Although these units are often referred to simply as "chargers," the official name is "electric vehicle powered equipment" or EVSE. (You can see why people call them "chargers.") That's because your car is actually equipped with battery charging hardware; these devices only provide current that the car's hardware can use to charge its battery. For the most part of this guide, for the sake of clarity, we use the term "charging station" or "EVSE" unless a different term is used in quotes or distinguished names.

So, if your EV is already equipped with a 120 volt power cord, what are the advantages of buying a portable 240 volt charging station? Here are some of the important ones:

Faster charging: The portable 240 volt charging station can charge the car in less than half the time of a standard 120 volt household power outlet. On a typical 15 amp, 120 volt circuit, the charger can provide you with a cruising range of about 4 or 5 miles per hour. At this rate, charging from an empty battery can take 16 to 20 hours or more - which is too long for many people who need to use their EV every day. In contrast, a 240 volt charging station can provide a charging range of about 8 to 30 miles per hour, depending on the car, the charger, and the capacitance of the lines they are connected to. This will reduce the total time to 8 to 10 hours or even less. Most electric cars today can handle between 6.6 kW and 7.4 kW, which is equivalent to charging every hour, giving or charging about 20 miles. The Chevrolet Bolt and all Tesla models are equipped with faster chargers that can add up to 30 miles per hour. Other new cars coming soon, such as next year's second-generation Nissan Leaf, are expected to be in the same range. (Some Tesla options can be equipped with a faster 20 kW charger that can be charged at twice the rate - if you can find a Tesla charger that can provide such a high power. And the company's DC supercharger will have to Much faster.)

Most Class 2 charging stations are available in 15 amps and 30 amp versions, and the high amp EVSE can be charged faster; your EV car charger determines the speed at which your car will eventually charge. The range of power ratings for car chargers ranges from 3.3 kW for the most basic electric and plug-in hybrids to 6.6, 6.7, 7.2 or even 7.4 kW for many of the most recent electric vehicles, remotely to remote chargers of 10 to 20 kW. Electric cars such as Tesla and Chevrolet Bolt. These ratings determine the maximum amperage (charging speed) that your car can use on a 240 volt charging station.