Tuesday, March 19, 2024

How To Charge Electric Car

Don't Miss

Why Cant I Have Dc Charging At Home

How to charge an electric car – DrivingElectric

If you can charge your EV much faster on a public charge point because the charge point converts the AC electricity to DC before it reaches the vehicle, why cant you have DC charging at home and so enjoy higher charging speeds?

There are a number of reasons for this:

1. You have limited power at home.;You are limited by the amount of power in your home. Typically a home in the UK has between 60 and 100 amp fuse on a single-phase supply. If you have a 60 amp fuse, which many older properties have, this can be upgraded to a 100 amp fuse by UK power networks free of charge. You also cant use more than 50% of your power for charging at home because you have other appliances which are also using the power supply, so you could not charge your car at 100kW with your home power supply.

2. DC charge points are very expensive.;A charge point otherwise called an inverter is very expensive for DC charging. A 20kW DC charger starts from around £8000, making this out of the price range for most people seeking a home charge point.

3. You need a three-phase power supply to charge above 7kW.;Most UK residential properties use a single-phase power supply, which means most home charge points charge at either 3.7kW or 7kW. For the difference between single-phase and three-phase AC charging, see the explanation below.

How Does The Recharge Cost Compare To A Fuel Fill

According to AAA, the average price of gas hovers at $3.18 per gallon as of this writing. So, filling up a 12-gallon gas tank currently costs about $38.16. Things get a little tricky at this point because, as we all know, cars and trucks use vastly different amounts of fuel.

Lets say youre driving an economy car that brings a combined average of 30 miles per gallon during a mix of city and highway driving. Using that same 12-gallon tank as a reference point, youll have 360 miles of driving range for each fill-up. If youre driving the same 1,000 miles per month, youll need to refuel at least three times each month and spend about $114.48 .

Again, this is only an estimate, since fuel prices and mileage are so variable. But considering few cars and SUVs come anywhere close to delivering a 30 mpg combined average, our fairly conservative number-crunching in this scenario makes it clear that recharging will cost less than keeping a car refueled. The financial gap narrows with a more fuel-efficient car, but it still remains.

Travel Distance Per Charge

New fully electric cars can typically travel at least 200 kilometres on a single charge. Some plug-in hybrid electric cars can travel 40-80 kilometres on electric, with an additional 500-900 kilometres of gas range. The distance an EV can travel depends on:

  • the vehicle technology
  • battery size
  • accessories in use
  • an individual’s driving style

EVs do not run out of charge unexpectedly. As with gasoline-powered vehicles, the dashboard display will indicate your level of charge so you can plan your trips accordingly.

Recommended Reading: Florida Dmv Duplicate Title

Electric Car Public Charging Stations

Public charging allows EV drivers to charge their electric cars on the road when they need to travel longer distances than allowed by their EVâs autonomy. These public chargers are often located near restaurants, shopping centers, parking spots, and such public spaces.

To locate them easily, we suggest you use ChargeHubâs charging stations map that is available on iOS, Android, and web browsers. The map lets you easily find every public charger in North America. You can also see most chargersâ status in real time, make itineraries, and more. Weâll be using our map in this guide to explain how the public charging works.

There are three main things to know about public charging: the 3 different levels of charging, the difference between connectors and the charging networks.

California Gov Newsom Calls Transition To Electric Cars An ‘economic Imperative’

GE Uses AI to Charge Electric Cars Without Running Up the ...

Clemens Mendell is a realtor and puts a lot of miles on his Tesla Model X. But no matter how much he drives in a day, his car is ready for him the next morning.

He plugs into the level 2 charger in his garage when he gets home, and the car waits to charge until his electricity rates drop to their lowest levels overnight. The vehicle only spends about three hours actually charging.

He usually sets it to stop charging at 70%, which is better for the battery and provides more than enough range for his daily use.

“Every day I’m leaving the house with a full tank of gas, so to speak,” he says. “I certainly don’t miss the dirty handles at the gas station and the smell and all of that.”

You May Like: Is Car Warranty Worth It

Farmers Are Warming Up To The Fight Against Climate Change

But generally speaking, a fast charger can fill most batteries to 80% in less than an hour, and sometimes in less than half an hour. It’s harder on a battery and more expensive than charging more slowly, so most drivers typically only use them when they’re on lengthy trips.

Joyce Breiner recently visited a Tesla Supercharger at a Sheetz in Gettysburg, Pa., to add more juice to her Tesla Model 3. Tesla has been upgrading its proprietary charging network, and this brand new supercharger was able to add around 160 miles of range in 25 minutes, for about $11.

“I’m going to probably go into the Sheetz … and get a drink and maybe a snack,” Breiner said.

That kind of charge speed is exceptionally fast for most vehicles on the road right now.

How Do I Plug In

The easiest option to plug in an EV is to recharge at home, if you have the ability to park near an electric outlet or can place a new outlet near your parking spot.

All home charging options use a standard EV plug to connect to the car. The other end of the charging cord can either be hardwired or plugged into an existing outlet.

Home charging can use either a 120 volt outlet or 240 volt circuit . Since almost all EVs include a 120 volt charging cord and 120 volt outlets are common, this is likely the cheapest and easiest option.

