Charging Up
Charging your electric vehicle
All EV’s and Plug-in’s come with a built-in charging station as part of the car itself, and can charge on a standard 120-volt outlet. This type of charging station is typically referred to as a “level 1 station”. While built-in, the charging time to charge a fully depleted battery can quite long. Some customers want to charge their EV’s more quickly. To meet this need, an upgrade to a level 2 or level 3 charging station is needed. This upgrade, while allowing a customer to charge their vehicle more rapidly, typically requires additional equipment and in some instances, service upgrades for your home or business’ electrical system.
Upgrades to PPL Electric’s distribution system may also be required. Consult a licensed electrician for questions about your home or business’ electric needs, and contact us at 1-800-DIAL-PPL to see if there are any additional distribution system needs.
It’s also a good idea to check with your local municipality to see if there are any special requirements regarding the installation of inspection of level 2 and 3 charging stations.
Where can I find a charging station?
Most people recharge their electric vehicles overnight in their own garage, carport or driveway. There are some public chargers for electric cars in locations such as parking garages and shopping centers. View map to find information on public charging stations in your area.
What are the differences in charging time between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging stations?
| Charging Stations |
|
Voltage Requirement |
|
Estimated Charge Time |
| Level 1 plugs into standard 120v outlet |
|
110-120v (15-20 amp circuit) |
|
| Electric Vehicle |
8-25hrs |
| Hybrid Vehicle |
3-10hrs |
|
| Level 2 requires 240v outlet |
|
220-240v (40 amp circuit) |
|
| Electric Vehicle |
4-8hrs |
| Hybrid Vehicle |
1-3hrs |
|
| Level 3 (Fast Charge) requires special charging station professional installation |
|
480v (15-20 amp circuit) |
|
| Electric Vehicle |
10-40min |
| Hybrid Vehicle |
5-20min |
|
| Level 1 |
|
Plugs into standard 120v outlet |
| Voltage Requirement |
|
110-120v (15-20 amp circuit) |
| Estimated Charge Time |
|
| Electric Vehicle |
|
8-25hrs |
| Hybrid Vehicle |
|
3-10hrs |
|
| |
|
|
| Level 2 |
|
Requires 240v outlet |
| Voltage Requirement |
|
110-120v (15-20 amp circuit) |
| Estimated Charge Time |
|
| Electric Vehicle |
|
4-8hrs |
| Hybrid Vehicle |
|
1-3hrs |
|
| Level 3 |
|
(Fast Charge) Requires special charging station professional installation |
| Voltage Requirement |
|
480v (15-20 amp circuit) |
| Estimated Charge Time |
|
| Electric Vehicle |
|
10-40min |
| Hybrid Vehicle |
|
5-20min |
|
How much do Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations cost?
Just like EV’s themselves, Level 2 and 3 charging stations charge time capability and costs vary by manufacturer.
Typical Level 2 charging stations cost between $500 and $1,000, plus the cost for an electrician to install the system in your home or business.
Typical Level 3 charging stations cost between $5,000 and $10,000, plus the cost for an electrician to install the system in your home or business. Level 3 charging stations also have a greater demand on PPL Electric’s distribution system and may require local system upgrades as well.