Also known as DC fast charging, Level 3 charging is the fastest way to charge an EV. It's able to deliver between 50 kW and 350 kW of power. A Level 3 DC fast charger can charge an electric car to 80 percent in between 15 and 60 minutes.
So, how fast is Level 3 charging really? And what affects the charging speed? Actually many factors can impact charging speed, but the major factors come down to the power output, the type of vehicle, and the battery's level of charge.
As you've noticed, DC charging stations are much bigger than AC chargers. That's because they need more space to house larger converters, which conduct the AC to DC process.
DC rapid chargers with higher output power will take less time to recharge an electric car. For example, the one-hour charge on a 50 kW charging station provides around 278 km of range. To achieve the same range, it only takes about 25 minutes with a 120kW DC rapid charger.
If the power output is a variable factor, then the vehicle itself is the decisive immutable factor. EV manufacturers make many choices regarding the size, weight, performance, and life of the batteries they use.
Certain EVs support more power than others. An electric car may support 50 kW, whereas a truck or bus may have a capacity of 300 kW. For example, if your electric car does not support fast charging over 50kW, then the charging speed will be the same for you to use a 50kW rapid charger or a 120kW DC charger.
Below is an accurate estimate of how long it takes to fast charge different types of vehicles based on average battery size and level of power output.
-- Marcus Groll，A Charging Station Owner in UKRAINE
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