EV Charging Levels: Which One’s Right for You?

Let’s say you’ve finally taken the plunge and gone electric. You’re excited about all the new possibilities that owning an electric SUV can bring you. Now it’s time to pull up to a charging station, plug in and you’ll be at 100% battery life in no time… right?

Well, that’s just one part of the story. EV charging levels—Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 DC Fast Charging—determine how fast a vehicle’s battery recharges. And unfortunately, not every EV can use each charger equally—some take a few minutes to recharge your battery, while others can take a few hours or even over a day. Understanding each charging level will help you choose the right option.

When it comes to charging an EV, you’ve got three levels to choose from. Here are EV charging levels explained:

The slowest but most convenient.

The most common, and the type that can be installed in your home.

The fastest, found at public charging stations.

Depending on the model of Jeep_® Brand vehicle you buy or lease, a Level 1 charging cable might come standard. But with some vehicles, it’s necessary to purchase one. Contact your dealer about Level 1 cable availability.

The Level 1 charging cord can be plugged into any power outlet, whether that’s in your home, your garage or one publicly available to you. It’s that easy.

When comparing Level 1 vs Level 2 charging, you don’t have to pay any installation fees or go to a public charging station if you're using a Level 1 charging cable, and you don’t have to pay at a public charging station.

Level 2 charging drastically increases your charging speed. For example, with a Level 1 charger, the All-New All-Electric Jeep_® Recon takes approximately 52 hours to charge from 5-80%. With a Level 2 charger, it takes approximately 6.8 hours to charge from 5-80%.

If you have a Level 2 charger installed in your home, you’ll be fully charged by morning.

Since Level 2 charging is faster, it’s a great way to help your battery get recharged every day, and keep your daily routine. And since they’re common, you shouldn’t have to worry about compatibility.

Level 3 charging is incredibly fast, giving you more time to go about your day. For example, a Level 3 DC fast charger can recharge the battery of the all-electric Jeep_® Wagoneer S from 20-80% in 23 minutes, and the Jeep_® Recon can charge from 5-80% in approximately 28 minutes.

Because they’re found at public charging stations, Level 3 chargers are especially helpful for drivers who need to get back on the road quickly, or can't charge at home otherwise.

If you’re going on long drives or road trips, a Level 3 charger provides ample power quickly.

Since electric vehicles are new and changing how we drive, some rumors have started about EV charging that aren’t exactly accurate or fair. Let’s go through a few of them and separate the true from the false.

Totally untrue. It’s perfectly safe to charge an EV in rain, snow or any reasonable weather conditions (it’s obviously unsafe to do anything during, say, a hurricane). Sure, water conducts electricity, but modern electric vehicles are designed specifically to avoid giving the driver an electric shock.

Nah. Statistically, electric vehicles are actually far less likely to catch fire than gas vehicles, and charging has little to no effect on whether or not they would in any scenario.

That’s misleading. Sure, Level 3 DC fast charging is the speediest and most convenient way to completely recharge your battery. But electricity in an EV is just like gas in an ICE vehicle—you don’t need a full tank just to get going. Charge as much as you need wherever you can, and you can drive as far as it takes you. Just keep an eye on your battery life as you drive—same as you’d do with you gas tank.

So, now you know the levels, you know which one is right for you—you’re good, right? Not so fast, friend. There are a handful of other things to keep in mind if you’re going to be buying or leasing a Jeep_® Brand EV.

Depending on the type of charger you’re using, charging your EV can take a decent amount of time, and you don’t want to get caught running late because you didn’t plan your charge right. Look at your day-to-day schedule and decide when you’d be able to charge your vehicle, and where.

If you want to install a Level 2 home charging station like the one offered by our partners at Free2move Charge, you can get a quote about the installation fee before you say yes. Meanwhile, public charging isn’t free, and may cost as much as home installation. Is it worth it to spend the money installing a charging station in your home or garage?

Let’s say you don’t want to install a home charging station—where’s your nearest public charging station? How long does it take to get there, and how much does it cost to charge there? These are the important questions you need answers to if you’re getting ready to buy or lease an electric vehicle.

If you have an all-electric vehicle, getting a Level 2 charging station installed in your home will help get rid of worries about keeping your vehicle charged.