Level 1 charging is cost-efficient – it uses a standard 110-V outlet, enabling EV drivers to use the charging cord set provided with most electric vehicles almost anywhere. This charging takes the longest and is used primarily as an additional, emergency or backup charging solution.

Level 1 charging can be a viable solution in multi-unit dwellings (MUDs), like apartment complexes or condominiums, and some workplaces. In MUD settings, most Level 1 charging is conducted from existing 110-V outlets in the parking lot or personal garages/carports of residents. When new charging installations are planned, a higher output 240-V circuit is often more cost-effective as it offers greater charging capacity for an equivalent installed price.

Level 1 charging power output varies slightly, but is typically between 12 amps and 16 amps of continuous power. At these levels of output, a Level 1 charger is estimated to deliver between 3.5 and 6.5 miles of range per hour of charging. These charging rates can be satisfactory for drivers who do not drive more than 30-40 miles daily and who can use the charger overnight.

Most electric vehicles come with a manufacturer branded Level 1 cord set in the trunk. There are only a few third-party manufacturers of Level 1 chargers and most are designed for residential use.

Level 2 chargers are typical solutions for residential and commercial/workplace settings. Most offer higher power output than Level 1 chargers and have additional functionality that is not available with Level 1 chargers. In general, Level 2 chargers are distinguished between non-networked chargers and networked chargers.

Non-networked Level 2 Chargers

Non-networked Level 2 chargers are used both in single-family residences and MUDs. They may be designed for indoor or outdoor use (e.g., NEMA 3R, NEMA 6P, NEMA 4x rated) and typically produce between 16 and 40 amps of power output, which can deliver between 14 and 35 miles of electric range per hour of charging. These serve a similar function as Level 1 chargers, however, if an electrical permit is going to be pulled to install a dedicated circuit for EV charging, it is most often a better value to have a 240-volt circuit installed for Level 2 charging.

Non-networked Level 2 chargers are useful for installations at MUDs or commercial sites that are powered by the residents’ or tenants’ subpanels. In this case, any electricity used by the chargers will be charged to the individual’s electricity bill, thus eliminating the need to separately meter the chargers. Further, when electrical capacity is available, non-networked Level 2 chargers are useful for site hosts that need higher power than Level 1 charging but do not have a large budget.

Level 2 chargers are available with a variety of power outputs from 16-40 amps, with non-networked chargers at a slightly lower cost than networked chargers. Therefore, if the resident/property owner doesn’t need networked chargers functionality (described in next section), non-networked chargers will suffice.

Networked Chargers

While networked chargers are sometimes used in single-family residences, they are more common in commercial/workplace settings where payments are required or at MUDs where the property’s electricity bill is shared by multiple residents. They may be designed for indoor or outdoor use (e.g., NEMA 3R, NEMA 6P, NEMA 4x rated). Networked Level 2 chargers, like non-networked chargers, typically produce between 16 and 40 amps of power output, which can deliver between 14 and 35 miles of electric range per hour of charging, and their power output is sometimes adjustable. Some of the enhanced features include remote access/control via Wi-Fi or cellular connection, access control/ability to accept multiple forms of payment, load balancing across multiple chargers and more.

Networked chargers are useful for sites that need to monitor electricity usage across multiple chargers, have multiple drivers sharing a single charger or require payment for use of chargers as well as for sites that have little electrical capacity and therefore need to balance their load. Some models of networked chargers also can limit charging to certain hours, which allows the operator to maximize a time-of-use (TOU) electricity rate structure and only allow charging when electricity is the cheapest (usually sometime between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.).

This type of control also increases the likelihood of participating in utility demand response programs. Therefore, while networked chargers are more expensive than non-networked chargers, they have much more functionality and can provide more options for a workplace, commercial site or MUD.

DC fast chargers are the highest-powered EV chargers on the market. They often are used as range extenders along major travel corridors for long-distance trips and in urban environments to support drivers without home charging or very high mileage drivers. Most DC fast chargers on the market charge at rates of 25-50 kW. At current charging speeds, they are ideal for places where a person would spend 30 minutes to an hour, such as restaurants, recreational areas and shopping centers.

Currently available DC fast chargers require inputs of 480+ volts and 100+ amps (50-60 kW) and can produce a full charge for an EV with a 100-mile range battery in slightly more than 30 minutes (178 miles of electric drive per hour of charging). However, new generations of DC fast chargers are gaining traction and can produce 150-350 kW of power.

It is important to note that not every EV model is capable of DC fast charging, and therefore, they cannot be utilized by every EV driver. In addition, installations require a commercial electrician from the initial planning phase due to the electrical load and wiring requirements. Further, DC fast chargers have multiple standards for connectors, whereas there is only one common standard for Level 1 and 2 charging (SAE J1772). DC fast chargers have three types of connectors: CHAdeMO, CCS or Tesla.

