It’s hard to travel these days without noticing electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers in public areas. They charge so quickly that many people wonder if they can install them at home.
Level 3, or direct current (DC), fast chargers are extremely high power. They are not something that you would see in a residential setting. They require 480-volts of power and are expensive to purchase and install. These are typically installed in commercial settings.
DC fast chargers work differently than Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations pass alternating current (AC) power through to the vehicle, and then the vehicle's onboard charging system converts that AC to DC to charge the battery pack. DC fast chargers completely bypass the onboard charger and send DC power directly to the battery pack, which is why they charge so much faster. Drivers can recharge from 20% to 80% in under 45 minutes, depending on the vehicle.
It is a much faster form of charging, and typically it's just used on the road during longer road trips to fill up quickly. DC fast chargers are currently being installed throughout the United States at a fast pace to ensure that people can travel without range anxiety. Use an app like PlugShare to find DC fast chargers when you need them.
