Electric Vehicle Service Equipment charges electric vehicles and operate at different charging speeds.

Level 1

Level 1 equipment provides charging through a common residential 120-volt (120V) AC outlet. Level 1 chargers can take 40-50+ hours to charge a BEV to 80 percent from empty and 5-6 hours for a PHEV.

Level 2

Level 2 equipment offers higher-rate AC charging through 240V (in residential applications) or 208V (in commercial applications) electrical service, and is common for home, workplace, and public charging. Level 2 chargers can charge a BEV to 80 percent from empty in 4-10 hours and a PHEV in 1-2 hours.

Level 3 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC)

Level 3 (DCFC) equipment offers rapid charging along heavy-traffic corridors at installed stations. DCFC equipment can charge a BEV to 80 percent in just 20 minutes to 1 hour. Most PHEVs currently on the market do not work with fast chargers.

Level 2 and DCFC equipment have been deployed at various public locations including gas stations, highway rest-stops, grocery stores, theaters and coffee shops. When selecting a charger type consider its voltage, charging and vehicle dwell times, and estimated up-front and ongoing costs.

pathways:

U.S. Department of Transportation / Charger Types

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