Difference Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 Charging
Charging your EV at home with a charging station or with a Portable EV Charger? Learn the difference!
Learn moreNew Zealand’s Leading Provider of Turn Key Electric Car Charging Solutions for all EVs
Before purchasing EV equipment it’s important to choose e-mobility products that suit your electric cars charging requirements. EVSE supplies the highest quality Electric Car Chargers that are universal to all electric car manufacturers in New Zealand, including Tesla. You can recharge your electric car’s battery quickly and efficiently thanks to our comprehensive product range that will help you find a suitable charging station or portable charger for your needs.
Our EV Solutions are Trusted by Some of the Region's Biggest Brands
Choosing the Right Electric Car Charging Station
Why L2 charger?
Charge your electric vehicle 3 to 10 times faster with a Level 2 charger – Get back on the road faster with EVSE.
Learn more
Different L2 Charging Options
Explore Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging station options & our range of commercial and fleet options.
Learn moreWhat Is Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)?
When buying an electric car it’s important to choose the right equipment to recharge and maintain your vehicle. EVSE has put together some important information to make your selection easier and to get you the right products. You can get lower-rated level 1 charging stations for a lower cost, but you may soon wish you could get a faster charger to maximise your vehicle’s potential and improve charging times. A level 2 charger rated at 30 Amps meets the daily needs of most customers. Unsure of what you need for your electric car? EVSE is available to answer any of your questions by email or phone or visit our products page to get an idea of what’s available. EVSE provides service equipment such as chargers and accessories for Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, MG ZS, and many of New Zealand’s leading brands in the Electric Vehicle market.
EVSE is the point of fuelling infrastructure that delivers a safe charge to a plug-in electric vehicle battery. It prevents injury to operators and protects the EV components from damage. The core element of EVSE systems is the charging station. Not all electric cars are built the same. EV charging speeds are determined by:
- The capacity of the onboard charger in the vehicle ie Nissan Leaf (6.6 kW), Tesla Model 3 (11kW)
- Amount of power the charging station can supply. As a general rule, we recommend you install a minimum of 7.4kW at home and a 22kW charger commercially to allow for any future upgrades to your vehicle. For instance, the Tesla Model 3 has a more advanced charging system and therefore may require more powerful equipment to charge in an acceptable time.
Electric Car Driving Range?
Currently, the Tesla Model Y has a range of over 500 Kilometres on a single charge, making it one of the best selling EV on the market. Electric cars are continually achieving improvements in range with research and developments. Currently in New Zealand, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Kia ev5 have one of the largest driving ranges, but industry standards like the Tesla Model Y, the MG4, and the Byd Atto are always catching up and pushing forward.
1. Tesla Model S ($120,000)
500km+
2. Tesla Model 3 ($60,000)
350km+
3. Nissan Leaf ($40,000)
170km+
4. BMW i3 ($63,990)
160km+
5. MG ZS EV ($43,000)
260km+
Choosing the Right EV Charging Equipment
Before purchasing EV equipment it’s important to choose e-mobility products that suit your charging requirements. So if you’re at home and have only one EV, then choosing an EV station with a tethered cord (cable attached) might be preferred. However, if you’re using your EV charger for a public application then you may want to consider having a universal socket system. EVSE supplies Electric Vehicle Chargers that are universal or tethered and can be used by all leading car manufacturers. Finally, having a portable charger that’s usable in standard New Zealand domestic sockets will always help to have a quick top-up in an emergency.
For public applications, a universal socket EV charger is preferred as it allows EV users to bring their own cable to help charge their car. This prevents wear and tear of the infrastructure and makes it available to all EVs on the road. Europe has seen a massive movement towards this form of public EV charging.
- EV universal sockets chargers can charge at 22KW an hour which is equivalent to 120km/Hour. This unit is preferred over slower chargers, which often only charge at 20km/Hour. These chargers can recharge a Tesla completely in about 4-8 hours.
- Compatible with
- Japanese & USA Type 1 (J1772) Connector EVs
- Tesla & European Type 2 (Mennekes) Connector EVs
How Fast do Electric Cars Charge in New Zealand?
Charging times vary by the type of Charging Station, home wiring standards across different parts of New Zealand, and the vehicle’s onboard charger. These charge times are approximate and reflect the voltage and amplitude indicated.
Charger Level
Electric Car Distance
(TESLA MODEL Y, BYD ATTO 3, MG 4)
Level 1 240V 1.4kW
7.5 KM-15 KM /hour
Level 2 240V 3.3kW-7.4kW
18-40 KM /hour
Level 2 Fast 415V 11kW-22kW
45-120 KM/hour
Level 3 DC Fast Charger
70 KM/ 10 minutes or 420 KM/hour
The Difference between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Charging Stations
LEVEL 1 CHARGER
This is best suited for smaller battery sizes such as those in PHEVs (Petrol-hybrid electric vehicles) or when a longer charging time is available. Level 1 charging at work can also be a supplement for people driving over 40 km per day, or even a substitute for those who can’t charge at home (because they don’t have a garage or fixed parking place, for example). EVSE recommends only choosing this charger if you drive under 4000 km a week. This is often the charger supplied by car manufacturers. EVSE also sells portable chargers to help meet your requirements. Click here for Level 1 Chargers.
