Developing Infrastructure to Charge Electric Vehicles
The SAE J1772 charge port (right) on a vehicle can be used to accept charge with Level 1 or 2 charging equipment. The DC fast charge port (left) uses a different type of connector. In this photo, it is a CHAdeMO.
Consumers and fleets considering electric vehicles (EVs)—which include all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)—need access to charging stations. For most drivers, this starts with charging at home or at fleet facilities. Charging stations at workplaces and public destinations may help bolster market acceptance by offering more flexible charging opportunities at commonly visited locations. Community leaders can find out more through PEV readiness planning, including case studies of ongoing successes. The EVI-Pro Lite tool is also available to estimate the quantity and type of charging infrastructure necessary to support regional adoption of EVs by state or city/urban area and to determine how EV charging will impact electricity demand.
Charging the growing number of EVs in use requires a robust network of stations for both consumers and fleets. The Alternative Fueling Station Locator allows users to search for public and private charging stations. Quarterly reports on electric vehicle charging station trends show the growth of public and private charging and assess the current state of charging infrastructure in the United States. Suggest new charging stations for inclusion in the Station Locator using the Submit New Station form. Suggest updates to existing charging stations by selecting “Report a change” on the station details page.
For information on currently available charging infrastructure models, see the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s GoElectricDrive website and Plug In America's Get Equipped publication, which include information on charging networks and service providers.
Charging Infrastructure Terminology
The charging infrastructure industry has aligned with a common standard called the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) protocol with this hierarchy for charging stations: location, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) port, and connector. The Alternative Fuels Data Center and the Station Locator use the following charging infrastructure definitions:
- Station Location: A station location is a site with one or more EVSE ports at the same address. Examples include a parking garage or a mall parking lot.
- EVSE Port: An EVSE port provides power to charge only one vehicle at a time even though it may have multiple connectors. The unit that houses EVSE ports is sometimes called a charging post, which can have one or more EVSE ports.
- Connector: A connector is what is plugged into a vehicle to charge it. Multiple connectors and connector types (such as CHAdeMO and CCS) can be available on one EVSE port, but only one vehicle will charge at a time. Connectors are sometimes called plugs.
Charging Equipment
Charging equipment for EVs is classified by the rate at which the batteries are charged. Charging times vary based on how depleted the battery is, how much energy it holds, the type of battery, and the type of charging equipment (e.g., charging level, charger power output, and electrical service specifications). The charging time can range from less than 20 minutes to 20 hours or more, depending on these factors. When choosing equipment for a specific application, many factors, such as networking, payment capabilities, and operation and maintenance, should be considered.
Level 1 Charging
Approximately 5 miles of range per
1 hour of charging*
J1772 connector
Alternating Current (AC) Level 1 equipment (often referred to simply as Level 1) provides charging through a 120 volt (V) AC plug. Most, if not all, EVs will come with a portable Level 1 cordset, so no additional charging equipment is required. On one end of the cord is a standard NEMA connector (for example, a NEMA 5-15, which is a common three-prong household plug), and on the other end is an SAE J1772 standard connector (often referred to simply as J1772, shown in the above image). The J1772 connector plugs into the car's J1772 charge port, and the NEMA connector plugs into a standard NEMA wall outlet. Note that Tesla vehicles have a unique connector. All Tesla vehicles come with a J1772 adapter, which allows them to use non-Tesla charging equipment.
Level 1 charging is typically used when there is only a 120 V outlet available, such as while charging at home, but can easily provide charging for most of a driver's needs. For example, 8 hours of charging at 120 V can replenish about 40 miles of electric range for a mid-size EV. As of 2021, less than 2% of public EVSE ports in the United States were Level 1.
