Refueling your vehicle is a major advantage of driving an electric vehicle. Rather than wasting time at a gas station, EV owners can refuel their vehicle in the convenience of their own home. On average Americans drive 30 miles each day. With that mileage, a standard 3-prong (level 1) outlet can charge your EV overnight. Drive more? Nearly all level 2 chargers can accommodate your refueling needs. See below to find out the differences in charging your vehicle.
Vehicle Charging Options
Level 1 Charging
- Home charging
- Requires a grounded (three-prong) standard residential 120V outlet
- Suitable for low and medium-range plug-in hybrids
- Suitable for all-electric battery electric vehicle drivers with low daily driving usage
- Adds ~5 miles per hour
Level 2 Charging
- Home and public charging
- Typically requires a charging unit on a 240V outlet, like one used to power an electric clothes dryer
- May require a service upgrade by a certified electrician
- The 240V outlet charges in about half the time it takes to charge at a 120V outlet
- Most common public chargers
- Public Level 2 chargers have a standard EV connection plug that fits all current vehicles, except for Teslas, which require an adapter and come with all Teslas
- Adds 20-60 miles per hour, depending on amps
Level 3 DC Fast Charging (DCFC)
- Fastest charge currently available
- Commercial use
- Adds 60-100 miles per 20 minutes, depending on amps
- Charging at a DCFC station is only effective if your battery state-of-charge (SOC) is below 80 percent. After that point, charging will slow down significantly
Do you want to charge away from home? Find out more about the growing number of public stations in your state.
About Us
Electrify Heartland web page is hosted by Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to create resource efficiency, environmental health, and economic vitality in the Kansas City region – and beyond. Learn more about us and our programs.