Level 1
Charging from any regular household outlet, including block heater outlets available at parkades, etc (110V/120V). Very convenient, as they are wildly available – and used by most of our customers to charge their EVs at home.
PROs:
- No investment needed (each EV comes with Level 1 charger)
- Plug-Ins can be found everywhere
- Enough charge available for driving up to ~80km per day
CONs:
- Not possible to fully charge in just a few hours, or recover significant range overnight
Level 2
This type of “juicing-up” is usually called Destination Charging, as it is most suitable for charging the car in several hours when you reach your destination. This includes home charging – requiring a 16 or 32 Amp 220V/240V circuit.
PROs:
- Speed: will always completely charge your EV overnight
- May be fairly easy to set up (no electrical work required)
- Apps available for remote control and stats on quite a few models
- Slightly more efficient charging than Level 1
CONs:
- Requires one-time investment which can vary from $250 to several Thousand, depending upon your existing home wiring
Level 3
High-powered (50kW+) DC fast chargers – usually available along major highways and important thoroughfares. Usually used mid-journey, hence emphasis is on the speed of charging. Most EVs can reach 80% charge in 30-40 minutes, after which you would continue your trip. Similar to gas stations, you can pay with your credit card – or sign up for an account to be billed.
PROs:
- VERY fast charging
- Locations are in line with most driving needs
CONs:
- The most expensive EV charging (usually still under the cost of gasoline)
