Difference between level 2 and level 3 charging

Most EVs come with different charging options to help users of electric vehicles power up their cars. The EV charger comes in different levels. We have the level 1, level 2, and level 3 charging stations. These levels are all available for use.

The level 2 charging station

Unlike level 1 devices, Level 2 charging stations comes with a fast charge function with a 208-230V multi-phase AC power. If you need an EV charger, the level 2 charger is such an economical/practical charging solution for your electric vehicle. Unlike the charging level 1 device, this gives you a good driving range.

This level 2 charging device only needs to be installed by certified electricians. If you own an electric vehicle, you could charge it with this charger because of the SAE J1772 connector which works with all electric vehicles.

The level 3 charging station

The level 3 charger is a rapid charge device that comes with a fast-charging ability. It is rated at 400-850V with a DC power of 25-350KW. This level 3 charging device offers the highest charge to your electric vehicle and is the fastest charger you can get in the EV charging equipment. Offers DC fast charging. Unlike your gas car, this is for electric vehicles.

This DC charger is used to provide your EV vehicle with DC Power. This is pretty unlike the level 1 and level 2 chargers that provides electric vehicle EV with AC power. To this end. Level 3 chargers are more costly. This EV charging station comes with two different connector styles, which are not compatible.

Difference between level 2 and the level 3 charging stations: Capacity

Therefore, for you to find out what charger type is the most useful for your use, you will need to consider a range of factors. The level 2 chargers use 208-240 V to charge your model 3 and uses an AC power that has a range of 3KW to 19 KW.

This means that your electric vehicle EV gets a charge of 18-28 miles range per hour. With the level 2 charging device you can charge your vehicle for about 8 hours or less. This charger is a useful electric vehicle supply equipment that can charge up your vehicle better than the level 1 charging stations.

If you want a home charger with a decent charge capacity over the level 1 charging device, then the level 2 charger is your best choice. Most Level 2 charging stations are able to power up an electric vehicle with more power than is possible.

With the various level 2 charging devices in the market, the charging capacity actually varies. The level 3 charger is a really super fast charger that uses the Direct current to power up your EV. If you need a supercharger in your home for your EV, then the level 3 charger totally fits this description.

It is equipped with the highest power output of about 350 kW. If you have a level 3 EV charging device, you will be able to charge up the battery of your RV vehicle in just about 30 minutes. The level 3 EV device can completely power up your battery between 60 and 90 minutes.

For instance, the level 3 EV charging device can power up your EV with an output of 100 miles of range in 15 minutes. The maximum rate of the level 3 chargers is usually limited by the acceptance rate of the battery of the electric vehicles.

Whereas lots of EVs we have in the market uses a maximum of 50KW to charge, other EV models are able to charge more than 200kW with an example being the Chevy Volt, plus some Tesla models. If your EV uses the level 3 EV charger, you will find it difficult to see public charging stations that support level 3 charging since the technology is still relatively new.

Level 2 charger vs Level 3 charger: Application

The level 2 charging stations are the most preferred EV charging stations in the United States. The L2 chargers are a very common site all around the streets in the United States. The charger can be used to charge electric vehicles at most public spaces. It is the preferred charger for EVs in the United States. You can also get these charging devices at workspaces in which workers can plug their EVs to charge for a long time.

A lot of EV drivers prefer to buy and use a L2 charging device for their homes. This is because unlike the level 1 charging device, the L2 EV device helps you power your electric vehicle overnight. Connect the charger to the wall outlet, plug it in your car, go to sleep come back the next day and see your EV fully charged.

Unlike the L2 EV chargers, the level 3 electric vehicle charging equipment is a super-fast station that is be very expensive to install and to operate. Because they have a high cost of installation, level 3 charging devices are mainly used for most commercial and industrial locations instead of being used in residential settings. Unlike level 1 and L2 EV chargers, the level 3 electric vehicle charging equipment is usually located on major interstate and highways to help owners of EVs to quickly power their EVs while they are on road trips.

Currently, we have about 15,000 or more level 3 electric vehicle charging stations all across the United States and this is projected to grow in the short term.

Level 2 vs Level 3: Costs

When it comes to the level 2 EV charging device for your Tesla, the price can vary to a large extent. If you an owners of electric cars, you can get free charging bat some charging stations. But other public level 2 EV chargers costs anywhere between about 20 cents and 30 cents per kWh unlike using a gas station. This is faster than Level 1 device for electric cars.