Using a 240 volt outlet or circuit requires the purchase of a home charging unit and possibly the need for modifications to the home electric system. However, using a charger powered by a 240 volt circuit has the advantage of charging much faster, from 2 to 8-fold faster depending on the amperage and vehicle.

Read Also: What Kind Of Car Did Columbo Drive

The Costs Of A Solar System: $7000 And Up

Unless you’ll be charging electric cars for many years to come, it can be difficult to make an economic case for installing a solar system just to serve your EV.

In the Los Angeles area, a 1-kilowatt solar system produces an average of 4 kWh of power per day. A Chevrolet Bolt, which is EPA-rated at 29 kWh/100 miles and is one of the more efficient EVs available, would need at least a 3.6-kW system to get 50 miles of range per daily charge. Such a system costs about $7,000 and doesn’t include the cost of a storage battery to hold power for overnight charging. That feature could double the cost. Put another way, a $7,000 system would purchase over 134,000 miles’ worth of power for a Bolt, assuming a rate of 18 cents per kWh.

Solar starts to make more sense if you install a system capable of providing electricity for the household as well as the EV. Upfront costs of owning a solar system outright can be steep. But on average, a properly sized whole-house solar system will pay for itself over about seven years and will last for at least 25 years. Costs are largely dependent on the size of the system, regional labor rates, the quality of the solar panels and power inverter used, and the complexity of the installation.

The national average installed cost of a 6-kW system is $12,920, or $2.15 per watt, after applying the 30% federal tax credit, according toEnergySage, a Boston-based service that links homeowners with solar system providers across the country.

What Youll Pay To Charge An Electric Car

How to charge an electric car at home – simple tutorial

In the United States today, electric car owners do 80% of their charging at home, adding to their electricity costs.

To estimate what your costs will be, look at your current electric bill. It should show how many kilowatt-hours you currently use and how much you pay per kWh. A kWh is equivalent to the amount of energy it takes to run a 1,000-watt appliance for 60 minutes.;

The national average price of electricity is 13 cents per kWh, and most electric vehicles can travel four miles per kWh.

So if you typically drive your car 1,000 miles a month, then youll need at least 250 kWh to charge it properly. At 13 cents per kWh, that will cost you $32.50 a month.;

If you live in a state with higher electricity costs, such as California, then your electric bill will, of course, be higher. In California, as of this writing, the average cost of a kWh is 21.93 cents. So if you drove 1,000 miles per month, then you would pay $54.83.;

Recommended Reading: When Do I Get My Car Title

From Delivery Trucks To Scooter

That’s a common sentiment from current electric vehicle owners, who describe home charging as a perk and that’s before you consider that home charging is considerably cheaper than paying for gasoline. But for would-be buyers, those lengthy charge times can sound alarming.

And convincing car shoppers that they’ll learn to love the charging cable is absolutely essential for the auto industry at a time when mainstream automakers not just Tesla are betting big on electric vehicles. General Motors now says the future will be “all-electric,” and it’s not alone.

” this next five year period, automakers are investing $234 billion into electric vehicle platforms and parts and plants,” says Mark Wakefield, managing director at the consulting firm AlixPartners. “One-fifth of their investment budget is going towards electric vehicles at the moment, and growing over time.”

For that bet to pay off, a lot of mainstream car buyers, including people who don’t have a strong preference for an electric vehicle, will need to be convinced to plunk down money for a battery-powered car.

Governments have a vested interest in pushing this change to reduce carbon emissions and fight global warming. But buyer preferences are crucial, too. To win over skeptics, automakers have aggressively increased vehicle ranges the average is now 250 miles, Wakefield says, and rising rapidly and they’re working to bring vehicle prices down to be competitive with gas-powered cars.

toggle caption

How Much Does It Cost To Recharge Your Plug

At this point in time, most publicly accessible chargers provide the power for free.

Exceptions include a handful of paid stations in South Australia and one in NSW on the ChargePoint network, and the RAC’s ‘Electric Highway’ in Western Australia.

The latter is a network of charging stations located between Perth and the Margaret River region in the south west, paid for by the RAC motoring group. These include both DC and AC stations that can service all plug-in EVs on the road in Australia.

The cost of recharging on the Electric Highway is set at 45 cents per kWh of electricity, plus $1 per charging session to cover transaction costs. Unlike a conventional petrol service station, payment for using the RAC’s charge station is through a prepaid account with a ChargeStar Genie card, which you register for on their website.

Anthony Middleton from ChargePoint tells CHOICE, “We will begin to see a roll-out of DC stations in strategic locations over the next two to three years, initially connecting corridors from Melbourne to Brisbane and urban fringes.”

Middleton expects the pricing at DC stations to be above retail rates but he believes it would still equate to approximately 30% of what it costs to fill a petrol-fuelled car.

Which car is the most eco-friendly? Our green car buying guide will help explain electric, hybrid and fuel-efficient technology.

