EV Charging Stations: Why Upgrading Your Home Electric Vehicle Charger Is Best
So you are in the market for an EV (electric vehicle), or just purchased one. Maybe you aren’t sure if an electric vehicle is right for you, and you are doing some research on Google. Either way, KB Electric LLC has installed some EV charging stations recently, and we wanted to give you a few basic tips that might help you become more familiar with how these vehicles charge, and why upgrading your home electric vehicle charger is a good idea with the purchase of an electric vehicle.
What Is An Electric Vehicle?
Let’s start with the basics. If you’ve lived under a rock, that’s okay. We are here to explain to you what an electric vehicle is. It’s as simple as it sounds: an electric vehicle is a car that runs on electricity. They use an electric motor, and they store energy using a rechargeable battery. Some of them run on full electric with no gasoline required, and others use a mixture of both. Here are a list of some of the well known EV brands to get you started:
Popular EV Brands
- Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model X
- Tesla Model S
- Chevrolet Bolt
- Nissan Leaf
*The list is very big for electric vehicles. We only provided a few common contenders.*
EV Charging Stations Explained
All electric vehicles, depending on the brand and type, have their own range of miles they can go before needing a new charge of their battery. It’s just like when you plug your iPhone into a cord into an outlet to recharge the phone’s battery to use it before it dies. Same deal with an EV. EV charging stations do just this. There are 3 different levels of charging when it comes to charging an electric car.
EV Charging Levels
Okay, so you bought an electric vehicle after much consideration. Or you are at least thinking of it. Electric vehicles do come with a charger that can be installed at home to charge the battery. This would be considered a level 1 charger. Let’s breaker it down:
Using a Tesla Model 3 Standard electric car, and a ClipperCreek LEVEL 2 HCS-40PR EV charging station:
- Level 1 EV Charger
- Uses your standard 3-prong 120v household outlet
- 36 hours to fully charge the battery (see second link in sources for source chart)
- Level 2 EV Charger
- Uses a 240v outlet, same as your clothing dryer (that isn’t hardwired)
- 6.5 hours to fully charge the battery using the ClipperCreek LEVEL 2 HCS-40PR EV charging station
- For most brands of EVs, typically 3 to 5 times faster to fully charge the battery than a level 1 EV charger (120v outlet)
- Level 3 EV Charger (aka DC Fast Charger, Tesla’s Supercharger)
- Uses a 480 volt 3-Phase AC input (Blink brand DC Fast Charger)
- Very expensive unit, and because of this, not really a home option. An on-the-go option, similar to a gas station to “fill up”/recharge
- A little over an hour to fully charge the battery, 30 minutes to charge 50% of the battery (using Tesla and Tesla’s Supercharger)
Upgrading Your Home EV Charging Station From Level 1 to Level 2
Ditch the level 1 charger that comes with the car and get a level 2 home EV charging station installed by a licensed electrician. Why? It’s a faster charge. Plain and simple. Like mentioned, the cord that comes with an EV utilizes a 120v outlet. Yes, it charges your battery, but takes so long. If you use your EV every day, or for long commutes and trips, it’s definitely best to upgrade.
Getting 3-5 times faster charge out of EV charging stations that utilize 240v outlets just make more sense, especially with EVs that are all electric and not hybrids (use both gasoline and electric).
All About Level 2 Home EV Charging Stations
Level 2 EV charging stations come in many different brands, just like electric cars. Pricing for Level 2 chargers vary, and most can work with any and all EV brands. Prices range from a little over $400 to upwards of $1000, and even more (prices found on Amazon). Many home EV charging stations also have WiFi capabilities. You can program when to start a charge right from your smartphone with an app.
Level 2 EV charging stations can be installed in your garage or outside on the side of your house if you don’t have a garage. You will need to research outdoor rated brands of EV charging stations if you don’t have a garage.
Popular EV charging station brands include:
- ClipperCreek
- JuiceBox
- ChargePoint
- Versicharge by Siemens
- Leviton
*Most of these brands have different models.
Hire a Licensed Electrician For Home EV Charging Stations
Anything and everything electrical should be handled by a professional. That said, a licensed electrician can install your home EV charging station with safety and accuracy in mind. Installation requires a dedicated line to your main panel. With that said, you may need more space in your main electrical panel for an EV charging station, or you may need a separate sub panel for it. A licensed electrician can do a walkthrough for you to know for sure, and provide you with the correct answers for precise installation.
Save time and upgrade your EV charging station for a faster charge and convenience. Call KB Electric LLC for professional installation and quality care. (267) 467-3178
Sources:
https://www.energysage.com/energy-products/ev-charging-stations/