what charging levels do most ev users use

Level 2 charging is more convenient than Level 1, accounting for 60-80% of all home charging

How To Recharge Your EV Battery

EV Charging Levels: The Differences for EVs & PHEVs

When it comes to refilling your electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) battery, whether at home or on the road, you have choices!

There are three main levels of charging varying in speed, cost and accessibility: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 (also known as DC Fast Charging or DCFC). Some EV owners also have the option of bidirectional charging, which allows their vehicles to power their homes and even send energy back to the grid.

Types of EV Chargers

EV Charging Levels Explained

To determine which charging level works best for you, think about the information below in the context of your budget, lifestyle and driving habits. Factors to consider include how often you drive, where you’ll be charging, and how frequently you’ll need to “refuel.”

	level 1 Slowest But Most Accessible	level 2 Faster & Most Popular	level 3 Fastest & Most Expensive Not for Daily Use	bidirectional EV Becomes  Power Source
Overview	Can take a few days to fully recharge an EV but requires minimal to no infrastructure upgrades Works with both EVs and PHEVs	Can refill an EV battery overnight but may require moderate infrastructure upgrades Works with EVs and most PHEVs	Convenient for quickly charging EVs Does not work with most PHEVs	Allows current to flow in and out of your EV^‡ battery, supplying power to your home or the grid
Avg. Charging Time	40-50 hours (EV) 5-6 hours (PHEV)*	4-10 hours (EV) 1-2 hours (PHEV)*	20 minutes to 1 hour*	4-10 hours (similar to Level 2 EV charging)
Home Backup Duration	N/A	N/A	N/A	Up to 21 days^‡‡
Cost	Included with most new EVs and PHEVs $100-200 if purchased separately	Included with some new EVs or available through automaker promotions $400 to almost $2,000 purchased separately***	Cost-prohibitive for homeowners $40,000-100,000+ per charging unit^††	$4,000-10,000 (although prices are continually decreasing)
Where	Homes Stored in EV/PHEV for emergencies	Homes Workplaces Public charging facilities	Industrial settings Commercial parking lots Public charging facilities	Homes Commercial sites
Requirements	Plugs into standard 120V outlet**	Dedicated 240V circuit Hardwired or with a commercial-grade NEMA 14-50 outlet Installation by a trained, licensed electrician^† – but Qmerit makes it easy!	High voltage (480-1,000V) Installation by a trained, licensed electrician^† – but Qmerit makes it easy for commercial property owners	Bidirectional-capable EV Hardwiring to a dedicated 240V circuit Installation by a trained, licensed electrician^† – but Qmerit makes it easy!
Bottom Line	Level 1 charging is convenient but often too slow for those who drive daily	Level 2 charging is more convenient than Level 1, accounting for 60-80% of all home charging	Level 3 charging is ideal for travelers making quick stops; usually costs more than Level 2 charging	Can power your home during outages and reduce your energy bills

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* Source: U.S. Department of Transportation

** If you plan to use an existing outlet, consider asking a licensed electrician to inspect it to ensure it’s wired correctly and otherwise safe to use.

*** For a home charger; commercial Level 2 chargers are more costly.

† Because of their high electrical power requirements and frequent usage, Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers must be installed using appropriate methods and materials to prevent any potential safety issues. Learn more about why material quality matters.

†† Source: McKinsey

‡ Bidirectional charging is currently unavailable with PHEVs sold in the U.S.

‡‡ Some manufacturers claim their bidirectional chargers can power a home for up to three weeks with the appropriate charging equipment and installation.

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