Electric Vehicle Chargers
Electric chargers for EVs and PHEVs can be confusing to those not familiar with the nomenclature. Bruce Saller clears everything up in this week's Environmental Cents.
by Bruce Saller
WRITER
Last week we looked at electric vehicles, PHEVs, and hybrids, examining how they work as well as the pros and cons of each. As important as EVs are to helping the environment, chargers are essential to powering them.
Here’s what you need to know to understand the types of chargers.
There are three types of Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers:
Level 1 (L1) - Plugs into a standard 120 Volt AC (VAC) outlet. Provides 1-1.5 Kilo-Watts (KW) of power (adds 3-5 miles of range/hour.)
Level 2 (L2) - Uses 240 VAC and provides 7-20 KW (25-50 miles/hour.)
Level 3 (L3) - also called Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC). Commercial chargers providing 50-350 KW (generally 150 KW, 350-600 miles/hour; 6-10 miles/minute). The rate of charge slows down significantly once the battery reaches between 80% - 90% of charge.
L1 and L2 chargers provide power to a charger in the EV which applies power to the battery. L3 chargers provide power directly to the battery. The actual power applied is the lower rating of the external and internal chargers.
L2 chargers are installed at homes and businesses. In our area they are at car dealers, hotels, campgrounds, Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg Parking Garage, Stafford Marketplace, Kohl’s Southpoint and most Giant Food stores. There are eight L3 charges in the Spotsylvania Mall, ten at Walmart-Garrisonville and one at the Fredericksburg Library (25 KW). The chargers at the Kohl’s, Giant, Stafford Marketplace, Fredericksburg Parking Garage and Library are free.
L1 and L2 chargers have a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1772 connector that plugs into the EV. L3 chargers have one of three plugs:
North American Charging Standard (NACS) – also called SAE J3400. Used by Tesla.
CHAdeMO – only used on Japanese cars. Being phased out.
SAE Combo Charging System (CCS) - used on all other EVs.
You can buy adapters that convert between NACS and CCS. Some US manufacturers are switching to the NACS plug.
There are several commercial charging networks around the US (Tesla, Electrify America, Blink, EVGo and ChargePoint). You need the network’s App to use their chargers. Most L2 chargers cost 15 to 20 cents/KWH; L3 chargers cost from 30 to 48 cents/KWH. The Apps show their charger locations, cost and if the charger is working, in use or available. The PlugShare website and App show all charger locations, cost, and operability. New EVs generally come with some amount of free charging.
Other than free locations, charging at home is the most economical. Most new EVs come with a single portable L1/L2 combo charger that can plug into either a wall outlet or an electric range outlet (L14-50R; provides 7 to 11 KW). Permanently installed L2 chargers provide 7 to 22 KW. There is a federal tax rebate of 30% of the charger cost (including installation) up to $1000.
Local Obituaries
To view local obituaries or to send a note to family and loved ones, please visit our website at the link that follows.
Weather and Traffic
Support Award-winning, Locally Focused Journalism
In less than a year, FXBG Advance has become the news leader in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford through its innovative mix of:
Twice-daily newsletter - At 6 AM and 5 PM every Monday through Friday, the Advance brings the most important news directly to your inbox.
Education Reporting - Adele Uphaus has won multiple awards for her coverage of education issues locally and across the state. Now, she brings her experience, insights, and expertise to the Advance, providing our citizens some of the finest education writing and reporting in the commonwealth.
Political Reporting - From council meetings to campaigns, and fundraising to finance, the Advance is returning the Fourth Estate to its rightful place as a government watch dog.
Breaking News - From court cases to high-profile government moves, the Advance is the first to inform residents.
Investigative Journalism - Last year, the Advance broke major stories around improperly filed election documents, misleading sample ballots, disenfranchising Spotsylvania Count School parents, and book bans.
Election Coverage - The Advance offered the most complete coverage of the 2023 election, with in-depth candidate profiles, daily tracking of events, leading debates, and pre-dawn to post-midnight Election Day coverage. And 2024 brings even greater coverage.
Spotlights - From local businesses to nonprofit organizations and regional leaders, the Advance brings the people who make things happen to your attention.
Multi-partisan Commentary - Martin Davis is a 20-plus-year journalist recognized for superior commentary and political writing; Shaun Kenney has his hands on the pulse of political leaders across the Commonwealth. Together, they bring an unparalleled level of analysis and insight into the issues that drive debate in our region.
Political Cartoons - Clay Jones is a nationally recognized talent who draws weekly for CNN. He has returned to Fredericksburg to level his critical eye and razor-sharp drawing at the topics which make us both laugh, and look closer at ourselves.
New Dominion Podcast - Each week, Martin Davis and Shaun Kenney interview guests from across the region and the state. Growing to over 1,000 listeners in just six months, NDP has become a leading force in political, cultural, and social discussion.
We thank each and every one of you who have made the Advance a part of your day, and we’re excited to say that more-exciting announcements are just around the corner as we continue to innovate and expand our coverage of the region.
The donations of individual readers have made this year possible. Please join the hundreds who are supporting excellence in journalism by subscribing for just $8 a month.
Where does your money go?
It goes to support the great journalists we have - like Adele Uphaus - and the ones we look to hire in the year ahead.
If you can spare $8 a month, we’ll be both grateful, and reward your trust in us with more journalism, more stories, and more connections to organizations and people who make our region a great place to live.
If you can’t, thank you for reading the FXBG Advance!, and consider sharing us with your friends.
In 2024, let’s build an even better Advance - together!
Thank you for reading and supporting FXBG Advance.
-Martin Davis, Editor-in-Chief