There can be plenty of nuance to any electric-vehicle (EV) charging. However, if you picture your iPhone or any Android device in your mind then it will be easier to know more details. Both electric vehicles and plug-in types of hybrid electric vehicles have got a battery-powered motor and also an internal-combustion engine that needs regular charging.
How to charge your electric car?
You can always charge your EV in several ways and the most common way to do that will be at home. In Australia, you are able to connect your EV with any standard 240V supply line, but this will be the slowest way to charge and called ‘Level 1’ charging.
The level 2 or type 2 portable charger for au can also be done at home by using a certain wall box charger, or at any public charging station, as this kind of charger can charge 3 times faster than your level 1 charging. The power rating of the socket also changes from 2.4 KW to 7.2 KW.
‘Level 3’ charger is also called supercharger, which can deliver you electricity power from 25kW – 350kW range. You can find more than 3000 such public charging stations located throughout Australia right now. More than 470 among them are DC fast chargers.
Let us try to understand the difference between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 types of electric vehicle charging available in Australia.
Level 1 type EV charging
This level is best suitable for any small-size battery like those used in Petrol-hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVS) or if you have got much longer charging time. Level 1 charging will be a better option for those who have to drive within 40km per day.
This can also be a substitute option for people who cannot charge at home due to the non-availability of any garage or a fixed parking place.
Level 2 type EV charging
The car is directly connected to your electrical supply via a specialised circuit and a specific socket and connector. This is one of the most popular charging levels in both homes and public places. Level 2 provides for wide charging speed ranges, up to 19.2 kilowatts/hour of charging, or roughly 70 miles of range/hour of charging.
Because it is generally done at a greater voltage and amperage, Level 2 charging will substantially be faster. However, handling the extra current and heat, they will need more rigorous equipment and more sturdy wiring.
Level 3 type EV charging
DC Level 3 will be the costliest to deploy because it necessitates significant service and panel upgrades. For every ten minutes of charging, you can expect to get 70 kilometres of range. These stations consume more energy than your home, which is usually more than you will require for your everyday journey.
For gas station operators, highways, fleet vehicles, street-side charging, and certain commercial users also recommend Level 3 type DC fast charging. Prices for DC charge stations range from $25,000 for any stand-alone (not connected to other stations) to $60,000 for any smart and networked charge station. Volume pricing is available to hosts, who purchase numerous devices.