LEVEL 2 CHARGER
The EV is connected utilising an upgraded socket and plug with more robust charging equipment that exceeds standard household energy requirements. This is the most common home and public charging level. Level 2 allows for a wide range of charging speeds, all the way up to 22 kilowatts (KW), or about 140km range per hour of charging. Level 2 charging is classified as charging between 240-415V with an Amp level of 16-32A. It’s important to use quality EV charging stations due to the heat produced, the load required, and New Zealand standards.
All manufacturers recommend that you install a level 2 charging station at home. Level 2 EVSE charging equipment costs more to upgrade than utilizing a standard portable EV charger that can use the New Zealand 10A sockets. However, the benefits include significantly faster EV charging times and improved safety due to dedicated and upgraded wiring. EVSE recommends this charger for home installations and for business charging. Click here for Level 2 Fast EV Chargers.
Level 3 Charger
DC Level 3 requires significant panel and service upgrades and consequently is the most expensive to deploy. Nowadays DC Chargers are popping up as infrastructure across cities much like petrol stations to provide convenience and efficiency for commuters.
Typically 70 km of range for every 10 minutes of charging. These stations require more power than your house, so it’s probably a little more than what you’ll need for your daily commute. EVSE recommends this charger for petrol station operators, motorways, street-side charging, fleet vehicles, and commercial users. Charge stations range in price from as much as $25,000 for a stand-alone (not networked with other stations) and go up to over $60,000 for a smart, networked charge station.
What Length of Charging Cable for an Electric Car
Choosing the right EV cable length is important. EVSE is New Zealand’s leading supplier of portable charging cables. We recommend cables ranging from 5 meters in length for convenience and mobility. Importantly, more and more EV charging stations are being fitted with universal socket systems in New Zealand which means having an EV Charging Cable is ideal for effective EV charging. Our range of EV charging cables can be supplied in 5m, 7m, and 10m lengths.
For all our charging cable products click here.
How much does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?
Powering your EV with solar power is already possible with the technology available to not only utilise the energy but to meter and time the user to maximise efficiency. Battery electricity can also be used to reduce the cost of EV charging. With the comparison based on New Zealand prices, EVs are about 4x cheaper to operate per kilometer!
EV batteries – are they Recyclable?
Modern electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries due to their higher energy density and low discharge rates. They also can be recharged for thousands of cycles, giving them a considerable lifespan. Lithium batteries are recognized as being non-hazardous to the environment, as they are also fully recyclable. Constantly updating technology also has batteries lasting longer. A good way to visualise this is by thinking of the evolution of batteries in cell phones to understand the full potential of this technology.
Are Electric Vehicles just switching from Oil to Coal?
Electric Cars can operate using electricity generated through renewable energy. New Zealand’s energy mix has improved with Solar and Wind Energy becoming more prevalent. With time and investment, this energy will hopefully power the majority of our energy needs.
New Zealand’s Energy Mix
Currently, New Zealand sources energy from both renewable and fossil fuels. According to the latest data, about 79% of New Zealand’s electricity generation comes from non-renewables (coal, gas), and the remaining 21% comes from renewables (solar, wind, hydro).
Up to 80% of the energy in the battery is transferred directly to power the car, compared with only 14-26% of the energy from gasoline-powered vehicles.
What’s different about an EV Charger?
An EV car requires more energy than your household appliances. An EV Cable (Type 2 pictured) typically contains:
PP: Proximity Pilot. This makes sure you’re plugged in all the way
PE: Protective Earth – Full current 6mm Round wire for increased safety
N: Neutral
L1, L2, L3: For 3 Phase AC power (Can be used with single phase with no issues!)
What is Range Anxiety?
Range anxiety is a term when used people are worried about the range their EV vehicle can travel in a day. That’s because charging stations outside their homes are not nearly as available as petrol stations, at far as they know. According to the Driver Travel New Zealand household survey, the average New Zealand citizen drives about 28 km daily. If you had a level 2 charger at home this would be recharged in around 1-2 hours at very little cost.
As EV Charging experts, we’ve found convenience is the most effective way of reducing EV charging anxiety. If we take Europe as an example – most EV drivers recharge their EV at home overnight. They then utilize a public charging station available at many workplaces and businesses. Considering you park your car at home or in the office, a constant supply of electricity should be available.
There are a number of Benefits to Electric Cars over Conventional Vehicles
- Improved air quality in our cities – This means a reduction in health costs caused by air pollution
- Cheaper to run – It’s more efficient to make power in large-scale power stations than gasoline-powered vehicles
- Electricity is readily available in every home
- The batteries are recyclable
- Reduced reliance on global oil and foreign supply chains
Fixed Price Home EV Charger Installation
What does this include?
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Customer is contacted within 24 hours of enquiry by EVSE to book installation.
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Install your EV Charger using our low fixed price installation package. Backed by our quality guarantee.
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Up to 15 metre run from the electricity meter & home EV charger.
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Industry leading 2-year replacement warranty.
Contact us for all Electric Vehicle Charging
Solutions and Accessories Across New Zealand & Australia.
EVSE believes in a green sustainable future by delivering the latest EV Charging technology at the lowest price. All our work is certified and guaranteed with the backing of global brands.
Our team of experts can provide specialist EVSE advice and are available to answer any of your questions over the phone
