EV Charging Stations
The auto industry is getting electrified. Electric vehicle (EV) adoption has grown tremendously over the past four years and EV sales will grow exponentially into the future. As EV adoption grows, so
does the number of charging stations. There are thousands of EV charging stations across the
U.S. that offer different types of charging at different speeds, so EV drivers can stay charged
up anywhere they go.
The details of EV charging might seem a bit complicated. But there’s good news: you don’t
need to know much about electricity to charge an EV. It’s like how you don’t need to know all
the differences between regular, plus and premium gas to fuel a combustion engine–you only
need to know what type of gas the car takes. It’s pretty much that simple for EVs, too. GigaWatt's EV charging solutions include the sales and installation of EV Chargers for both residential and commercial customers.
How Does EV Charging Work?
You most likely charge your cell phone or laptop everyday, even if you don’t know a lot about electricity. You just plug in the device and go about your day. EV charging is similar. It connects the battery in your car with a power source that can charge it. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes, but an EV driver doesn't have to worry about it. Most power outlets use AC, or alternating current. Batteries typically use DC, or direct current, to charge. This means that part of the charging process involves converting AC to DC. There are three main types of EV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 known as DC fast. Levels 1 and 2 convert AC to DC using an on-board converter in the EV. Each vehicle’s on-board converter has specific limits on how fast it can charge. Here’s a quick overview of how the different types of EV charging work.
types of ev Chargers
Level 1
Level 1 charging uses the same 120-volt current found in standard household outlets and can be performed using the power cord and equipment that most EVs come with. For businesses wanting to make this type of charging available on your property, it is as simple as installing dedicated 120 volt outlets in your company parking lot. Many residents can charge in their garage without any electrical upgrades
Advantages
- Low installation costs
- Low impact on peak demand charges
Disadvantages
- Slow charging time (EVs will get around 3 or 5 miles of range per hour of charge). Can take a minimum of 24 hours or more to charge a EV from empty to full.
Level 2
Level 2 charging uses 240 volt power to enable faster charging of an EV’s battery system. Providing this type of charging requires installation of an Level 2 EV charger and electrical wiring capable of handling higher voltage and amperage.
Advantages
- Charge time is much faster than Level 1 (EVs will get between 10 and 20 miles of range per hour of charge)
- Significantly more energy efficient than Level 1 for short charge events (around an hour or less)
Disadvantages
- Installation costs are higher compared to Level 1 charging
- Higher impact on peak demand energy charges
Level 3 (DC FASt)
Level 3 is also known as DC fast charging. This fast charge can provide compatible vehicles with an 80 percent charge in 20 to 30 minutes by converting high voltage AC power to DC power for direct storage in EV batteries.
Advantages
- Charge time is reduced drastically
Disadvantages
- Equipment and installation costs are much higher than level 1 and level 2 charging ($20,000- $100,000 depending on equipment and power availability at site)
- Increased peak demand energy charges
home
ChargePoint home is our preferred EV Charger for residences. It's a smart level 2 home charger, charging any EV up to 6X faster than a standard wall outlet. Home has a sleek design and works with a mobile app for scheduling charging and setting reminders.
Commerical
The CT4000 is the latest generation of ChargePoint commercial charging stations. Refined yet rugged, the CT4000 family sets the
industry standard for functionality and aesthetics. A robust cord retraction system comes standard on all CT4000 models to
eliminate unsightly cords on the ground, and to keep your drivers from having to touch charging cables.