What are the different EV charging levels?

Most electric vehicles (EVs) will charge at one of three charging levels.

Level 1 – Basic, slow, “trickle” charging – Residential – 120 volts AC (alternating current). Typically will take 3-7 Hours for PHEVs and 9-20 hours for EVs. Vehicles plug directly into a typical 120‐volt outlet. Top Choice Electric will evaluate the circuit to determine if upgrades or modifications to the property’s main electrical panel or circuits are required, and it should be a dedicated circuit, meaning no other appliances should use the same circuit.
Level 2 – Fast, or “quick” charging – Residential and Commercial – 240 volts AC. Typically will take 1-3 Hours for PHEVs and 4-8 Hours for EVs. Requires a charging station. Top Choice Electric will determine if upgrades or modifications to the property’s main electric panel or circuits are required.
Level 3 DC – Very fast charging – Commercial – 480 volts DC (Converts 3-phase AC to DC) or higher. Typically will take 10-20 minutes (80% charge) for PHEVs and 15-30 minutes (80% charge) for EVs. Requires more complex installation and potential electrical infrastructure upgrades.