* Assumes 1.9 kW charging power
Level 2 Charging
Approximately 25 miles of range per
1 hour of charging†
J1772 connector
Tesla connector
AC Level 2 equipment (often referred to simply as Level 2) offers charging through 240 V (typical in residential applications) or 208 V (typical in commercial applications) electrical service. Most homes have 240 V service available, and because Level 2 equipment can charge a typical EV battery overnight, EV owners commonly install it for home charging. Level 2 equipment is also commonly used for public and workplace charging. This charging option can operate at up to 80 amperes (Amp) and 19.2 kW. However, most residential Level 2 equipment operates at lower power. Many of these units operate at up to 30 Amps, delivering 7.2 kW of power. These units require a dedicated 40-Amp circuit to comply with the National Electric Code requirements in Article 625. As of 2021, over 80% of public EVSE ports in the United States were Level 2.
Level 2 charging equipment uses the same J1772 connector that Level 1 equipment uses. All commercially available EVs in the United States have the ability to charge using Level 1 and Level 2 charging equipment.
Tesla vehicles have a unique connector that works for all their charging options, including their Level 2 Destination Chargers and chargers for home. All Tesla vehicles come with a J1772 adapter, which allows them to use non-Tesla charging equipment.
† Assumes 6.6 kW charging power
DC Fast Charging
Approximately 100 to 200+ miles of range per
30 minutes of charging‡
CCS connector
CHAdeMO connector
Tesla connector
Direct-current (DC) fast charging equipment (typically a three-phase AC input) enables rapid charging along heavy traffic corridors at installed stations. As of 2021, over 15% of public EVSE ports in the United States were DC fast chargers. DC fast charging is projected to increase due to fleets adopting medium- and heavy-duty EVs (e.g., commercial trucks and vans and transit), as well as the installation of fast charging hubs for transportation network companies (e.g., Uber and Lyft) and other applications.
There are three types of DC fast charging systems, depending on the type of charge port on the vehicle: SAE Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO, and Tesla.
The CCS connector (also known as SAE J1772 combo) is unique because a driver can use the same charge port when charging with AC Level 1, Level 2, or DC fast charging equipment. The only difference is that the DC fast charging connector has two additional bottom pins. Most EV models entering the market today can charge using the CCS connector.
The CHAdeMO connector is another common DC fast connector type.
Tesla vehicles have a unique connector that works for all their charging levels including their fast charging option, called a Supercharger. Although Tesla vehicles do not have a CHAdeMO charge port and do not come with a CHAdeMO adapter, Tesla does sell an adapter.
‡ Charging power varies by vehicle and battery state of charge.
Charging Infrastructure Procurement and Installation
Increasing available public and private charging equipment requires infrastructure procurement. Learn about how to successfully plan for, procure, and install charging infrastructure.
Charging Infrastructure Operation and Maintenance
Once charging infrastructure has been procured and installed, it must be properly operated and maintained. Learn about charging infrastructure operation and maintenance considerations.
Additional Charging Options
Another standard (SAE J3068) was developed in 2018 for higher rates of AC charging using three-phase power, which is common at commercial and industrial locations in the United States. Some components of the standard were adapted from the European three-phase charging standards and specified for North American AC grid voltages and requirements. In the United States, the common three-phase voltages are typically 208/120 V, 480/277 V. The standard targets power levels between 6 kW and 130 kW.
Extreme fast chargers (XFC), such as the SAE DC Level 2 standard, are capable of power outputs of up 350 kW and higher and are rapidly being deployed in the United States for heavy-duty vehicle applications (e.g., for in-route charging of electric buses). While XFC are currently available from several charging manufacturers, the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office is pursuing research that will bridge the technology gaps associated with implementing XFC charging networks in the United States. A 2017 report highlights technology gaps at the battery, vehicle, and infrastructure levels. In particular, most EVs on the roads today are not capable of charging at rates higher than 50 kW. However, vehicle technology is advancing, and most new EV models will be able to charge at higher rates, enabling the use of XFC. You can find additional resources on XFC charging and advanced charging system research efforts on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory website.
Inductive Charging
Inductive charging equipment, which uses an electromagnetic field to transfer electricity to an EV without a cord, has been introduced commercially for installation as an aftermarket add-on. Some currently available wireless charging stations operate at power levels comparable to Level 2, though this technology is more common for transit or other fleet operations at higher power levels comparable to DC fast.