Electric Vehicle Charging for Dummies

The document provides a primer on electricity units for EV users, arguing that understanding kilowatts (kW) and kilowatt-hours (kWh) is more accurate than using simplified metrics like 'miles of range per minute' because vehicle efficiency varies. It details the differences between Level 1, 2, and 3 charging speeds and illustrates how battery size and efficiency determine total range and charging time.

• The document distinguishes between kW and kWh: a kilowatt (kW) represents a "rate of energy flow," while a kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a "quantity of electricity" representing the amount of energy a battery pack can hold.
• EV charging stations are categorized into levels based on power delivery: Level 1 (standard US wall outlet) provides about 1 kW; Level 2 (home stations) typically range from 7 kW to 19 kW; Level 3 (DCFC) can deliver 50 kW or, in state-of-the-art versions, 150 kW or more.
• The actual power rate received during charging is not constant; it is highest when the battery has a low state of charge and slows down to a "trickle" as the battery becomes almost full.
• Using 'miles of range per minute' to describe charger power is considered "nonsensical" because the result depends on the specific vehicle's efficiency. For example, a Nissan LEAF with a 40 kWh battery can achieve more range per minute of charging than a Tesla Model X with a 100 kWh battery due to higher efficiency (5 miles per kWh versus 2.5 miles per kWh).

APA

RMI (2019). Electric Vehicle Charging for Dummies. https://rmi.org/resources/electric-vehicle-charging-for-dummies/

Chicago

RMI. Electric Vehicle Charging for Dummies. 2019. https://rmi.org/resources/electric-vehicle-charging-for-dummies/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Electric Vehicle Charging for Dummies |date=10 June 2019 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/electric-vehicle-charging-for-dummies/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2019electric, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Electric Vehicle Charging for Dummies}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2019}, month = jun, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/electric-vehicle-charging-for-dummies/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }