What are Levels 1, 2, and 3?
Level 1 is a 120-volt plug. Level 2 is 240 volts at a house (208 volts in a typical commercial building). DC fast charging is what the Department of Energy also calls Level 3.
How fast is each?
Level 1 and Level 2 speeds are per hour. DC fast is per 30 minutes.
Level 1
Power
120-volt AC. Most EVs come with a portable Level 1 cordset.
Speed per hour
About 5 miles per hour. About 40 miles in 8 hours for a mid-size EV.
Where it belongs
A regular outlet. Level 1 charging may meet your needs if you have a plug-in hybrid with a small battery pack and/or you drive a limited number of miles a day on electricity.
Level 2
Power
240-volt residential, or 208-volt commercial. A Level 2 unit can range from 2.9 to 19.2 kW. The equipment can operate at 40 to 80 amps. Most residential units are up to 30 amps, delivering 7.2 kW, on a dedicated 40-amp circuit.
Speed per hour
About 25 miles per hour, as an average. From a few miles per hour to around 40.
Where it belongs
Because it can charge a typical EV battery overnight, owners commonly install it at home. A Level 2 charger may be worth the investment if your vehicle has a large battery pack and you drive 50 or more miles a day on electricity.
DC fast (also called Level 3)
Power
Corridor stations. Typically a three-phase input. Output up to 500 kW. Many EVs on the road are not capable of charging above 200 kW.
Speed per 30 minutes
About 100 to 200+ miles per 30 minutes.
Where it belongs
Usually along heavy traffic corridors. Found primarily along highways and in cities. Not practical for home installation.
Level 1 adds about 5 miles per hour, and about 40 miles in 8 hours for a mid-size EV. Level 2 adds about 25 miles per hour, as an average, from a few miles per hour to around 40. DC fast charging adds about 100 to 200+ miles per 30 minutes.
AFDC says DC charging power varies by vehicle and battery state of charge. EPA publishes a wider range of about 100 to 300+ miles per 30 minutes.
Which one is for a house?
Level 1 charging may meet your needs if you have a plug-in hybrid with a small battery pack and/or you drive a limited number of miles a day on electricity. A Level 2 charger may be worth the investment if your vehicle has a large battery pack and you drive 50 or more miles a day on electricity.
Level 3
DC fast charging is not practical for home installation. These are corridor stations, usually along heavy traffic corridors, and the EPA finds them primarily along highways and in cities. Output goes up to 500 kW. Many EVs on the road are not capable of charging above 200 kW.
A new 240-volt circuit usually needs a permit in North Carolina. Call (828) 551-9843.
What should you check before Level 2?
Mike Holt, writing on the 2020 NEC, says each outlet for EV supply equipment greater than 16 amps or 120 volts must be supplied by a dedicated branch circuit that serves no other outlets, and overcurrent protection must be sized at least 125 percent of the maximum load of the EV supply equipment.
The EPA says a qualified electrician can determine if your home has sufficient capacity or needs an upgraded electrical panel. The homeowner rule is in the North Carolina EV charger permit guide.
Is Level 3 the same as DC fast charging?
The Department of Energy says DC fast charging “is also referred to as Level 3 charging.”
Related guides
- Can you charge a Tesla at home? — home charging speeds, monthly cost on NC power, and the Tesla-charger question.
- Do you need a permit for a home EV charger in NC? — the homeowner rule and what an unpermitted install risks.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center — Electric vehicle charging
- fueleconomy.gov — Electric charging
- U.S. EPA — Plug-in electric vehicle charging basics
- Mike Holt — EV equipment, based on the 2020 NEC
Want a Level 2 charger for the house? See EV charger installation or call (828) 551-9843.