Different Levels of EV Charging (Electric vehicle connectors)

There are three different EV charging levels; Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. AC connectors are defined by IEC 62196-2, DC connectors are defined by IEC 62196-3.

Type 1 connector (SAE J1772)

Level 1 EV charging utilizes the slowest EV charger available, which provides between 1 kW and 1.8 kW (can support at max 32 A) of power through a standard 120-volt AC outlet. Level 1 EV charging is available in North America and uses a standard 3-prong household plug on one end and a J1772 (Type 1) EV connector on the other, which plugs into the vehicle. Level 1 chargers are unavailable in Europe due to standard residential electricity being 230-volt.

Level 1 is the slowest of the electric car charging levels and can take between 22-40 hours to fully charge a standard battery electric vehicle (BEV) from empty. An hour of charging with a Level 1 charger will give your EV between 3-7 miles (4-11 kilometers) of range. All Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrids (PHEV) can use a Level 1 EV charger, and they are usually provided free when purchasing the vehicle.

The J1772 connector is easily identifiable by three large pins – similar to the power outlet layout at home – and two smaller pin for the car connection. The three broad pins are for Phase, Neutral and Ground while the two small pins are used for communication between the charger and the electric car (Pilot Interface).

Type 2 connector (IEC 62196-2)

Level 2 EV charging is much faster than Level 1 and utilizes a 208-volt to 240-volt AC outlet in North America and a 230-volt (single-phase) or 400-volt (three-phase) outlet in Europe. In North America, Level 2 chargers top out at 19.2 kW (80A), and in Europe, it’s 22 kW. A Level 2 charger can come with various additional functions and features, such as RFID cards, load balancing, and OCCP(Open Charge Point Protocol) networking.

A Level 2 charger can be as much as 19 times faster than a Level 1 charger, depending on the power output and the charge acceptance rate of the vehicle you are charging. An hour of charging with a Level 2 charger can provide a range between 10-75 miles (16-120 kilometers).

Level 2 charging is the most common type used in public charging stations. Level 2 charging equipment can be installed at the home, workplace, and in many public locations such as hotels, retail parks, and supermarkets. It is the ideal charging level for overnight charging or while at work.

This type of connector is approved as the European standard. The connector stands out with a unique design, rounded but with a flat edge on the top. Its pins distribution is similar to type 1, but includes two more pins, corresponding to the two extra phases needed for three-phase charging.

Level 3 EV Charging

Level 3 EV charging is also called DC fast charging and is significantly faster than Level 2 EV charging. Level 3 charging stations are the market’s quickest and most powerful EV charging options. A Level 3 charging station utilizes a three-phase supply, 480-volt in North America and 400-volt in Europe, with chargers capable of outputting over 360 kW of power.

A Level 3 charging station also comes with various functions and features, such as dynamic power distribution, multi-charging protocol cables, and networking via OCPP. There are stationary Level 3 chargers and portable Level 3 charging stations available.

CCS (Combine Charging System), CHAdeMO, and Tesla Superchargers (NACS) connectors are used for Level 3 EV charging.

CHAdeMO is the contraction of "Charge Move". But the acronym is also present in the Japanese sentence: "O cha demo ikaga desuka" which translates as "You will have tea while the car is charging". It can deliver up to 62.5 kW and can reach 125 A, yet the revised CHAdeMO 2.0 specification allows for up to 400 kW.

Level 3 charger converts AC to DC within the charger itself, resulting in faster power delivery directly to the EV battery. A Level 3 charger can fully charge a standard electric car in under 20 minutes, depending on its charge acceptance rate.

Level 3 EV chargers are often found at public service stations near highways as they are essential for use on longer journeys. There are several other locations where Level 3 EV charging is becoming more critical, including EV charging for fleets and auto dealerships. Any place where people park for short periods or the vehicle is in constant use – i.e., delivery vehicles.

The Difference between AC and DC EV Charging [Basically it explain the broader difference how type1, type2 and type3 are different each other]

There are two types of electrical currents for EV charging: AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current).

The power that comes from the electricity grid is AC. However, the energy used for an electric vehicle is stored in its battery, and a battery holds its power in DC. The difference between AC-type EV charging and DC-type EV charging is where the AC power is converted to DC power.

In AC-type charging, the AC is converted in the vehicle by its on-board charger, which is time-consuming; however, with DC-type charging, the conversion takes place in the charging station before the power is delivered to the vehicle, and as a result, it can bypass the limitations of the electric vehicle’s on-board charger and deliver more power. This is what makes DC EV charging faster than AC EV charging.

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