EV Chargers; J1772, CHAdeMo and CCS - Oh My.

Home Charging

There are mainly two levels of chargers you typically see installed at home. Level 1 and level 2 chargers. 

Level 1 Charging at Home

Level 1 charging utilizes the charger that often comes with an electric vehicle at the time of purchase. These chargers are designed to plug into a standard 120-volt outlet, which, while being the slowest charging option, offers the convenience of little to no installation costs. They can fully charge an electric vehicle in about 20 hours, providing a range of up to 200 kilometers. While this may seem impractical for long distances, consider your driving habits. If your daily routine includes only local trips, like commuting to work or running errands within town, treating it like your cellphone—plugging it in each night—usually works well.

Level 2 Charging at Home

Level 2 charging at home offers a significant upgrade in efficiency over Level 1 chargers. While using the same J1772 connection plug, these chargers require a 240-volt outlet. This setup enables your electric vehicle to charge 3 to 7 times faster, depending on the specific model of the Level 2 charging station, as well as the capabilities of your electric vehicle and its battery capacity. This makes it a more practical choice for faster and more efficient charging at home.

Public Charging

Public Charging usually offers a wider variety of plug and fitment options but typically offers the fastest charging options. 

The Fastest Way to Charge an EV

Public charging for electric vehicles comes in three levels. As highlighted earlier in this guide, all vehicles can connect to either Level 1 or Level 2 charging stations, which offer the same charging capabilities as those available for home installation.

Level 3 charging stations, also known as DC Fast Chargers (DCFCs) or fast-charging stations, provide significantly more power than Level 1 and 2 stations, enabling much quicker charging times. However, not all vehicles are compatible with Level 3 chargers. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the maximum charging capacity that your electric vehicle’s battery can handle before using these powerful stations.

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J-1772

Level 1 and/or Level 2 Charging

  • - Standard Charger
  • - Either regular 120v house plug or 240v for faster Level 2 charging
  • - Slowest charging speed but level 1 doesn't require extra electrical installation

When you buy an electric or plug-in hybrid, it will usually come with a standard J1772 charging cord. This 120V cord can plug into any grounded house outlet. The J1772, which is used for both at-home and public charging, and NACS, which is an hybrid connector used for both fast charging and level 2 charging.

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CCS

Level 3 DC Fast Charging

  • - Level 3 Charging Speeds - Usually around 300kw. Charges a Fiat 500e from 5% to 80% in roughly 30 minutes
  • - Uses J1772 inlet with added Fast-Charge pins
  • - One of the easier connections to find at public stations

The CCS Type 1 connector, or Combo 1, is widely used in North America for electric vehicle charging. It supports both AC (Level 1 and 2) and DC fast charging (Level 3), making it a versatile option for EV owners. This plug is similar to the J1772 connector used in Level 2 stations but includes additional pins for fast charging. Vehicles with a CCS Type 1 port can use both standard Level 2 stations and CCS Type 1 fast chargers.

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CHADeMO

Level 3 DC Fast Charging

  • - An older level 3 connectivity port
  • - Most vehicles with this connection also have a level 1 J-1772 for home charging
  • - Not as common as CCS

The CHAdeMO connector, created by Japanese automakers for DC fast charging, has declined in popularity in North America, with some countries discontinuing its use. It's still found on older EVs and models like the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Typically, CHAdeMO ports are paired with a J1772 port for Level 2 charging, as they don’t support this on their own.