EV charge levels are often referred to as Level 1 (120V), Level 2 (240V), and Level 3 (modest 400V and DC) classifications, but within those categories there can be a wide range of charge rates. Level 2, for example, can range from the 6.0 kW ChargePoint connection you might find in a parking garage to a maximum level of 19.2 kW. If you have an EV, you want to charge as much as you can at home; more convenient and much cheaper that way. And we think the sweet spot is the ability to recharge your vehicle’s battery overnight roughly: call it in 10 to 12 hours or so.
For many EVs with mid-size battery packs, this is possible with major home charging options, as featured in this roundup. But for vehicles with larger packs, like the 131.0 kWh Ford F-150 Lightning, the 128.9 kWh Rivian R1S or R1T, or the 112.0 kWh Lucid Air, you’ll need more juice for anything close to an overnight charge. . . For example, the charging time for a Lightning using a 6.0 kW outlet is roughly 24 hours, and a Hummer EV with a giant 212.7 kWh package will take nearly 40 hours.
How Rates and Charging Time Are Calculated
A quick refresher: Levels are just the power output, or voltage times the current, for example, 240 volts and 40 amps equals 9600 watts, or 9.6 kilowatts output. And electrical circuits can run continuously at 80 percent of their capability, so a 50-amp, 240-volt circuit is needed to charge at 40 amps or 9.6 kW. To estimate the EV charge time, take the battery capacity, add 10 percent to the loss, and divide by the charge level.
The long charging times with some of these newer large battery EVs on the 6.0 kW ChargePoint unit we have in our office is causing us to look for a replacement for the two Tesla Wall Connectors we also have in our office both are wired to support charging 19 .2 kW on the Model S, an option Tesla discontinued long ago. While we have used a Tesla-to-J1772 adapter for charging non-Tesla EVs, the connector is only rated to charge half of the 19.2 kW maximum.
We landed on Porsche Wall Connector, which sells for $1586. Expensive, yes, but there aren’t many options for the fastest Level 2 charging. owned by Ford Pro Charging Station valid for $1310, Lucid’s Connected Home Charging Station for $1200—both support two-way charging. Clipper Creek is a rare third-party option, and costs $2195. And the Porsche unit is the only one with a display on it, the same 5.0-inch touchscreen interface found on Porsche’s optional portable charging kit, which was a $1,120 option when purchasing the Taycan.
We hoped to see our charging remotely through the My Porsche app, but found that you’ll need to charge the Porsche that’s in your account to do so. Instead, we view energy usage on the screen to track EV efficiency and can look back at previous charging activity if necessary. There’s also the possibility of connecting to the charging unit’s own hotspot to view activity, though we haven’t managed to get that working.
Try This at Home?
In order to charge at a maximum rate of 19.2 kW, three things must align: your home must have a dedicated 100 ampere circuit for EV charging, your charging equipment must be capable, and your vehicle must be able to accept it. . For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, our 2022 EV of the Year, has a 10.9 kW onboard charger. So, it cannot charge at a higher rate than a Level 2 outlet no matter what charging equipment is attached. In order to charge the Porsche Taycan at maximum rates, you will need to select the $1680 option for the 19.2 kW onboard charger when ordering, or there is a possibility to plug it back in later.
When all of these things are aligned, though, charge times are impressive: a Taycan with a big package can be charged from empty to full in less than five hours, a Lucid Air in about 6.5 hours, and an F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1S or R1T. in about 7.5 hours.
