What kind of charging station do I need?

There are currently 3 types of EV charging stations. The type of EV charger you need depends on the type of vehicle you’re charging:

• Level 1—These are best for low-needs electric vehicles like golf carts. A level one charger can be plugged into any grounded 3-prong, 120-volt outlet, and it usually takes 20 or more hours to complete a full charge of the battery.
• Level 2—These are the ideal home electric car charging ports, and you need to have a dedicated 240-volt circuit installed in your garage, by your electrician, for safe and efficient charging. These electric car chargers should juice up your car’s battery in approximately 3 hours. Naturally, they’re more expensive than Level 1 chargers, but they make more sense if you are dedicated to using your electric vehicle on a regular basis.
• Level 3—These are for industrial and commercial locations and draw a lot of electricity, so they need special installation. Public car chargers are typically level 3 chargers. They can add about 160 miles to a vehicle’s battery in just 30 minutes. If you have a business that manages a fleet of electric vehicles, contact your Northern Virginia commercial electrician to have these installed safely and correctly.