Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installation Guide – Part 2

As discussed in Part 1, you need to determine your charging requirements before installing a charging station. Work with an experienced and licensed electrician to get the best results. Part 2 will cover the three kinds of charging stations.

Level 1

This charging station utilizes a common 120-volt connection that uses a standard household electrical outlet. As they typically come with the plug-in vehicle, there usually won’t be an extra expense. The disadvantage is that charging is long and slow. Most owners of electric vehicles will probably experience that the depletion of the battery won’t be more than can be recharged overnight by using a standard 120V connection.

Level 2

Level 2 uses a higher output 240V power source, the same as what ovens and dryers use. It provides charging times much faster than a Level 1 EVSE charging station. To illustrate, the Mercedes B Class 250e will require 20 hours for a full charge that provides a range of more than 85 miles with a Level 1 120-volt charging station. In sharp contrast, a Level 2 240-volt charger will only take three hours.

Charging will be much more convenient because it can be done at home. Level 1 will not work for many who drive long daily commutes because they cannot recharge during the work day. An upgrade to a Level 2 will be absolutely necessary for them if their car is fully electric and there are no public charging stations in the vicinity of their workplace. Another benefit is a Level 2 EVSE installation will raise the resale value of your home.

Level 3

Level 3 utilizes very high voltage and is capable of adding up to 90 miles of range in only half an hour for some cars. However, Level 3 ESVE stations are very costly, ranging into the tens of thousands of dollars. Moreover, regular use of Level 3 chargers can eventually harm a vehicle’s battery so they are not recommended for home use.

Electrical Peace of Mind

Providing professional electricians since 1988 in Maryland, Cook Electric is the company you can rely on for all your electrical service needs. For knowledgeable, fair, honest, reliable, and conscientious service, call Cook Electric today at (410) 266-9040. We will be very glad to help you.