The short answer#
EV charging is usually described in levels, and the levels describe speed: Level 1 is a trickle, Level 2 is everyday charging, and Level 3 is fast charging for trips.
The terminology can confuse because the "charger" you buy for home is not really the charger. The actual charger is inside the car. The wall unit is EVSE — electric vehicle supply equipment — a safety and control device that delivers AC power to the car's onboard charger. This guide unpacks the levels and the connectors so the labels make sense.
The three levels#
| Level | Supply | Typical power | Range added per hour | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Standard 10 A socket | About 2.3 kW | Roughly 10–15 km | Emergency or occasional |
| Level 2 | Dedicated AC circuit | 7–22 kW | Roughly 40–100 km | Home and destinations |
| Level 3 | DC fast charger | 50–350 kW | Hundreds of km | Highway stations |
Level 1#
Level 1 is a portable charger plugged into a normal socket. It is slow and relies on a socket and circuit that can handle hours of continuous load. It is a backup, not a daily solution.
Level 2#
Level 2 is what most homes install — a dedicated AC unit, usually 7 kW on single-phase power. It charges overnight and covers most daily driving. The actual speed depends on the car's onboard charger and the supply.
Level 3#
Level 3 is DC fast charging. It bypasses the car's onboard charger and feeds the battery directly at high power, which is why it can add hundreds of kilometres in under an hour. It is the equipment on highways, not something you install at home.
AC vs DC: the distinction that matters#
- AC charging is what happens at home and at most destination chargers. The car's onboard charger converts AC to DC for the battery. Speed is limited by that onboard charger.
- DC charging is fast charging. The station does the conversion and feeds DC straight to the battery, at far higher power.
A home "charger" is AC equipment. When you see a 350 kW DC figure on a highway station, that is a completely different machine from the 7 kW unit on your garage wall.
Connector types in Australia#
The connector is the plug on the cable. In Australia, two matter most:
- Type 2 — the standard AC connector. Almost all modern EVs and home chargers use it.
- CCS2 — the common DC fast-charge connector, which adds two DC pins to the Type 2 plug.
Some vehicles or older imports use different connectors. Always check the exact model and year, because the connector determines which chargers you can use and which cable you need.
Why your car sets the speed#
Charging speed is decided by the weakest link in the chain:
- the supply and circuit
- the EVSE and cable rating
- the car's onboard charger
A 22 kW Level 2 charger means nothing if the car's onboard charger accepts only 7 kW. Before paying for a higher-power charger, check the car's maximum AC rate. Our home charging guide explains the relationship, and single-phase vs three-phase covers the supply side.
What this means for a home install#
For most homes, the practical setup is:
- a Level 2 charger at 7 kW on single-phase power
- a Type 2 connector, tethered or untethered
- a dedicated circuit installed by a licensed electrician
Level 1 stays in the boot as a backup. Level 3 is for the road. Getting the levels and connectors straight makes the shopping decision much simpler.
Bottom line#
Level 1 is a trickle, Level 2 is everyday home charging, and Level 3 is DC fast charging for trips. The home charger is AC EVSE, the car's onboard charger sets the AC limit, and in Australia the Type 2 and CCS2 connectors dominate. Check your exact model, then match the charger to the car and the supply.
For the full home setup, start with the home charging guide.
Straight answers
Questions people ask about this
What is the difference between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 charging?
Level 1 is slow charging from a normal socket, adding a small amount of range per hour. Level 2 is faster AC charging from a dedicated home or destination unit, adding tens of kilometres per hour. Level 3 is DC fast charging, adding hundreds of kilometres in under an hour, used mostly on road trips.
What connector do Australian EVs use?
Most Australian EVs charge on AC through a Type 2 connector, and on DC fast chargers through the CCS2 connector. Some older models or markets differ, so check the exact make, model and year rather than assuming a single standard.
Is a home charger AC or DC?
Home chargers are AC. They supply alternating current to the car's onboard charger, which converts it to DC for the battery. DC fast charging bypasses the onboard charger and is the equipment you find at highway charging stations, not at home.
Why does my car charge slower than the charger's rating?
Because the car's onboard charger sets the AC limit. A 22 kW charger cannot charge a car whose onboard charger accepts only 7 kW. The supply, the cable and the EVSE all have to support the rate, and the car is usually the deciding factor.
Sources and further reading
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