What Is a Public EV Charger?

A public EV charger is a charging point installed in publicly accessible locations such as parking lots, shopping centers, workplaces, rest areas, airports, and fuel stations. These chargers may offer Level 1, Level 2, or DC fast charging depending on site design.

Key Characteristics

• Open access: Available to any EV capable of using the connector provided.
• Multiple power levels: AC (3–22 kW) or DC fast charging (50–350 kW).
• Payment integration: RFID, apps, credit card terminals.
• Smart network features: Uptime monitoring, fault reporting, load balancing.

What Is an EV Charger? What Are the Benefits of Smart Charging?

An EV charger is equipment that safely transfers energy from the electrical grid to an electric vehicle. Smart charging enhances this by intelligently controlling when and how charging occurs.

Benefits of Smart Charging

• Off-peak charging: Automatically charge when electricity is cheaper.
• Load balancing: Prevents overloading home or commercial circuits.
• Data visibility: Track cost, energy used, charging history.
• Remote control: Start/stop using a smartphone app.
• Grid interaction: Supports demand response and V2G in advanced systems.

What Is a Level 2 EV Charging Station?

Level 2 charging uses 208–240V AC and delivers 3.3–19.2 kW depending on amperage. It is the most common home and workplace charging method, offering 4–9× the speed of Level 1.

Where Level 2 Is Used

• Homes with dedicated 240V circuits
• Workplaces
• Hotels & shopping centers
• Public AC destination chargers

What Is a Level 3 EV Charger? (DC Fast Charging)

Level 3 chargers are DC fast chargers delivering 50 kW to over 350 kW, enabling 10–80% charging in as little as 15–30 minutes depending on vehicle capability.

Unlike Level 1 and Level 2 (AC), Level 3 sends direct current (DC) directly into the vehicle’s battery, bypassing the slower onboard AC charger.

Connector Types (Region-Dependent)

• North America: CCS1, NACS (Tesla)
• Europe: CCS2
• Japan: CHAdeMO
• China: GB/T DC

What Is a Tethered EV Charger?

A tethered charger is a charging unit with a permanently attached cable (typically 16–25 ft). This is the opposite of a “socket-only” or “untethered” charger where the driver brings their own cable.

Advantages

• More convenient – no need to handle separate cables.
• Usually weather-sealed and more durable for outdoor use.
• Often supports higher amperage safely.

Disadvantages

• Less flexible when switching connector types (e.g., J1772 vs. Type 2 vs. NACS).
• Cable wear requires full charger replacement if damaged.

What Is the Standard for EV Chargers?

There is no universal global standard. EV charging standards vary by region due to electrical grid design, regulatory requirements, and automaker adoption. The major standards include:

• North America: J1772 (AC), CCS1 (DC), NACS (Tesla)
• Europe: Type 2 (AC), CCS2 (DC)
• China: GB/T AC & DC
• Japan: CHAdeMO (DC)
• India: Bharat AC–001 / DC–001, plus Type 2 & CCS2 for modern EVs

Different Types of EV Chargers and Their Charging Speeds

Level 1 – Slow AC Charging

• Voltage: 120V
• Power: 1.4–1.9 kW
• Adds: 3–5 miles/hour

Level 2 – Fast AC Charging

• Voltage: 208–240V
• Power: 3.3–19.2 kW
• Adds: 20–40 miles/hour

Level 3 – DC Fast Charging

• Voltage: 400–800V (up to 1000V+ in Hyperchargers)
• Power: 50–350 kW
• Adds: 150–1000 miles/hour (vehicle-dependent)

What EV Charger Types Are Used in India?

India uses a combination of national standards and globally recognized connectors:

AC Charging

• Bharat AC–001 (3 × 15 A outputs, 3.3 kW each)
• Type 2 AC for modern EVs (supports higher power)

DC Fast Charging

• Bharat DC–001 (15 kW DC)
• CCS2 – preferred for new EVs (Tata, Mahindra, Hyundai, MG, BYD)
• CHAdeMO – limited adoption