Understanding the Difference: Level 2 vs Level 3 EV Chargers

The adoption of electric vans, electric trucks, and electric cars by businesses across a variety of industries has been accelerating rapidly. This is driven by factors such as lower operational costs, government incentives, and environmental regulations. While utilizing these vehicles is great for your business, there is a lot to understand to get the most out of your vehicles. 

One of the most important pieces of information to understand for any electric vehicle (EV) is charging. There are numerous ways to charge vehicles and understanding them can help your business maximize its investment. 

In this blog post, we are going to cover the two most popular types of EV charging, Level 2 charging stations and Level 3, DC fast chargers. 

What are Level 2 EV Chargers?

A Level 2 EV charger is a 240-volt electric vehicle charging station. This type of charger is faster compared to a Level 1 charger because it uses more power. 

Level 2 chargers are the most common type of charger for public stations. These are typically found at locations you would spend a substantial amount of time in such as malls, restaurants, and grocery stores. While these chargers are faster than Level 1 chargers, they are often too slow to keep up with daily operations for businesses. 

Costs to consider when purchasing a Level 2 EV charging station include electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), installation, power upgrades, permitting, and maintenance. There are different costs depending on which level of charging station your business purchases. 

What are Level 3 EV Charging Stations?

Level 3 charging stations, also known as DC fast chargers (DCFC), are 480-volt chargers that deliver DC energy directly to the vehicle. DCFCs are the fastest charging stations available not only because of the power they use but also because of the type of current they deliver. 

Most EV chargers use AC power to charge vehicles. That AC energy is converted to DC within the vehicle which is why Level 1 and Level 2 chargers are slower than Level 3 (DCFC). 

DC fast charging stations are only found on commercial lots and are not never used for at-home charging, due to the high power requirements. Level 3 chargers are also the most expensive charging station to install. 

Costs to consider when purchasing a DC fast charger are EVSE, power upgrades, trenching/digging, construction, permitting, and maintenance. The costs to consider are similar to Level 2 stations, however, DCFC equipment and installation are much more expensive. 

Key Differences Between Level 2 and Level 3 Chargers

While charging speeds and power output are the biggest differences between Level 2 and DC fast charging stations, there are other factors such as charge ports that vary. Additionally, there are different methods of charging for each level.

Level 2 charging stations are used for public and home charging, while Level 3 charges are only for public charging stations or commercial use. Companies like SparkCharge are making DC fast charging (DCFC) more accessible by creating mobile EV charging services. Charging-as-a-service programs give businesses and consumers access to DCFC anytime, anywhere.

Mobile EV Charging: Future of EV Charging Infrastructure

SparkCharge mobile charging-as-a-service (CaaS) programs enable businesses to quickly and efficiently adopt electric vehicles. By utilizing our portable EV charging technology, vehicles become operational faster to increase your ROI.

CaaS programs also reduce the upfront costs associated with EV charging because there is no installation and no EVSE purchasing necessary.