Most non-electric vehicle drivers think charging takes forever. However, electricity is everywhere, and some drivers will do the bulk of their charging at home or at work, where their car is able to "fill up" while sitting all day or all night. Also, most non-EV drivers are not aware of DC fast charging — where drivers can now typically charge in 15-60 minutes. And when you find an EVgo charger that aligns with your grocery shopping or trip to the park, it only takes a minute or two for you to plug in and swipe on the app to start your session, and then the car and the charger do the work while you go run your errand for those 15-60 minutes!
AC Level 1
When a driver plugs their car into a standard wall outlet, that’s Level 1 charging. It’s the most basic type of charging. And it’s the slowest. But for people who don’t drive a lot each day, and are able to charge at home, Level 1 charging is a convenient way to charge because it doesn't require installing an AC Level 2 charger.
AC Level 2
Level 2 charging utilizes a 208-240 volt circuit (like the kind used for electric dryers). They charge faster than Level 1 chargers — about 5-6 hours instead of 20+ hours. Level 2 chargers are most often found where vehicles are parked for a significant amount of time where charge speed does not matter as much (like at home or at work). You can also find Level 2 charging stations in public, such as malls and shopping centers.
DC Fast Charging
If AC Level 1 and Level 2 chargers are like “dial-up Internet,” then DC Fast Charging is like “fiber internet.” When charging on Level 1 or 2, electric vehicles convert AC power from the grid to DC power to recharge the battery. DC Fast Chargers do this conversion internally, using a much larger grid connection, and deliver DC power directly to the vehicle— resulting in a much faster and more powerful charge.
As the industry has evolved, EV battery sizes have increased to provide greater driving range. The power of fast chargers has also evolved and increased to fill these batteries in the fastest possible times. Fast chargers today are available from 25kW to 350kW for passenger EVs—with even higher-powered chargers for heavy duty electric vehicles like semis-trucks. It is important to understand the maximum power at which your EV can be charged and the power of the charger you plug into for the best charging experience.