EVs are now omnipresent, and you're probably wondering about picking one up for yourself. If you're in the market for a new EV, you need to know all about EV charging.

This article will explain the differences between the major charging methods available to get your EV's range topped up again, as well as the pros and cons of using each of the charging methods.

Level 1 Charging

Level 1 charging sounds more complicated than it really is. When you purchase your EV, it will include a charging adapter straight from the manufacturer. This adapter plugs into any conventional 120V outlet in your home. This means that contrary to popular belief, you can charge your car from day one without the need for any prior modifications to your electric system.

The only major drawback to Level 1 charging is the speed—or lack thereof. Level 1 charging will help you recover around five miles of range per hour of charging. This will help you gain about 50 miles of driving range by the time you wake up the next day. 50 miles of range is more than adequate for the average commuter. The great thing about Level 1 charging is that it'll charge your vehicle slowly, and you won't have to worry about battery degradation resulting from constant high states of charge.

Level 2 Charging

If you want to get your home EV ready with an L2 charger, you'll have to hire a professional for the installation process. This charging method is usually best for people that have very long commutes; thus, charging the vehicle to an almost full state of charge is a priority. Level 2 charging will allow the vehicle to recover close to 100% of its full range, which is great if you travel more than 50 miles with your EV on a daily basis.

As previously mentioned, in order to use a Level 2 charger for your EV, you must consult a professional electrician to aid in the installation process. Once the electrician installs the L2 charger and the necessary 240V outlet, you're ready to charge your vehicle using an L2 charger.

Using an L2 charger every single day might degrade the battery because it's reaching an almost full state of charge every time it charges. Regardless, your EV is a transportation tool at the end of the day, so don't be afraid to charge the battery as your needs dictate.

Level 3 Charging

Level 3 charging, also known as DC fast charging, is the fastest method to charge your vehicle. As an example of how fast you can replenish your battery using L3 charging, take the Hyundai IONIQ 5. An L3 charger will recharge the IONIQ 5 battery from 10% to 80% in approximately 18 minutes. This is truly amazing and is perfect for long road trips where you need to hit the road as quickly as possible.

Ultra-fast charging like this is only available using public chargers, so you won't be able to install one of these in your home. And, to be perfectly honest, it's rather pointless to install one of these chargers in your home. You'd be better off using a public one and then heading home.

The potential downside to using a DC fast charger might be battery degradation over time, but people use these so rarely that it shouldn't be an issue. So if the need arises to use a DC fast charger go ahead and charge away without hesitation. DC fast chargers are becoming more and more commonplace, and with companies like Electrify America and Tesla investing in robust nationwide charging networks, they'll continue to proliferate.

And if you want to charge your EV free of charge, many publicly available fast chargers are actually free. In fact, some EV manufacturers will even offer 2 years of fast charging free of charge. One of these manufacturers is Audi, which allows free charging on the VW-owned Electrify America grid if you purchase a qualifying model.

L1 vs. L2 vs. L3 EV Charging: Which Is Best?

There isn't a clear-cut answer to this question because the honest truth is that all of these chargers are simply tools. The right tool for one person might not be so adequate for another user. It all depends on the use case of each individual EV owner. If you're a person that enjoys a short commute and rarely exceeds 50 miles of traveling distance on any given day, you'll be perfectly fine using a standard L1 charger.

On the other hand, if you're a heavy user that travels more than 50 miles on any given day, you'll likely need to consult with an electrician in order to have an L2 charger professionally installed in your home. If you're planning on buying an EV and you know that an L1 charger will not suffice, then the most convenient thing would be to purchase the L2 charger and have it installed prior to actually going out and purchasing a new EV.

At the end of the charging spectrum, we have L3 charging, and in this case, you really don't have to worry about any home installations. As previously mentioned, you can't install an L3 charger in your home, so these chargers are simply publicly available options that will aid you once you're on the road. If you're planning a long road trip, you'll quickly become familiarized with L3 chargers and how to go about using them.

An EV Charger For Every Occasion

The availability of different charging speeds means more choices for EV owners, and that's always a good thing. As more and more EVs are sold, charging stations will continue to replace traditional gas stations as the primary method of powering your vehicle.

The greatest difference is that an EV affords you the luxury of never having to stop for power again. You can theoretically recharge your vehicle at home every day for the duration of ownership. This is especially true if you install an L2 charger at home.