Understanding Types of EV Chargers: Comprehensive Guide 2025
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging isn’t complex if you know when to use which EV charger. Whether you own an electric-powered vehicle or will own one in the future, it’s essential to understand different types of EV chargers.
Mainly, EV chargers are classified into three categories: Level 1, Level 2, and DC chargers (Level 3). All three have different functionalities, usages, and benefits. DC charger is the fastest, while Level 1 is the slowest.
There are many differences between each of these categories. So, without any further delays, let’s skip to the next section and start understanding types of EV chargers in detail.
Types of EV Chargers
It can be quite confusing for people to understand about different types of chargers out there for EV charging. Being an EV owner you always come across a question that what type of charger is best for your car considering time and cost factors. … Let’s try to answer these questions by further analysing the topic..
1. Level 1 EV Charger (Slow chargers)
Level 1 chargers are the commonly found EV chargers in households. EV owners can recharge their EVs at the comfort of their homes without any time or place restrictions.
However, there are some considerations to consider…
These chargers are slower and require more time to charge your vehicle entirely. So, if your EV has zero battery, a longer time is needed to recharge the battery fully. E.g a car with 24KWh battery would need at least 8 – 9 hours to charge from 0% to 100%. Let’s explore more about Level 1 chargers:
Driving Range & Usage
An L1 charger typically adds up to 5 miles of driving range per hour of charging. As it’s pretty slow, these chargers are best suited for places where it’s feasible to keep the EV plugged in for a long time—overnight or so.
These chargers are helpful mainly for those who use their EVs daily to commute to short distances and charge them for longer hours at night.
Advantages
-> Easy to install- In the majority of situations, L1 chargers do not need any professional installation, so it saves cost
-> Lower cost- Level 1 chargers are affordable as they do not need any particular setup; just a regular (120 Volt) outlet is enough to charge your EV
Disadvantages
-> Slow charging- The primary downside of L1 chargers is their slow charging speed. It can take a whole day or a minimum of few hours to charge your vehicle, depending on its available battery percentage
-> These chargers are impractical to use for long trips
2. Level 2 EV Chargers (Fast Chargers)
Level 2 chargers are one step ahead of Level 1 chargers. These are These are primarily installed in public cba places like parks, shops, leisure spots, supermarkets, etc. Almost every EV and PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid EV) can be charged using L2 chargers. Let’s discuss more about Level 2 chargers:
Driving Range & Usage
A Level 2 charger typically provides a driving range from 10-20 miles per hour of charging. It’s significantly faster than Level 1 chargers.
Generally, Level 2 chargers are found in public places, but they can be installed in households as well. EV owners who need to charge their EVs quickly will prefer having L2 chargers installed at their homes and/or offices.
Advantages
-> Most of the public stations use Level 2 chargers to make it easier for EV owners to recharge their vehicles quickly
-> Faster than L1 chargers- Level 2 chargers are much faster than L1 chargers. It can charge your EV fully within 4-8 hours
Disadvantages
-> Unlike L1 chargers, L2 chargers will need a specialized setup that might not be feasible to install at home for all EV owners
-> Installing Level 2 chargers can be expensive as it requires a 240-volt outlet. So, its installation is costlier than L1 chargers.
3. Level 3 EV Chargers (Rapid Chargers)
Level 3 EV chargers are also called DC chargers, as they provide a Direct Current (DC) to charge your EV super fast. The DC charger converts incoming Alternating Current (AC) into DC at the charging station itself.
It can charge your electric car up to 80% within 20 minutes and can fully charge the EV in an hour or so. Let’s discuss more about Level 3 chargers:
Driving Range & Usage
DC chargers are the fastest among L1 and L2 chargers and provide a driving range of 75-1200 miles per hour of charging. These chargers can fully charge an EV battery in an hour, making them an ideal choice for drivers who need to have a quick recharge, especially while touring on long trips.
You will find DC chargers mostly on highways where people can quickly charge their EVs during long journeys. They are also found near shopping centers or in public places for quick charging of EVs.
Advantages
Rapid EV charging- DC chargers can charge an EV entirely in one hour. This is the main advantage of L3 chargers, especially when using EVs for long-distance traveling.
Mainly used for installation at public places- DC chargers are rapid chargers that are installed at public places and highways to charge EVs in minimum time quickly. These chargers are a boon for high-traffic areas where quick turnaround time is necessary
Disadvantages
Not a good option for home installation- DC chargers need a substantially robust infrastructure that isn’t feasible to install at most houses. It requires 480-1000 Volt outlets that most of the residential properties don’t provide
DC chargers are expensive to install, and it has high maintenance costs. So, it’s good to have them installed in public places only
Want to Install an EV Charging Station? Aevirt Can Help You!
Whether you already own an EV charging station or wish to install one, you can simply register with Aevirt. All you need to have is a free space to install the charging station and a 16 A socket.
You can join the Aevirt’s community by installing the Aevirt App (Play Store /App Store), and registering yourself as a Station Owner.
Add basic details regarding the space you own, such as a free garage, parking space, or apartment/complex. After this, Aevirt’s team will handle the installation or management process.
Why choose Aevirt to Install or Manage your EV Charging Station?
Aevirt will expertly manage pricing, track usage, and help you receive automated payments for your EV station. Here are other factors that make Aevirt an inevitable choice for station owners:
-> Easy and streamlined station management
-> Robust support and expertise in installation, regulatory compliance, and maintenance
-> Easy integration with current payment systems for quick charging
So, why wait, register with Aevirt now!
Future EV Charging Trends (Yet To Be Introduced in India)
Other than Levels 1,2, and 3, people of India can expect two types of EV chargers to be introduced in the Indian EV market anytime in the future. They are as follows:
Wireless EV Chargers
An IIT Kanpur startup, Simactricals, has developed a wireless charging system for EVs in India. Their first wireless charging prototype was created in 45 days and was used for charging Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) drones.
They have designed wireless chargers to cater to a wide range of EVs, such as two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and passenger vehicles.
Currently, wireless charging isn’t readily available across India. But we can expect it to grow at a tremendous rate, making EV charging super quick, easy, and hassle-free.
Tesla Superchargers
As the name suggests, these superchargers can add up to 200 miles of driving range in 15 minutes! Fantastic speed, right?
Tesla is trying its best to enter India’s EV market. Once they have a green signal to start trading with India, we will see their superchargers installed across the country, assisting Tesla owners to charge their EVs in no time.
Final Verdict
Understanding EV chargers isn’t rocket science, it’s as simple as explained in the above article. Once you are clear with your EV charging requirements, you can easily choose whether you want to install a charging station at your home or charge your EV at a faster public charging station.
You can also generate a side income if you have free space and want to install a charging station or already own one. Aevirt welcomes registration of all types of charging stations, including Level 2 and DC chargers. So, why wait? Join Aevirt’s Station Owner community and start generating a constant source of revenue.
