Best Practices for Residential EV Chargers

Okay, let’s get the basics out of the way: Electric Vehicles run on energy stored in batteries. Batteries store energy as DC (direct current), but our power grid uses AC (alternating current). EVs have an on-board inverter to change the type of electricity from supplied AC to needed DC. You can plug any EV into a dedicated 120 volt, 15 amp circuit and get it to charge… but it’s going to take a while.

This is where EV chargers, or “Electric Vehicle Service Equipment” (aka EVSE) comes in handy. EVSE comes in 3 basic “levels”:

Level	Electrical Requirements	Benefits & Considerations
Level 1	120 Volt, 15 Amp dedicated circuit. Similar to a kitchen outlet. For a home installation, an electrician may or may not be needed to ensure nothing else is on the circuit.	All EVs have “Level 1” capability. You can toss an extension cord in your trunk and plug in to almost any outlet. Unfortunately, this method of charging is VERY slow.
Level 2	240 Volt, 50 Amp dedicated circuit. Similar to an oven or electric dryer. An electrician will be needed to install the dedicated 240 volt circuit. You’ll need to have room in your circuit panel, which will need to be inspected to ensure it can handle the added electrical load. Call PUD 3 before installation so we can help to make sure the electrical equipment serving your home can handle the added load.	A Level 2 EVSE allows for EVs to be charged more quickly than a Level 1 charger. Twice the power- half the charge time! The additional flexibility and shorter charging times allow for better utilization of Electric Vehicles and further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Most EV owners will select a Level 2 at, or shortly after vehicle purchase.
Level 3, or “DC Quick Charge” (DCQC)	3-phase, 480 Volt, 50 KW load. This is for unique commercial-type installations. Most homes don’t have this type of electrical infrastructure readily available.	DC Quick Charge stations are found along the I-5 Electric Highway; in central downtown or commercial locations; traditional gas stations; or in strategic tourist centers. They can charge an EV to 80% capacity in as little as 20-minutes! These EVSE do the AC-to-DC conversion before the electricity gets to the car, so it’s able to deliver a higher amount of energy at a faster rate, greatly reducing charge times. Slick!

Level

Electrical Requirements

Benefits & Considerations

Level 1

120 Volt, 15 Amp dedicated circuit. Similar to a kitchen outlet. For a home installation, an electrician may or may not be needed to ensure nothing else is on the circuit.

All EVs have “Level 1” capability. You can toss an extension cord in your trunk and plug in to almost any outlet. Unfortunately, this method of charging is VERY slow.

Level 2

240 Volt, 50 Amp dedicated circuit. Similar to an oven or electric dryer. An electrician will be needed to install the dedicated 240 volt circuit. You’ll need to have room in your circuit panel, which will need to be inspected to ensure it can handle the added electrical load. Call PUD 3 before installation so we can help to make sure the electrical equipment serving your home can handle the added load.

A Level 2 EVSE allows for EVs to be charged more quickly than a Level 1 charger. Twice the power- half the charge time! The additional flexibility and shorter charging times allow for better utilization of Electric Vehicles and further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Most EV owners will select a Level 2 at, or shortly after vehicle purchase.

Level 3, or “DC Quick Charge” (DCQC)

3-phase, 480 Volt, 50 KW load.

This is for unique commercial-type installations. Most homes don’t have this type of electrical infrastructure readily available.

DC Quick Charge stations are found along the I-5 Electric Highway; in central downtown or commercial locations; traditional gas stations; or in strategic tourist centers. They can charge an EV to 80% capacity in as little as 20-minutes!

These EVSE do the AC-to-DC conversion before the electricity gets to the car, so it’s able to deliver a higher amount of energy at a faster rate, greatly reducing charge times. Slick!