When we decided to get our first electric vehicle, there was one thing that was causing me a bit of anxiety...I didn’t know how to actually charge an EV. I had seen the charging stations and cars using the chargers, but without any experience myself I was worried I’d do it wrong and blow myself up.

After having an EV for a couple of years, that thought seems silly now. I’m guessing others have felt the same way so today I want to bring things back to the basics and share what to know for charging an electric car.

So...How Do You Actually Charge It?

There’s not a lot of videos on the topic that aren’t way too long so I’ve started each video at the ideal spot and noted when to watch until. These videos show how charge at home and in public with different types of chargers.

Charging At Home

Trickle Charger (Regular 120v Outlet)
Watch from 0:00 to ~2:00 (2 minutes)

Level 2 Charger (240v Outlet)
Watch from 0:13 to about 1:13 (1 minute)

Charging in Public

Level 2 Charger (240v Outlet)
Watch from 0:35 to 1:10 (35 seconds)

Tesla Charger
Watch from 2:50 to 3:20 (30 seconds)

What Are The Different Types of Chargers in Terms of Speed?

There are a few different types of chargers. Each one has a different level of power and speed that it will charge your car. How long it takes to get a full charge will depend on the car’s battery size, max charging rate, and other factors.

Level 1 Charger

• This charger typically comes with the car

• This uses a standard 120v outlet

• Approximately 4-5 miles are added per 1 hour of charge time

Level 2 Charger

• These can be residential or public chargers

• Residential level 2 chargers use a 240v AC plug

• Approximately 12-60 miles are added per 1 hour of charge time (depending on how much power the charger can supply, and how much power the EV can accept)

Level 3 or DC Fast Charger

• These are typically public chargers as they are expensive to install

• These can provide 80 percent in a charge time of 20-30 minutes.

Tesla Chargers

• Tesla uses a single proprietary connector for level 1, level 2, and DC fast charge and accepts all voltage.

• Non-Teslas are unable to use a Tesla charger, but Teslas can use an adapter to use other types of chargers.

Our Canadian friends from the north put together a pretty good video explaining the differences in Level 1, 2, and 3 chargers (Watch to about 4:20).

What Are The Different Charger Connector/Plug Types?

To make things even more fun there are different types of connectors/plugs depending on your car type.

SAE J1772

• All electric vehicles use this type of plug for level 1 and level 2 charging (except Tesla)

CCS (Combined Charging System):

• CSS is a DC Fast charger connection that uses the J1772 inlet plus 2 pins

• This has essentially become the fast charger standard aside from Tesla, Nissan Leaf, and Mitsubishi Outlander

CHAdeMO:

• CHAdeMO is a DC Fast charger connection

• This plug is standard in Japan, but only used by Nissan Leaf, and Mitsubishi Outlander

Tesla

• Tesla’s proprietary connector is used for level 1, level 2, and DC fast charging

Where Can I Charge In Rochester?

Most charging will likely be done at home, but if you’d like to know where publicly accessible chargers are available in Rochester, check out our page here.

Conclusion

10 years ago it would have seemed crazy to consider leaving the familiarity of filling up your car at the gas station to charging your car with a plug. Today 10,000+ Minnesotans are leading the transition to electric vehicles and that number is growing every day. For those ready to continue your electric vehicle journey, you can learn about electric vehicles available in the Rochester area here.