3 Types of EV Chargers: The Comprehensive Guide
Electric car owners are still concerned about how to choose an ev dc charger? This is because there are a variety of chargers available, each with different features. You need in-depth information to avoid the wrong charger selection.
This guide will help you avoid this and make the right choice. It caters to you with details on definitions, concepts, benefits, drawbacks, and much more. Sounds exciting? Let’s dive right in to uncover facts!
Home charging
Home charging refers to the charging operation that you carry out at home. Home chargers also refer to the level 1 charger. The output power of these chargers lies around 3.0 kW up to 7.0 kW.
The reason why this charger refers to the home charger is that you can plug this charger into any home electric outlet. It only requires 120 V of electricity to facilitate the charging operation.
Get familiar with the main pros and cons of the EV charger right in the following section:
1. Pros
High accessibility
You can easily access the home charger and use them on the go. This is mainly because they support standard wall outlets for electricity needs. You can easily set up these chargers in your garage and at home.
Low cost
The price of ev charger will be relatively low compared with other chargers. You can quickly get this charger for $500 to $1000. Apart from this, the installation cost of this charger is also negligible. It does not require any extensive infrastructure or setup.
Super convenient usage
Anyone can use this charger without any special training or knowledge. You just need to plug it into your vehicle, and the charging starts. When you have a home charger, you dont need to deal with the complex configuration and setup.
Safe and secure
The lower output power ensures the safety of your vehicle and your electrical system. It does not put stress or overload on your battery system. Thus, you can enjoy the longer working life of your car or battery.
2. Cons
Slower charging
Charging on home chargers takes much time, so it refers to the overnight charger. It takes 5 to 12 hours to charge up your vehicle up to 80%. So if you are looking for the fast charging option, this is unsuitable.
Limited range of travel
The home charger does not allow you to enjoy a more extended range of travel. Instead you only get 5 to 10 miles within 2 to 3 hours. You can only travel short distances or cover long tours on the home charger.
3. How long can it be used
The life of the level 1 charger under frequent usage can be anywhere from 5 years up to 15 years. This is because multiple factors affect the life of the home charger, such as:
Brand and quality
Choosing a home charger from a reputational and well-experienced brand lasts longer. Such brands use qualitative materials that contribute to the practical charger life.
Usage
If you use your home charger daily, it won’t last longer. The expected life expectancy is around 5 to 8 years in this case. This is because frequent usage puts stress on the charger.
Environmental conditions
The environment where you use your charger significantly affects its working life. For instance high humidity, moisture, temperature, and sunlight affect the performance and efficiency with time. It also leads to wear and tear on the charger.
Charging at work
Charging at work refers to the charger you utilize in the workplace or during labor. You can put your vehicle on charging during your work hours (usually around 9 am up to 5 pm). This also refers to the level 2 charger.
The power output of this charger lies in the range of 7 kW up to 19 kW. You can plug this charger into a home outlet or 240 V outlet. The charging speed with this charger is faster than what the level 1 charger offers.
1. Pros
Speedy charging
With one hour of charging, the level 2 charger offers you a travel range of 10 up to 25 miles. This is why you can charge your vehicle while working or performing daily duties at work. It is perfect for daily commuting.
Wide compatibility
Almost every vehicle out in the market supports the usage of the work charger. This acts as the standard charging solution. You don’t need to worry about acquiring the specific connectors/adapters when using the working charger.
Zero stress on battery
Charging with the level 2 or work charger will not put stress on your battery. The charging speed with a working charger is optimum (not very high or not very low). This increases the battery efficiency and effectivity.
Cost effectivity
The work charger offers you higher cost-effectiveness. You can save up bucks in the long run. This is because it takes little time to charge. You can add this time to doing other valuable tasks or earning side money. You can get this charger for $500 up to $3000. Apart from this, the electricity bill cost remains stable.
2. Cons
Installation barrier
You need a professional to set up your work or level 2 charger. You also need to put a shade over the charger to protect it. Both of these factors add up to the installation cost.
Electrical requirement
You cannot put this charger in a 120 V outlet. But you need to put this charger in the 240 V outlet. If you don’t have this outlet, you need to upgrade the existing outlet. This further adds up to the cost of installation.
