it in, and you’re good to go.

Pretty much any residential electrician can handle the job. The tougher part is finding someone with availability. It’s hard to determine whether you’re getting a fair price without taking hours to invite multiple electricians to your home and waiting for quotes to trickle in. 

One way to increase the chance of a timely, reasonably priced installation is to combine multiple tasks into a single visit, so it’s a better use of the electrician’s time. For example, if you have a gas stove and think you’ll want to replace it with an induction range at some point, you could get the outlet installed now so you’re ready for a replacement as soon as the old unit dies.

From EnergySage's partner, Qmerit: With Qmerit’s network installing over 450,000 charging stations in North America, Qmerit has more experience than any other company in the EV charging space performing both residential and commercial installations. After you answer a few questions about your home and your charging needs on Qmerit’s EV Home Charging Assessment, Qmerit can give you an upfront price estimate and connect you to a rigorously trained, Qmerit-certified installer. Qmerit will also handle the billing once you accept the quote, making the process especially seamless.

Your EV probably comes with some kind of charger. Often, it’s an L1 cable, but sometimes an L2 unit comes as a purchase incentive. You won't necessarily have to pay extra for your charging equipment, and some EV dealers include a free or discounted installation.

Amazon lists more than 100 of these low-cost models, and they're often indistinguishable (except for the near-nonsense brand names like Godiag, Polspag, or Evjuicion, likely crafted to glide through the US trademark process). As far as we can tell, none of them have companion apps, but many have basic LED interfaces built into their power bricks. 

Standard Level 2 charging stations (boxes that hang on a wall, with a holster for the connector and a hook for the cable) start at $400 and range up to about $750 for some of the most popular, highly rated models. 

You're probably thinking of these models when you picture a home EV charger. They cost more because they're sturdier, charge faster than basic L1 cords, and often work with mobile apps that let you remotely control some aspects of EV charging. 

These models have top-of-the-line features like 80-amp charging speeds, two cables for charging two cars at once, and even allowing certain EVs to power your home like a backup generator (with a lot of additional electrical work).

You park your car close to your electrical panel, with plenty of room for a new circuit and ample load capacity. An electrician can bang out this job in a couple of hours with only a short run of wiring.

In this case, your electrical panel has plenty of space and capacity, but the electrician will have to run new wire for the circuit through some walls, maybe across a finished ceiling, or through a trench in your yard. 

If your electrical system can't quite handle a new circuit for an EV charger, that could add close to $1,000 to the cost. 

A circuit-sharing or load-shedding device could let you squeeze an EV charger into an electrical system with a panel with no open slots or a lot of demand but only 100 amps of service. It's pricey, but it sure beats the alternative (see below).

That's in addition to the cost of installing the EV charger and the circuit. This pricey update can also take weeks or months to complete if the utility company is involved. Sometimes, it's the only good option. If you live in a cold climate and plan to switch away from fossil fuels for heating, cooking, and driving, the extra electrical capacity could come in handy.

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