Also Check: What Kind Of Car Did Columbo Drive

Costs For A Home Charging Setup

Besides understanding what it will cost to power an EV, it’s also important to know the cost of a key piece of at-home technology: the electric vehicle supply equipment , along with the cost of its installation. Another potential cost is a residential solar power system, which a growing number of people are considering, either for vehicle charging alone or for powering the car plus household. Let’s break down what these things cost.

Dc Fast Charger Program

How far can electric cars really go on a single charge ...

In September 2017, Mayor de Blasio announced a $10 million investment in EV fast charging stations. NYC DOT, in conjunction with MOS, is building a network of fast chargers across the city. These hubs will feature up to four DC fast chargers and two Level 2 chargers. Hubs will be in city-owned public parking lots and garages.

The first two DC fast charging hubs are the Court Square Municipal Garage in Queens and the Delancey/Essex Municipal Garage in Manhattan. The City will continue to install DC fast chargers to support the growing number of EVs. More DC fast charging is planned for municipal lots in 2022.

How it works:

  • An EV driver parks in a DC fast charger space
  • Driver begin a charging session via the EV Connect App or by swiping or tapping their credit or debit card on the charger
  • The driver plugs in their vehicle
  • The app will notify the driver when the vehicle’s battery is 80 percent charged

Notes: Each charger has CHAdeMO and CCS connectors, which are compatible with most EVs. Tesla owners will be able to use the fast chargers with Teslas CHAdeMO adapter.

The fee to charge is 35 cents per kWh consumed. Drivers must pay for parking at the municipal lots. DC fast charger customers will have the cost of the first hour of parking deducted from their charging session.

Don’t Miss: What Is An Equus Car

Rates And Rebates Make Evs In Bc Even More Affordable

If you’re like most electric vehicle owners, you’ll do the majority of your charging at home or at work. That means that your BC;Hydro bill will go up, but perhaps not as much as you might guess.

And with rebates available;for the purchase and installation of Level 2 chargers in single-family homes, apartment buildings and workplaces, the overall cost of charging is now an affordable option for most people.

Edmunds: How To Calculate An Electric Vehicles Charge Costs

One of the challenges people have with electric vehicles is figuring out how much they cost to operate. The price of fully charging an electric vehicles battery can vary wildly depending on when and where you charge it. For the bigger picture, you should also include the amortized cost of buying and installing a home charging station and the rates your utility company charges.

Heres how to calculate what it will cost to charge your EV, as compiled by Edmunds experts.

IN: KILOWATT-HOURS PER 100 MILES, OUT: MPG

When youre shopping for a gasoline-powered car, you pay attention to how many miles per gallon it gets. For plug-in vehicles, the window sticker and the governments fueleconomy.gov website will have a big EPA-estimated mpg equivalent figure. But this isnt a useful metric for determining cost. A battery stores energy in kilowatt-hours, much like a gas tank stores fuel in gallons.

Instead, look for the amount of energy an electric car consumes, which is measured in kilowatt-hours per 100 miles . This value tells you how much energy in kilowatt-hours a vehicle would use to travel 100 miles. Note that this is just the governments estimate; your EVs actual consumption can vary because of your driving style and environment.

COST FOR CHARGING AT HOME

To estimate your cost of charging at home, multiply your vehicles kWh/100 miles figure by the electric rate for the time of day youll most often be charging. That figure will tell you the cost per 100 miles.

Also Check: How To Change The Interior Of Your Car

Ready To Buy An Ev Use Our Car Loan Calculator To See What Youll Pay

Electric cars are better than ever. Theyre more affordable. They travel farther on a single charge. Its easier to install a home charging station or find a Level 2 or Level 3 charging station while away from home. And while theyre still not as easy to fuel as a gasoline vehicle, recharging times continue to come down as charger technology improves.

If you think the time is right to get into an EV, be sure to use our car loan calculator to find out what you might pay to go electric. And dont forget to factor in national, state, and local tax benefits and cash incentives.

Easy Ways To Reduce Electric Vehicle Electricity Use

How to: charge an electric car

How many miles per kilowatt-hour an EV gets is out of the owners control, but there are still ways to reduce high usage at home without cutting back on the miles you drive. Below are three simple ways to do just that.;

Charge at Public Stations

The easiest way to dramatically reduce electricity consumption at home is by charging up for free when youre out and about. Right now there are 31,287 electric charging stations across the U.S. and Canada. Before heading out make sure to check and see if youll be stopping in an area that has one.

Charge at Night If You Have a Time-of-Use Electric Plan

People that have a time-of-use plan need to be very mindful of when they charge at home. With this type of electricity plan the kWh rate changes throughout the day depending on demand. Generally, rates are lowest between midnight and 6am. Charging during these hours wont impact how much electricity is used, but it will make a difference on your monthly bill.;

Use a Smart AC Level 2 Charging Station at Home

If youre going to invest in an at-home charging station, AC level 2 charging equipment may be the best option. Level 2 equipment comes with smart features like a charging timer and data collection. These features make it easier to charge up when its cheaper and get a better idea of how far youre driving on a given day.

Power to help doesnt exist anymore

Youll get an electricity plan you can really feel good about!

Recommended Reading: What Does A Car Title Look Like In Florida

More articles

Popular Articles