There are three levels of public charging stations for electric cars. As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, all vehicles can be connected to either a Level 1 or Level 2 charging station. These types of chargers have the same charging capacity as those you can install at home.
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As for Level 3 charging stations (also known as DCFCs or fast-charging stations), they offer much greater power than Level 1 and 2 stations, and can charge an EV much more quickly. However, some vehicles cannot be charged using Level 3 chargers. So it's very important to know the maximum capacity your electric vehicle's battery can accept.
Level
ChargeHub Markers
Power (kW)
Approximate Charging Time (Empty Battery)
1
1
200 km : +/- 20 hours
400 km : +/- 43 hours
2
Typically 7kW, but can vary between 3kW et 20kW
EraCharge Product Page
200 km: +/- 5 hours
400 km: +/- 11 hours
3 (DCFC)
Typically 50kW, 100kW 150kW, 180kW or 350kW, but can vary between 20kW and more than 350kW
80% +- 15 à 60 minutes according to the power of the charger and the battery capacity of the car
A Level 1 charging station plugs into a conventional 120-volt wall socket. This is the charger that usually comes with your EV. It's the slowest charger: you'll need around twenty hours to fully charge your electric vehicle, and several hours for a plug-in hybrid.
A Level 2 public charging station is the equivalent of a residential charging station installed at home. The majority of public charging stations are Level 2. Please note that RV plugs (14-50) are also considered level 2 chargers.
A fast-charging station, also known as a DCFC, DC Fast Chargers, or "level 3," is the fastest way to charge your electric vehicle. It's important to note that not every EV can charge with level 3 chargers.
First of all, we recommend that you avoid Level 1 charging stations, which are far too slow for your needs when on the go. On the other hand, if you want to charge as quickly as possible, we recommend Level 3 fast-charging stations. These charging stations will enable you to achieve a high level of autonomy in a very short time. That said, charging your electric car using a DCFC station is only effective if your EV's battery level is below 80%.
When the battery is charged to more than 80% of its capacity, the charging speed slows down significantly and approaches the charging speed of a Level 2 charging station. If your car's battery is already charged to 80% or more, it's best to connect your electric car to a Level 2 charging station to take advantage of lower charging costs, or to continue on to your destination. Finally, if time is not a constraint and you plan to stop for several hours, you can opt for Level 2 charging, which is slower but less expensive.
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