Since an EV uses electricity and not gasoline, the common question is, “How do I fill it up?” In essence, it’s really not that complicated. But just like you had to learn the difference between gasoline and diesel, or low octane versus high octane, EV charging has a few different levels available – three, to be exact.
Level 1: Home outlet
Every EV sold comes with what’s referred to as a Level 1 charger. These chargers plug into a normal wall outlet, just like your TV or vacuum cleaner. They use a standard 120 volt outlet common to all households in the US. Because it’s not that powerful of an energy source – delivering a maximum of 15-20 amps – charging an EV this way can take a while. In the case of a short range EV like a Nissan Leaf, the battery can often be charged overnight (approximately 10 hours or more). Longer-range vehicles like a Chevy Bolt or Tesla will take significantly longer to fully recharge an empty battery.
Level 2: Electric dryer outlet
The next step up is a Level 2 charger. This is the equivalent power of an electric dryer outlet, delivering 220 volts of power at 32-40 amps. It’ll work roughly 3-8 times faster than a Level 1 charger. A short range EV would be fully charged in a few hours. Longer-range vehicles may be fully charged overnight, and for that reason, people who own these models often install a Level 2 charger at home.
In many areas of the country, Level 2 charging stations are available in a number of public areas including shopping malls, public buildings, universities and more. In Las Vegas, any Level 2 charging station in a public area is available to use free of charge. You’ll need an account with ChargePoint to use them, but that’s free too. (We’ll discuss that in detail farther down the page.)
Level 3: Maximum power
Level 3 charging stations – also known as DC Fast Charging – offer the highest levels of power available. These outlets exceed 400 volts and over 60 amps of power to deliver charge very quickly. It’s commonly quoted that even long-range EVs can charge to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes. All Tesla Superchargers fall into this category, along with offerings from EVGo, Electrify America and others.
As a trade-off versus Level 2 chargers, all Level 3 chargers require payment to use. In Las Vegas, we have a total of 12 DC Fast chargers not made for Tesla. The Linq Casino here just opened a new Tesla Supercharger with over 20 charging stations, so they continue to grow very rapidly as well.
Another important note: Not all EVs come with Level 3 charging by default. If you’re EV shopping, ask specifically about DC Fast Charge capability.
There’s a great article on the ChargePoint website that explains charge levels in greater detail.
https://www.chargepoint.com/blog/level-your-ev-charging-knowledge/
Making the Connection
So now that you know the charge levels, what about actually connecting your car to the charging station? Yes, unfortunately, there are a number of different port configurations, which means you can’t charge just anywhere. Fortunately, this is a much smaller problem in the US in recent years. We’ll talk about the ones that are most common here.
CHAdeMO port
The CHAdeMO port was most common on the earlist versions of the Nissan Leaf. Newer versions now include this port along with the now-more-common CCS combo port, which we’ll talk about next.
CCS Combo port
The CCS Combo port (also known as a J-1772 port) is the common standard among Level 2 chargers in the US. Its advantage is that a vehicle with this port and Fast DC Charge capability can also do Level 3 charging using the same connector.
Tesla Charge port
Tesla is one of the leading brands of electric vehicle, and their commitment to building Supercharger stations across the world is remarkable. But, they use a proprietary connector, so only Teslas can use their Supercharger stations. BTW, using these chargers is definitely not free, even for Tesla owners.
UPDATE: Ford recently announced starting in 2024, their EVs will come with the Tesla charging port, and access to a large portion of Superchargers.
How can I find a charging station?
There are a few different phone apps and websites to help you find a charging station, should you need to fill up away from home. The three most common are:
- PlugShare. PlugShare’s website and app offer the ability to filter locations based on your car’s connector, and other criteria which is brand-agnostic. That way you won’t pull up to a charger with the wrong port. PlugShare.com
- ChargePoint. ChargePoint has probably the largest network of charging stations in the US. Their website is very useful, but you’ll probably find yourself in the car when you need it, so the app is a must have. You’ll need to register for a ChargePoint account in order to use them, but signup is free. (Here’s a hint: get the physical charge card mailed to you as well. Some stations don’t respond well to the app.) ChargePoint.com
- EVGo. EVGo is the owner of all Level 3 (or DC Fast Charge) stations in the Las Vegas area. A total of 12 EVGo stations are available as of this writing, and all are located at Terrible Herbst locations. There’s a cost to use based on subscription plans and time of use, but when you need a fast fill up it’s your fastest option. EVGo.com
- Tesla Superchargers. If you own a Tesla, you already know about their extensive network of Superchargers. Apps for locating those stations are built into the car’s software, so no additional effort is needed.
See? It’s a lot of information, but no matter what EV you drive, you don’t have to know everything. But if you still have questions, don’t be afraid to ask us about it.
The Las Vegas EVA is a chapter of the Electric Vehicle Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
