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3rd Floor, Building A, Xincheng Square, Baomin 2nd Road, Xixiang Street, Baoan District, 518102, Shenzhen, China.
With the rapid development of electric vehicles, the EV charger market has experienced significant growth. The classification of EV chargers has become a focus of attention because different levels of chargers have significant differences in charging speed, safety, and other aspects. We often see Level 1 charger, Level 2 charger and Level 3 charger, but what do these levels actually mean? What are the differences between these different levels of EV chargers? Today, let’s delve into this topic”What are Level 1 Level 2 and Level 3 Chargers”.
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 chargers are classification levels used in the United States for EV chargers. Currently, the U.S. market broadly classifies EV chargers into three categories: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3, while Level 3 refers to DC Fast Charging or Tesla Supercharging, mainly indicating fast charging. These three levels increase in charging speed, purchase/installation costs, and operating costs as power performance and current types increase. The demand for EV chargers in Europe and America is for more quantity and faster charging speeds. Compared to AC chargers, DC fast chargers have higher voltage and power, resulting in faster charging speeds. Level 2 charger has charging speeds of 10-40 miles/hour, while Level 3 DC fast charger has charging speeds of 100-300 miles/hour.
Classification | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Connector | J1772, Tesla | J1772, Tesla | Combined charging system, CHAdeMO, Tesla |
Voltage | 120V | 240V/208V | 400-900V |
Current | 10-12A | 12-80A | 100+A |
Power | 1-1.4kW | 1-1.4kW | 24-300kW |
Charging Speed | 3-5m/hour | 12-80m/hour | 3-20m/min |
Current Type | AC | AC | DC |
Common Scenarios | Home, Workplace, Public places | Home, Workplace, Public places | Public places |
Proportion of Share | 2.1% | 78.9% | 18.9% |
Therefore, for home charging, Level 2 charger is sufficient to meet basic charging needs. However, for operating charging stations or commercial scenarios, charging speed becomes more important, making Level 3 charger more suitable. Currently, the market mainly uses Level 2 and Level 3 chargers. Level 3 charger is mainly used on highways, in urban fast charging, and in operational commercial settings (such as enterprises, logistics parks, underground parking lots, etc.). Level 2 charger has the widest application and are suitable for residential areas, public parking lots, shopping centers, restaurants, etc.
In conclusion, by analyzing the levels of chargers, we can understand that different levels of EV chargers have significant differences in usage scenarios, charging speeds, safety, and other aspects. When choosing and using EV chargers, it is important to select the appropriate charging method and charger level based on actual needs and range requirements.