So you’re thinking about buying a new Electric Vehicle (EV) or you’ve already made your purchase. If so, let us say congrats on buying your new car and a great step forward. EVs have gotten much better since they were first introduced on the market and are great options as your everyday vehicle. Lately there have been news stories of long lines at charging stations, but did you know that most EV drivers are doing 80 to 90% of their charger at home? With that much time charging your car it’s a clear choice to have a charger installed at your home for ease and peace of mind.
What Are The Options?
EV charging stations are available in three types: Level One, Level Two, and Level Three. Each one of them has their appropriate uses, but remember to try not to charge your EV completely or let it drain to 0%. EVs tend to function their best in the 15-85% range and won’t drain the battery life if you don’t over charge it.
- Level One Chargers often come with the purchase of your new EV and plug right into a standard 120 volt wall outlet. These can be used across the majority of EVs. The problem is it will take 10 to 20 hours to get a full charge on your car using a level on charger. That’s a great option if you remember to charge your car overnight every time you need to, but if you forget to charge it you could be in trouble without a quick way to charge your car.
- Level Two Chargers are the charger for EVs now. These are the typical chargers you will find at workplaces, gyms, restaurants, parking garages, and in homes. Level two chargers are great options, taking only a fraction of the time to charge your EV, usually only 4-5 hours. They require 208-240 volts to run properly. This is not found in most homes and will require a licensed electrician to come out and do some work on your home electrical system to make sure it works appropriately and safely. This usually includes installing dedicated circuits and outlets for the charging station.
- Level Three Chargers are the fastest on the market. These chargers are publicly owned and are often found at highway rest stops. They are great for a quick top off for your EV, but they require a massive amount of energy and will drain your EV’s battery if used too frequently.
Should I Hire An Electrician?
YouTube is full of DIYers ready to teach you how to rewire your home to get your EV charging station ready to go. Some may be experts and some others might just be brave. In the end it is a risk we don’t recommend. You could do damage that affects your home electrical system and set up possible situations to harm your brand new car. A licensed and insured electrician will make sure the work is done safely and correctly. You won’t have to worry about doing the work or that a problem will arise down the road when you try to charge your car after a DIY job.
Trust Your Home Electric And EV Charging Station To The Pros
Electric Vehicles have come a long way in the last few years and it’s a great time to buy them. There are options from the manufacturers we see everyday up to luxury models and all of them need to be charged. Life sometimes feels like it would be easier if the gas station was right at home and with an EV charging station installed in your garage it essentially is. You won’t have to worry about your car taking too long to charge or find a place to charge your car. If you are looking for help installing an EV charging station you can always contact your friendly local electricians at Pat Myers Electric to get the job done.
