Key Takeaways:

  • The EV market is continuously growing, demanding the need for reliable EV charging and an understanding of how it works.
  • EV charging is available in two power forms, AC charging and DC charging, and comes in three different levels.
  • AC and DC charging each have their own respective applications, depending on charging speed and infrastructure.

Understanding the essentials of EV charging:

With the ever-growing and evolving electric vehicle (EV) industry, both for personal and commercial use, charging infrastructure is needed, and the same goes for understanding how EV chargers operate. Dive into the different charging types, charging levels, and their respective applications in this simple guide.

 

EV chargers rely on two types of currents and three charging levels to suit specific needs:

Direct current (DC) charging:

Velion® 50kW Mobile DC Fast Charger with Roll Cage, Wheels, and 25 ft. Cable One-Pak® (K6022-2)

  • The electrical current feeds directly to the vehicle’s battery for faster charging.
  • Commonly called “DC fast charging,” this type of charging is used in roadside assistance or other situations where time is valuable.
  • DC fast charging comes in a stationary or mobile form, such as Lincoln Electric’s Velion® 50kW Mobile DC Fast Charger, available through Vanair®. These mobile chargers are reliable in emergency or rescue situations, or even to have as a backup charging system on remote jobsites.

 

Alternating current (AC) charging:

  • This is a more common form of charging for EVs and is the standard electrical connection for homes and businesses.
  • It is typical in everyday use in homes or at work, where an EV is parked for long periods of time.
  • EVs store DC power inside their batteries. For an AC charger to work, the EV contains an alternator to convert the power from AC to DC.
  • Like DC fast chargers, AC chargers can be stationary or mobile. Vanair® offers portable, compact EPEQ® EV Chargers that deliver 120V (Level 1) or 240V (Level 2) AC power that are easy to transport for home, work, or other uses.

EPEQ® EV Charger - Level 2

 

Charging levels:

  • Level 1: AC charging at 120V, common for at-home charging.
  • Level 2: AC charging at 240V, works for homes and workplaces, and is faster than Level 1 charging.
  • Level 3: DC charging of as little as 200V, best for fast charging in commercial use or emergency charging.