Charging · 6 min read
Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast charging
What each one is, how fast it is, and which you actually need.
"Level" describes the kind of power feeding the car. Levels 1 and 2 are AC from the grid, converted by a charger built into the car. DC fast charging skips the onboard charger and feeds the battery directly, which is why it's so much faster.
| Power | Range added per hour | Where | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 120 V · ~1.4 kW | 3–5 mi | Any household outlet |
| Level 2 | 240 V · 3.8–19.2 kW | 12–45 mi | Home wall box, workplaces, hotels, shopping |
| DC fast | 50–350 kW | 150–1,000 mi | Highway sites: Supercharger, Electrify America, EVgo, IONNA |
Level 1: slower than you'd think, enough more often than you'd think
A regular outlet adds about 40 to 50 miles overnight. If you drive 30 miles a day and park for 10 hours, that covers it. It doesn't catch up after a long day or a cold week. The finder's "daily miles" box shows which models a wall outlet can keep up with.
Level 2: what most owners use
A 240 V circuit, like a dryer's, feeding a wall-mounted charger. A 40 A circuit gives 7.7 kW (32 A continuous); a 60 A circuit gives 11.5 kW (48 A). Either refills nearly any EV overnight. Check the car's onboard charger limit before paying for a bigger circuit; extra power beyond it goes unused.
DC fast: for road trips
Fast chargers turn a long stop into a coffee break, but they cost more per kWh and you rarely need them at home. What matters for road trips is the car's peak kW, how long it holds that peak, and whether the networks on your route accept its plug.
See which plug fits which station: connectors and adapters.