EV Charging Basics - CALeVIP

How fast is DC fast charging?

Depending on the EV, DC fast chargers can currently produce a 10-80% charge for a 300-mile range battery in approximately 20 minutes (~540 miles of electric drive per hour of charging).

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What is the input voltage for a DC fast charger?

Currently available DC fast chargers require inputs of at least 480 volts and 100 amps, but newer chargers are capable of up to volt and 500 amps (up to 360 kW).

How much do DC fast chargers cost?

A CALeVIP Cost Data analysis found that the unit cost per charger for rebate recipients ranged from a minimum of $18,000 to a maximum of $72,500. The mean and median unit cost per charger was $29,135 and $23,000, respectively.

In addition to higher equipment costs, DC fast charger installations require a commercial electrician from the initial planning phase due to the electrical load and wiring requirements.

Is a DC fast charger the right EV charger for me?

DC fast chargers are the highest-powered EV chargers on the market. They often are used as range extenders along major travel corridors for long-distance trips and in urban environments to support drivers without home charging or very high mileage drivers. At current charging speeds, they are ideal for places where a person would spend 30 minutes to an hour, such as restaurants, recreational areas and shopping centers.

It is important to note that not every EV model is capable of DC fast charging, and therefore, they cannot be used by every EV driver. Further, DC fast chargers have multiple standards for connectors, whereas there is only one common standard for Level 1 and 2 charging (SAE J). DC fast chargers have three types of connectors: CHAdeMO, CCS and Tesla, though CCS is increasingly becoming the industry standard.

How fast is Level 2 charging?

A Level 2 charger can currently produce a full charge for a 300-mile range battery in about 6-8 hours and is perfect for destination and overnight charging.

What is the input voltage of a Level 2 charger?

Level 2 chargers typically require 220V or 240V service.

What is the power output of a Level 2 charger?

Level 2 chargers are available with a variety of power outputs from 3 kW to 19 kW, which can sometimes be adjusted.

How much do Level 2 chargers cost?

CALeVIP Cost Data show that rebate recipients reported average L2 equipment costs ranging from $685 to $6,626 per connector. The mean and median were $2,976 and $2,884 per connector, respectively.

Is a Level 2 charger the right EV charger for me?

Level 2 chargers are typical solutions for residential and commercial/workplace settings. Most offer higher power output than Level 1 chargers and have additional functionality.

Non-networked vs. networked chargers

In general, Level 2 chargers are distinguished between non-networked chargers and networked chargers.

Networked chargers have advanced capabilities, such as charge scheduling, load management and demand response. They are more common in commercial/workplace settings where payments are required or at multiunit dwellings (MUDs) where the property’s electricity bill is shared by multiple residents.

They may be designed for indoor or outdoor use (e.g., NEMA 3R, NEMA 6P, NEMA 4x rated).

Some models of networked chargers also can limit charging to certain hours, which allows the operator to maximize a time-of-use (TOU) electricity rate structure and only allow charging when electricity is the cheapest (usually sometime between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.). This type of control also increases the likelihood of participating in utility demand response programs.

Some of the enhanced features of a networked Level 2 charger include remote access/control via Wi-Fi or cellular connection, access control/ability to accept multiple forms of payment, load balancing across multiple chargers and more. Additionally, California will soon begin allowing the use of submeters already embedded within networked chargers to bill electricity use. For more information on submetering, visit the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website.

Non-networked Level 2 chargers are used both in single-family residences and MUDs. They may be designed for indoor or outdoor use (e.g., NEMA 3R, NEMA 6P, NEMA 4x rated). Non-networked Level 2 chargers are useful for installations at MUDs or commercial sites that are powered by the residents’ or tenants’ subpanels.

In this case, any electricity used by the chargers will be charged to the individual’s electricity bill, thus eliminating the need to separately meter the chargers. Further, when electrical capacity is available, non-networked Level 2 chargers are useful for site hosts that need higher power than Level 1 charging but do not have a large budget.

How fast is Level 1 charging?

A Level 1 charger is estimated to deliver 3.5 to 6.5 miles of range per hour of charging. This type of charging takes the longest and is used primarily as an additional, emergency or backup charging solution and for people who can use the charger overnight. Level 1 chargers are not eligible for CALeVIP rebates.

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What is the input voltage of a Level 1 charger?