This almost means about $1 and $5 per hour. Charging your Tesla for 8 hours with the level 2 charging device will almost cost a full battery. However, if you choose to use the L2 EV charging device in your home, a full charge will cost an EV owner between $6 and $10. If you are looking to install the level 2 EV chargers in your home, you will also have to install other types of electric vehicle supply equipment.

For the level 3 EV device, you are either biller per minute or per kWh. If you are the owner of an EV, the per KWh is the best option for most EV drivers since you get charged for only the energy that is delivered to your EV. Alternatively, if you choose the per minute billing, it does not support the EVs that do not support high power charge rates. This is faster than Level 1 charging device for electric cars.

It also charge more for owners of EVs who use the charger for a long time. Summarily, the level 3 EV device appears to be more expensive than both level 1 and level 2.

Can I install a supercharger at home?

If you are the owner of the Tesla, you use the Tesla supercharger for free. It is a commercial standard charger that uses a power system of 480 volt to charge up Tesla cars within just an hour. A 20 minute charge helps power up your battery for close to 80%. The supercharger can never be installed in the home since you will be needing an industrial grade electrical capacity for this.

The best level 2 chargers

1). Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector

 The Gen 3 Tesla Wall Connector come with a 48 Amps AC charger is a good level 2 EV device that has to be hardwired. It also works by getting wall-mounted permanently with a household outlet. This is among the viable options for charging cars. It is a good option for owners of the EVs that do not want to use the accompanying Mobile Connector. It helps the car get a full daily dose of charging within a short time unlike using a gas tank. Shows your charger level.

Tesla is known as the few makers of the Electrical Vehicles that works by including the 32A level 2 charger. This means that owners might not have to purchase the charger. The way this works is that they will have to set up the 240 volt NEMA 14 50 outlet. One downside of this Tesla battery charging station is the fact that it comes with a much shorter cord, which means that I might not be able to charge my battery until I back up into my garage.

All the chargers that we have listed so far have the North American standard J1772 connector; they can charge up every EVs plus the Tesla vehicles. They can do this with included adaptors. You can charge other branded EVs by using the Gen 3 Wall Connector. However, to make this work, you will have to buy the J1772 adapter. This makes the charging process slightly complicated. And most people do not like this method.

Pros

• A good level 2 EV charger
• Good for Tesla EVs

Cons

• Expensive
• Comes with a short level 2 cable for charging

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2). TheJuice Box 40

 The level 2 charging device comes at a medium price and is one of the best home charging solutions for your car. We love the user-friendliness and the versatility of this Level 2 charging solution. This one fits into your household outlet. Shows your charger level.

 It is a charger with a dedicated app that is used to monitor the power supply to your vehicle. The app details the charging process of your EV while it is connected to the charging dock. This home charging solution for the electric car offers the ability to connect through WIFI. You are able to programme this charging station to charge your vehicle during app-peak times.

This means that as a beginner, you are able to effectively set up your home charging solution with little or no help at all. This is one of the few charging solutions that comes with long enough cable to help connect your car to any available outlet. The cable is able to connect in your house garage outlet or any charging stations on the road.

Pros

• Medium price
• User-friendly and versatile.
• Smart Level 2 mobile chargers.
• Long cable length.

Cons

• Not a pocket-friendly option.

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3). ChargePointHome Flex

One thing we love about the ChargePoint EV charging stations is the ability to power up most electric vehicles and any electric sports car. The ChargePoint is a trusty 120 volt mobile charger for your Level 2 charging device. Shows your charger level.

It is among the most recommended charging solutions for the car because it comes with more features and it is being manufactured by a well-known name in the market. This EV charger comes in as a good home charging station and is offered in a sleek design and total compact form. Comes with a short charge time and can allow you to check the charge level.

It is also able to connect through any WIFI network. This offer a smooth network connection. We also love the Intuitive app of this charging station since it allows us to adjust the amps and do more things. One good thing about this charging equipment is that it continues to charge after there have been a power outage.

Pros

• ChargePoint 120 volt charging equipment is a popular brand of car chargers.
• Long cable of 25 feet.
• Good performance battery.
• Sleek battery design and good form factor.
• Ergonomic design offers more mobile charging features.
• The charger offers smooth and seamless connectivity options.

Cons

• Not a pocket-friendly equipment.

Buy It Now: Amazon

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