No portability
The work chargers are hard-wired, meaning you cannot move this charge from place to place. There are some chargers that you can move. But you are not going to get a 240 V outlet quickly. Therefore, there are portability issues with this charger type.
3. How long can it be used
The life of the work charger or level 2 charger ranges from 5 years up to 25 years. It depends if how you heavily use your charger; it will last 5 to 8 years. If you use it occasionally, it lasts up to 25 years. On the other hand, if you use it sparingly, it will last around 15 years.
Multiple factors affect the life of the work charger. For instance, charger material, build quality, brand, etc. Consider these factors while choosing the charger to make it last longer.
Public charging
The public charger refers to the level 3 charger or DC fast charger. These chargers are referred to as public chargers only because they are available for public use. Anyone can access and use these chargers.
These chargers are super fast, and you can charge up to 80% of your vehicle battery in only 15 to 60 minutes. The output power of public chargers is around 50 kW to 350 kW. You can easily find these chargers on travel corridors and highways.
1. Pros
Super quick charging
You can charge almost full battery using the public charger within 15 to 45 minutes. This way, you can enjoy super convenience while traveling on long tours or trips. Public chargers are faster than level 1 chargers, as well as level 2 chargers.
No range anxiety
With the level 3 or DC fast charger, you will not experience any range anxiety. With over 200 to 250 milers charging, you can easily cover longer distances easier.
Best for fleets
You can charge up buses, taxis, or fleets on the go. This is because with only 15 to 30 minutes of charging per vehicle, you can charge up many cars instantly.
2. Cons
High purchase cost
The cost of the DC fast charger is very high. In general, the price lies in the range of $ 15,000 up to $50,000 or more. Apart from this, the installation cost is also very high. This is because you need a well-established infrastructure for adequate weather protection.
Limit in accessibility
There needs to be more DC fast chargers around the globe. This is because of the higher cost association and the fact that EV technology is still evolving.
Stress on battery
The high-speed charging by the public chargers puts much stress on the battery. This ultimately contributes to the decrease in the capacity of each cell. This, in turn, collectively reduces the performance and efficiency of the storm. If you continue charging on DC fast chargers, this will affect your battery health and life.
Negative environmental impact if rely on grid
To cater to the high-speed charging, you need a connection to the grid. If the grid runs on fossil fuel, you will contribute to the environment negatively. This will ultimately result in acid rain and a change in the climatic impact.
3.Which connectors are available for public charging?
There are different types of connectors that you can use with the public charging. Some of the key connectors that you can use are:
| Sr. No. | Feature | CHAdeMO | CCS Type 1 | CCS Type 2 |
| 1 | Current Output | DC | DC | DC |
| 2 | Input Supply | 500 V | 480 V | 400 V |
| 3 | Output current | 125 A | 500 A | 500 A |
| 4 | Output power | 5 kW to 400 kW | 150 to 200 kW | 360 kW |
| 5 | Max. Voltage Support | 1000 V | 1000 V | 1000 V |
| 6 | Phase Support | Three Phase | Single Phase, Two Phase | Single Phase, Two Phase, Three Phase |
| 7 | Charging Level Support | Level 3 | Level 1, Level 2, AC | Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 |
| 8 | Countries Available In | China | South Korea, Europe, USA | Europe, Australia, the UK, the Middle East, Africa |
CHAdeMO
The CHAdeMO is popular in China. It is a high-speed connector catering to 400 kW of output power. Using this connector, you can charge up more than 80% of the battery within 10 to 15 minutes.
CCS type 1
CCS type 1 chargers are popular in South Korea, Europe, and the USA. The power output of these chargers lies in the range of 150 kW up to 200 kW. Using this charger, you can charge up your vehicle battery by up to 80% within 60 minutes. This connector supports single-phase and two-phase input currents.
CCS type 2
The CCS type 2 charger has broad applicability in Europe, Australia, the UK, the Middle East, and Africa. The power output of these chargers is up to 350 kW. You can connect this connector to any single, dual, or even three-phase phase. You can charge up to 80% of your vehicle battery within 15 to 35 minutes.