Level 1 charging uses a standard 110V or 120V outlet, enabling EV drivers to use them almost anywhere.

What is the power output of a Level 1 charger?

Level 1 charging power output varies is typically between 1-2 kW of continuous power – approximately the same amount of power as your microwave!

How much do Level 1 chargers cost?

Most EVs come with a manufacturer-branded Level 1 cord set. There are a few third-party manufacturers of Level 1 chargers, most of which are designed for residential use and cost an average of $596 to $813 per charger, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.

Is a Level 1 charger the right EV charger for me?

Level 1 charging can be a viable solution in multiunit dwellings (MUDs), like apartment complexes or condominiums, and some workplaces. In MUD settings, most Level 1 charging is conducted from existing 110V or 120V outlets in the parking lot or personal garages/carports of residents. When new charging installations are planned, a higher output 220V or 240V circuit is often more cost-effective as it offers greater charging capacity for an equivalent installed price.

If you’re filling up a car that has an internal combustion engine (ICE), you only need to distinguish between the gas and diesel pump. For drivers of electric vehicles (EVs), however, there are more options to choose from. That’s because on the one hand, the nascent EV sector is still on a path to standardization, and on the other because different charging speeds and power loads require more than one type of EV plug. Here’s how to identify the right EV plug for the three types of electric vehicles (EVs) that require a plug-in charger, namely plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and cars using proprietary chargers.

The Evolution of EV Plug Types

Travel around the world and you’ll soon realize that each continent (sometimes each country) seems to have its own plug to connect devices to the power grid. If you want to use your devices abroad, you’ll typically need an adapter or even a transformer to draw power. The same lack of standardization applies to the EV market, both by fortune and design. EV car manufacturers developed vehicles before an internationally uniform charging infrastructure was in place, while certain manufacturers (eg. Tesla) intentionally developed proprietary solutions that supported their own vehicles only.

Understanding Different EV Plug Types

That’s how we reached the current landscape where EV plug types vary according to territory, power source (ie. slow vs. fast charging) and vehicle type.

CCS1

You’ll need this 7-pin EV plug if you’re looking for DCFC charging (up to 350kW) in North America, although it can also be used for slow AC charging. Essentially, the CCS1 is a Type 1 plug with two additional high-speed DC charging pins added. If you’re charging at a public station, where the goal is usually to get back on the road with the briefest delay, this is the EV plug for the job.

CCS2

The European counterpart of the CCS1 is a 9-pin enhancement of the Type 2 plug. It allows charging of up to 350kW. As with the CCS1, this plug can deliver both AC and DC charging.

CHAdeMO

Initially developed in Japan, the 10-pin CHAdeMO was one of the first fast-charging DC plug types on the market. The first generation offered up to 50kW, but the second generation delivers a whopping 400kW. The CHAdeMO also allows for bidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging. Despite its popularity in Japan, the plug is slowly being phased out internationally, particularly since the European Commission mandated CCS2 for DC charging in Europe.

GB/T

You won’t come across this EV plug as a North American driver, but it’s the option used by more than half of the world’s EV drivers. That’s because GB/T is the standard AC and DC plug in China, delivering 7.4kW for AC and 237.5 kW for DC.

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla’s proprietary EV plug accommodates Level 1, 2 and 3 AC and DC charging. In other words, there’s just the one plug. In North America, it uses a NACS charger, but all vehicles come with an adapter that connects to the Type 1 J plug. In Europe, Tesla cars now use CCS2 charging.

Open Protocols and Interoperability

In recent years, the push for open protocols has gained momentum within the EV charging industry. Open protocols aim to establish a standardized, interoperable charging infrastructure that allows various plug types to seamlessly connect. That overcomes one of the key frustrations for drivers, and a significant obstacle where EV adoption is concerned. In February , the US finally introduced new national standards for federally funded EV chargers to give drivers uniform consistency.

The Next Generation of EV Plugs

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International is pushing for the development of a wireless power transfer (WPT) charging solution in North America that will be equivalent to the J. Three charging speeds are currently in development:

• WPT1 (max 3.7 kW)

• WPT2 (max 7.7 kW)

• WPT3 (max 11 kW)

Although wireless technology is still in the trial phase, it could be a regular feature as early as . However, only one manufacturer in the US (BMW) currently offers a vehicle with wireless charging capability.

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