If you’re going to be driving an electric vehicle (EV), you’ll need to charge it. That can get a little complicated if you’re not clear on how the different EV charging options work. To help clarify, here’s a quick guide to the terms you need to know and the three EV charging levels you should be aware of.
Super Simple Explanation of Electric Car Charging Stations: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Explained
Charging levels L1, L2 and L3 are three general terms that indicate how quickly you can charge your electric car battery.
Think of charging your EV like filling a swimming pool. You probably wouldn’t use a fire hose to fill a kiddie pool or a standard garden hose to fill an in-ground pool. Charging an EV is pretty much like this: it can take anywhere from minutes to days, depending on the car’s battery size, electric vehicle power equipment (EVSE), and the capabilities of the vehicle’s on-board charger (OBC). In other words, how you charge your EV is akin to understanding the size of your EV’s “pool” and the “hose” used to fill it.
These are the basic concepts you need to know:
