Charging an electric vehicle sounds simple in theory, right? Park up, plug in and recharge your battery. Job done. The reality is a little bit different, as anyone who owns or has driven an EV will doubtless agree. This is because electric vehicle charging is still evolving.
Pumps are slightly more advanced than they used to be and paying for your gas is certainly more straightforward. Then again it's possible to recharge an EV for freedespite some recent opposition to that concept. But the basic principle remains unchanged.
Charging an EV on the other hand can sometimes feel like a step backwards. Part of this is down to the different ways in which electric vehicles get charged. Read next: How to find EV charging stations. Thankfully, anyone heading off on vacation simply needs to pack a multi-headed travel plug, Språk och samhälle allows them to plug in and charge their phone, shaver or hairdryer using a plug that suits the socket.
Tesla has done a great job in developing its own proprietary system, which lets you quickly and easily access the arguably superior Supercharger network. These Superchargers can be found across the US, Europe and many other parts of the world, with over 30, individual chargers and counting.
These are slow, but use the same plug and socket mechanism as the rapid-power Superchargers. Following behind is everyone else. EV ports and the chargers that connect to Non-Tesla vehicles come in several variants across the U. You also get different levels of charging: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
The higher the number, the more powerful and faster the charging should be. Which one you can use depends on the type of EV you want to charge and its ability to accept the power supply. Overnight makes the most sense and lets you avoid the public charger scenario altogether.
Level 2, which is Volts to Volts AC, is speedier and your options are greater, although there are still limitations. EV chargers that offer Level 2 charging are becoming more commonplace, however, and can often be the ones to look for at locations like fast food outlets, shopping mall complexes and hotels.
Level 3 DC rapid charging is the most appealing in terms of speed and efficiency. The Volts to Volts DC rapid charge and Supercharging options can deliver up to 20 miles per minute thanks to that direct current supply and higher voltage rating. This plug is also known as Type 1, with the alternate Type 2 charger being used in Europe and other parts of the world.
Level 3 comes with a trio of standardized connection options. While Tesla has its own proprietary thing going on, the majority of other auto manufacturers currently use the Combined Charging System, or CCS, which is a combination style plug.