UPDATED: June 18, 2020 There’s simply nothing like charging an electric car at home. Have you decided to make the switch to an electric car? Trading in your old car and going from the gas pump to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is a great way to travel.
Battery technology for electric vehicles is improving all the time. For many people who have chosen an electric vehicle over its gasoline counterpart, there’s no turning back.
Still, with electric vehicles, you will need to do a little planning ahead. You’ll need to be sure that you have access to an appropriate charging station — one that’s ready to use at all times.
In other words, your new electric car needs to be ready to go when you are!
Here are some helpful tips that should provide a good overview of the basics of home-charging your electric vehicle (EV).
Level 1 Charging
This basically just means you are going to plug your car into a regular household outlet at home. If you don’t want to invest in a charging station and decide to do this, you should note that you will not be able to charge your car quickly.
Every hour of charge will usually only add four miles of driving power to the car, so it could take hours to get it charged enough to drive anywhere of any significant distance.
If you keep the car plugged in overnight while you sleep, this could be a good option, if you don’t plan on driving more than 40 miles the next day. If you need 100 miles of range or more, then this option simply won’t cut it.
Level 2 Charging
A Level 2 charger is well worth the investment if you’re looking for a home charger that charges your car quickly and efficiently. They can charge at a variety of charging speeds — all the way up to about 70 miles range per hour of charging. You can even get wall mounting for your EV charger. Nifty!
Nissan is one company that recommends for electric car owners to use a Level 2 charging station.
Once again, contact Prairie Electric with any questions. Our team of expert electricians has lots of experience with the installation of these chargers. We’re happy to set one up for you.
DC Fast Charging
This is the fastest type of battery charger on the market right now. It can charge the vehicle up to 40 miles of range for every 10 minutes of charging.
These require more power than your household needs, so it’s not something that you would use at home. These are public charging stations that charge your electric ride and are very convenient for electric car owners to use while they run errands.
Grab a mocha, plug your car in for a quick charge, and be on your way!
Incentives
However, if you do decide to install a charger at home, research tax credits and rebates that may be available. There are sometimes federal, city, or state rebates for installation costs of this nature.
Charging an EV at home is certainly convenient. It’s a little like the difference between having to go to a laundromat and having washers and clothes dryers at home.
Prairie Electric
EV owners: Call Prairie Electric with your questions or to schedule your Level 2 charger today!
If you have questions about electric vehicle charging, the cost of charging, electricity rates, or electric services in general, please do get in touch. We can help point you in the right direction.
Prairie Electric provides the region’s best and most extensive suite of electrical services. We work on both residential and commercial projects. We’re also contracted often for transportation and utility work.
Finally, we feature an extraordinarily robust and active panel shop. The markets we serve include:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Agriculture
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- Chemical
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Get in touch with Prairie Electric today!
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