4. How long can it be used
The life of the DC fast charger ranges from 10 years to 25 years. However, there is no fixed rule to predict life. It depends on how you use your charger. If you use it frequently daily, life will be around ten years. On medium usage, the life lasts around 15 years or more, and for occasional usage, the life is 20 to 25 years.
What are the difference between them?
Multiple differences exist between the home charger, the working charger, and the public charger. Some of the critical differences are as follows:
| Sr. No. | Feature | Home Charger | Work Charger | Public Charger |
| 1 | Power Supply | 120V AC household outlet | 240V AC dedicated circuit | 400V+ DC fast charging station |
| 2 | Charging Speed | 2-5 miles per hour | 10-25 miles per hour | Up to 200 miles in 30 minutes |
| 3 | Installation | Plug-and-play | Requires professional installation by electrician | Public stations or specialized hardware installation |
| 4 | Cost | $200 up to $70000 | $500 up to $3000 | $15000 up to $50,000 |
| 5 | Accessibility | Widely available at home | Common in homes and public stations | Primarily public stations, less widespread |
| 6 | Compatibility | Compatible with most EVs | Compatible with most EVs | Requires specific compatible charging port on EV |
| 7 | Impact on battery | Minimal stress | Slight stress on battery with frequent use | Potential stress on battery with frequent use |
| 8 | Best suited for | Overnight charging or topping up | Daily commuting and frequent use | Long-distance travel and quick top-ups |
Offer the five best EV charging manufacturers to choose
What are the top EV charger manufacturers? Get insights on the top 5 EV charger manufacturer regarding their products, product prices, experience, nationality, etc. right in the table below:
| Sr. No. | Company Name | Year Established | Nationality | Main Products | Product Prices | Annual Income |
| 1 | Piwin | 2000 | Zhuhai, China | Portable EV chargerAC EV ChargersHigh Power EV Chargers | $250 up to $6000 | $100 million |
| 2 | Sinexcel | 2007 | Shenzhen, China | EV ChargersHybrid InvertersBatteries | $300 up to $5000 or more | $237 million |
| 3 | XPENG | 2014 | Guangzhou, China | EV ChargersXpilotXmart OS | $270 up to $50k or more | N/A |
| 4 | NIO | 2014 | Shanghai, China | AC EV ChargerLevel 2 ChargerLevel 3/DC ChargerLatest In Tech EVsEV Services | $400 up to $100k or more | $2.11 billion |
| 5 | Delta | 2011 | Shanghai, China | AC ChargersDC ChargersEnergy Management Systems | $290 up to $5000 or more | $12.73 billion |
Here are the things you need to consider while choosing the EV charger manufacturer:
- Determine the brand reputation and years of experience in manufacturing EV chargers.
- Read the customer reviews before selecting a specific brand. Visit their social media pages or sites to get an idea about their trustability.
- Get a quote from various brands and compare the prices to make a wise decision.
- Assess the product quality and take recommendations from previous buyers of the same brand.
- Get online assistance from the brand and ask cross-questions to ensure your satisfaction.
Following the above steps, you can select the correct charger that suits your needs.
FAQ
1. How fast does a 50kW EV charger?
Charging on a 50 kW charger takes around 30 minutes to add up to 150 miles of travel range, especially for a 60 kWh battery.
But for a larger battery having 80 kWh of capacity, you need 45 minutes to add up a travel range of 150 miles.
2. How many miles can you get an hour on a 50kW charger?
It varies depending on the capacity of the battery. On average, you can get 100 to 120 miles for 60 kWh and 80 kWh of battery.
3. How fast is a 350 kW EV charger?
The 350 kW of EV charger is super fast. Using this charger, you can add a travel range of 150 to 200 miles in 10 to 15 minutes. This is far more than what you get with the level 1 or 2 charger.
4. How much does a 350 kW charger cost?
As discussed above, it depends on multiple factors. The cost ranges from $15000 to $50,000 or more. The key things that play a vital role in this regard include the brand reputation, material quality, warranty associated, etc.
Related reading: Importing ev charger from China
