Today, more than 1.2 million electric vehicles (EV) can be found on the roads in the US. More and more people are seeing the draw to switching from their gas powered vehicle over to one that using nothing more than a battery to operate. If you are new to owning an EV, you may not quite have a grasp on how the charging process works. There are several different ways that you can charge your car, but you need to be aware of which ones should be done when and where to avoid problems. Simon Electric is here to talk about some of the EV charging basics that you need to be aware of.
Where Can You Plug In Electric Cars
As mentioned above, there are a few different places that you can charge your EV. Following are your options.
– Install an EV Charging Station at Home: Charging your vehicle at home is the one that makes the most sense. You will likely do the bulk of your charging here. Of course, this all depends on the range that your EV has and where you are driving. However, on a daily basis, most EV owners charge their vehicle during the night, so it is ready to drive the next day.
– Charge My Electric Car at Work: Some workplaces and office buildings have charging options in the designated parking garage or lot. If yours does, you can take advantage of some charging while you are at work.
– Charge Electric Car in Public: More and more charging stations are popping up all over the country. There are several hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, hospitals and other areas that have charging stations installed. These places will likely charge you money to charge your vehicle, but it will still cost only a fraction of the money it does to drive a gas powered vehicle.
How Long Does it Take to Charge an Electric Vehicle
The amount of time it takes to charge your EV depends on several variables. It depends on the type of charger you are using, how full your battery is, and the charging station’s settings. On average, a hybrid vehicle will take 1-4 hours to complete charge and a fully electric vehicle will take anywhere from 6-8 hours to charge. However, here are some things to think about.
– Regular Outlet: Most electric cars come with a charging cord so you can use a regular 120V outlet to charge your car. This is looked down on because it takes literally 3 times longer to charge your vehicle this way. Having a 240V outlet installed at your home so that you can charge your vehicle is the only way to go.
– EV Charging Station: This is the most recommended way to charge your vehicle. Having a charging station installed in your garage will be the most efficient way to charge your car. It can charge your vehicle up to 3 times faster than a regular outlet can.
Electrical Wiring, Fixture Installations & More in Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter & Boca Raton & Palm Beach County, Florida
At Simon Electric, we know the only reasonable way to charge your EV is to have a charging station installed in your garage. We offer EV charging station installation services to help you get the most out of your EV and charge it as safely as possible. Simon Electric is proud to be a preferred Tesla installer. Call us today!