Every manufacturer of electric vehicles in North America (except Tesla) uses the SAE J1772 connector, also known as the J-plug, for level 1 charging (120 volt) and level 2 charging (240 volt). Tesla provides every car they sell with a Tesla charger adapter cable that enables their cars to use charging stations that have a J1772 connector. This means that any electric vehicle sold in North America will be able to use any charging station with the standard J1772 connector. This is important to know, because the J1772 connector is used by every non-Tesla level 1 or level 2 charging station sold in North America. All our products for example use the standard J1772 connector. On any Phihong charging stations, however, Tesla vehicles can charge by using the adapter cable that Tesla includes with the car. Tesla makes its own charging stations which use a proprietary Tesla connector, and other brands' EVs cannot use them unless they buy an adapter. This may sound a bit confusing, but one way to look at it is that any electric vehicle you buy today can use a charging station with a J1772 connector, and every level 1 or level 2 charging station available today uses the J1772 connector, except for those made by Tesla. Standards DC Fast Charge EV Plug in North America For DC fast charging, which is high-speed EV charging that is only available in public areas, it's a little more complicated, most often along major freeways where long distance travel is common. DC fast chargers are not available for home charging, as there are usually no electricity requirements in residential buildings. It is also not recommended to use DC fast charging stations more than once or twice a week, because if done too often, the high recharging rate can adversely affect the battery life of an electric car. DC fast chargers use 480 volts and can charge an electric vehicle faster than your standard charging unit, in as little as 20 minutes, thus allowing for convenient long-distance EV travel without worrying about running out of juice. Unfortunately, DC Fast Chargers use three different types of connectors instead of just two different connectors, as used in level 1 and level 2 charging (J1772 and Tesla).

CCS (Combined Charging System): The J1772 charging inlet is used by the CCS connector, and two pins are added below. The J1772 connector is "combined" with the high-speed charging pins, which is how it has got its name. CCS is the accepted standard in North America, and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) developed and endorsed it. Just about every automaker today has agreed to use the CCS standard in North America, including: General Motors (all divisions), Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Honda, Kia, Fiat, Hyundai, Volvo, smart, MINI, Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Rolls Royce and others. CHAdeMO: The Japanese utility TEPCO developed CHAdeMo. It is the official Japanese standard and virtually all Japanese DC fast chargers use a CHAdeMO connector. It's different in North America where Nissan and Mitsubishi are the only manufacturers that currently sell electric vehicles that use the CHAdeMO connector. The only electric vehicles that use the type of CHAdeMO EV charging connector are the Nissan LEAF and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Kia quit CHAdeMO in 2018 and now offers CCS. CHAdeMO connectors do not share part of the connector with the J1772 inlet, as opposed to the CCS system, so they require an additional ChadeMO inlet on the car This necessitates a larger charge port Tesla: Tesla uses the same Level 1, Level 2 and DC quick charging connectors. It's a proprietary Tesla connector that accepts all voltage, so as the other standards require, there's no need to have another connector specifically for DC fast charge. Only Tesla vehicles can use their DC fast chargers, called Superchargers. Tesla installed and maintains these stations, and they are for the exclusive use of Tesla customers. Even with an adapter cable, it would not be possible to charge a non-tesla EV at a Tesla Supercharger station. That’s because there is an authentication process that identifies the vehicle as a Tesla before it grants access to the power.

Once a kWh/100 miles rating is known, a shopper can quickly calculate the cost to operate the vehicle by multiplying this figure by the price of electricity per kWh.

For example, a 2021 Tesla Model 3 with a standard-range battery has a rating of 24 kWh/100 miles, while a Ford Mustang Mach-E with a standard-range battery has a rating of 34 kWh/100 miles.

If the national average price of residential electricity costs 13.29 cents per kWh*, then the cost of charging the Tesla would be 24 kWh times 13.29 cents, which equals $3.19. The Ford, at 34 kWh, costs $4.52. That means driving the Model 3 a distance of 100 miles costs $1.33 less than driving a Mustang Mach-E the same distance.

Furthermore, in this scenario, the annual cost of electricity to drive a Tesla Model 3 for 12,000 miles would be a thrifty $382.80 ($3.19 times 12,000 divided by 100). The Ford Mustang Mach-E would run you $542.40 for the year. That's an annual cost difference of $159.60.

However, keep in mind that the cost of electricity can vary significantly based on the time of day and where you are charging a vehicle.

The best way to understand how EV chargers perform in different weather and environmental conditions is to look at the operating temperature and NEMA and IP ratings for the product. The operating temperature for all products on all EV Charging products on this site is -30C to 50C.

NEMA Ratings for Enclosures The National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA) uses a standard rating system that defines the types of environments in which an electrical enclosure can be used and frequently signifies a fixed enclosure's ability to withstand certain environmental conditions

Most EV chargers on this website are either NEMA 3R or NEMA 4.

NEMA 3R enclosures are typically used for wiring and junction boxes in outdoor applications. This style of enclosure. provides protection against falling rain, sleet, snow, and external ice formation. Indoors they protect against dripping water. This style of enclosure does not have a gasketed sealing surface.

Type 4: Weather tight (weatherproof) enclosures. Constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water. Will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure

All EV Chargers on this website are rated at either IP55 or IP56.

IP55. Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction. IP56. Protected from limited dust ingress.

IP56. Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction.