What are the different types of charging stations, and where do you find them?
There are a number of different kinds of charging stations that EVs can use. By knowing what they are and what you can expect from them, you’ll have a much easier time of EV ownership. This quick guide covers standards common to the United States and North America. If you want to know about charging standards elsewhere in the world, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Level 1 Charging
The slowest kind of EV charging is “Level 1”. This is when you plug an EV into a normal 110-120 volt outlet. For smaller vehicles like scooters, eBikes, and motorcycles, this type of charging might be more than enough. They don’t use much power, and thus don’t need to charge much to get range. For cars, though, 110v charging only gives you 3-5 miles of range for every hour of charging.
For people who don’t drive much, 110v charging is enough. For others, it’s problematic. For emergencies, it’s definitely better than nothing.
Electric vehicles usually come with an adapter plug to do this type of charging. When shopping for an EV, check and make sure it comes with this adapter.
For people who don’t drive much, 110v charging is enough. For others, it’s problematic. For emergencies, it’s definitely better than nothing.
Electric vehicles usually come with an adapter plug to do this type of charging. When shopping for an EV, check and make sure it comes with this adapter.
Level 2 Charging
Level 2 charging is powered by 220-240v connections. It’s still not fast charging, but it’s significantly faster than a regular wall plug. Depending on the car and charging adapters, this type of charging can add anywhere from 10-50 miles of range per hour of charging.
Many EV drivers have this type of station installed at home, and the charging available in many parking lots is of this type. For places where you will be for hours at a time, Level 2 is very useful. For places you only plan to stay for a few minutes, being stuck for hours can be a big inconvenience. Level 2 would not be our recommendation if you are traveling on a road trip.
In the US, permanent stations of this power level typically have a J1772 type plug, which is standard on most EVs. For Tesla vehicles, the proprietary Tesla plug can do this, or you can use an adapter to use J1772 plugs. There are also adapters that can power other cars on Tesla plugs, but only at “Destination Charging” stations, and not at Superchargers.
With the right equipment, known as an EVSE, you can do Level 2 charging from other 220v plugs, such as those at RV parks (NEMA 14-50, or “50 amp”) or dryer and range plugs. Adapters to draw power from any of these sources are available from various manufacturers.
Many EV drivers have this type of station installed at home, and the charging available in many parking lots is of this type. For places where you will be for hours at a time, Level 2 is very useful. For places you only plan to stay for a few minutes, being stuck for hours can be a big inconvenience. Level 2 would not be our recommendation if you are traveling on a road trip.
In the US, permanent stations of this power level typically have a J1772 type plug, which is standard on most EVs. For Tesla vehicles, the proprietary Tesla plug can do this, or you can use an adapter to use J1772 plugs. There are also adapters that can power other cars on Tesla plugs, but only at “Destination Charging” stations, and not at Superchargers.
With the right equipment, known as an EVSE, you can do Level 2 charging from other 220v plugs, such as those at RV parks (NEMA 14-50, or “50 amp”) or dryer and range plugs. Adapters to draw power from any of these sources are available from various manufacturers.
"Level 3" - DC Fast Charging
When you can’t afford to wait hours to charge, there’s another option: DC Fast Charging. At these stations, you can charge in anywhere from 10-60 minutes, depending on the type of car and the station.
Tesla (NACS) Superchargers
Tesla has the largest network of fast chargers currently. The stations have been installed along most major interstates in the US, and along many other frequently traveled routes. Combined with the large range most Tesla vehicles came with, you can reach nearly anywhere in the US without having to rely on slow charging.
Tesla Superchargers are currently only available for use by Tesla vehicles, but this is changing. In 2024/2025 other manufacturers will be able to use the Supercharger network with a CCS to NACS adapter. Many manufacturers will be switching to the NACS charge port on their vehicles starting in 2026. In North America, the NACS standard will be the dominant standard.
CCS Stations
The second most common type of DC Fast Charging for most EVs is CCS. While not as widespread as the Tesla network, much progress has been made. Not all major interstate highway corridors are covered, but there are several routes to choose from that go coast-to-coast. In Europe, they use the CCS Type 2 connectors. We do not have that here in North America.
CHAdeMO
The third type of DC fast charging stations use the CHAdeMO standard. Plugs of this type are almost as common as CCS, with many stations having both CHAdeMO and CCS. All CHAdeMO compatible vehicles come from Japanese manufacturers, with the most common being the Nissan LEAF.
Tesla (NACS) Superchargers
Tesla has the largest network of fast chargers currently. The stations have been installed along most major interstates in the US, and along many other frequently traveled routes. Combined with the large range most Tesla vehicles came with, you can reach nearly anywhere in the US without having to rely on slow charging.
Tesla Superchargers are currently only available for use by Tesla vehicles, but this is changing. In 2024/2025 other manufacturers will be able to use the Supercharger network with a CCS to NACS adapter. Many manufacturers will be switching to the NACS charge port on their vehicles starting in 2026. In North America, the NACS standard will be the dominant standard.
CCS Stations
The second most common type of DC Fast Charging for most EVs is CCS. While not as widespread as the Tesla network, much progress has been made. Not all major interstate highway corridors are covered, but there are several routes to choose from that go coast-to-coast. In Europe, they use the CCS Type 2 connectors. We do not have that here in North America.
CHAdeMO
The third type of DC fast charging stations use the CHAdeMO standard. Plugs of this type are almost as common as CCS, with many stations having both CHAdeMO and CCS. All CHAdeMO compatible vehicles come from Japanese manufacturers, with the most common being the Nissan LEAF.
Image credit: chargepoint.com
So, where do you charge EVs?
Well, there's an app for that. Or rather, there are a bunch of apps for that. Click the button below titled "EV CHARGING APPS" to continue...
