INTRO TO EV ECOSYSTEM
How EV Charging Works
EV charging is modelled on the process used to fill one’s car with gasoline/petrol. An electric cord and connector, not unlike a gasoline hose and nozzle, connects the BEV (battery electric vehicle) or PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) to a power source. Level 1 chargers use the standard US 120V home outlet to recharge a car in 17-25 hours for 160 km (100 mi) of driving. Level 2 chargers require a 240V outlet to recharge a car in 4-5 hours for 160 km (100 mi) of driving.
As EVs becomes mainstream, they are increasingly purchased by middle- and lower-class owners who live in apartments and MDUs that lack the space required for personal charging stations. As such, EV charging is shifting from home charging to commercial public charging on streets, in office parks, commercial areas and parking garages with Level 2 chargers and fast-charging Level 3 chargers that recharge a vehicle in as little as 20 minutes.