One of the first questions people ask about electric cars is usually, “Where can I charge it?”
The answer is most often, “Wherever you park your car.” A 2013 study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers calculated that 79 percent of U.S. households have dedicated off-street parking for at least some of their vehicles, almost always within a few meters of an electric supply that will provide for overnight recharging (circumstances vary in other countries). Electric-vehicle drivers quickly learn to plug in their electric cars after the last journey of the day.
In fact, the data show about 80 percent of the total distance covered by EVs in the United States comes from such home recharging. Those who live in apartment buildings or condos, don’t have off-street parking, or can’t count on using the same dedicated space each night face greater challenges.
For the moment, it’s easiest to drive an EV if you have dedicated parking. These are the basics of how, where, and when recharging an EV’s battery happens.
Q: How do I charge an electric car?
A: Every EV has what’s called a charging port, usually behind a small door in a fender that looks like the door on a gasoline or diesel-fuel filler. Sometimes the charge port is at the front or rear of the vehicle. Regardless of where it is, that’s where you plug in the charging cable.
The process is simple: Open the charge-port door, uncover the port if needed (some have plastic covers, some don’t), plug in the charging cable, and wait for the light to go on to show the car is starting to charge. You may hear a click or a thunk from the station, the car, or both. Then just walk away.
Q: Are all charging stations the same?
A: No. This is where it gets a little complicated. There are two types of EV charging: AC and DC fast charging. (Charging stations are technically known as EVSEs, for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, but virtually no one calls them that.)
AC charging is slower and takes longer to recharge the battery fully, but for the majority of EV drivers who can charge overnight, it’s by far the most common method. It’s also less expensive to install, and AC charging stations make up the majority of charging stations—public and private.
DC fast charging is less common, and usually found along major travel routes or at heavily traveled intersections. Different carmakers use different types of connectors for DC charging.
Q: What are the options for charging my EV at home or at work?
In North America, AC charging operates at either 120 volts (“Level 1″) or 240 volts (“Level 2″); other countries vary depending on their electrical standards. Every EV comes with a portable charging cord (often stored under the floor of the trunk) that allows basic charging. North American Level 1 charging adds 3 to 8 kilometers (2 to 5 miles) of range for every hour the car is plugged in.
Level 2 AC charging in North America typically operates at a rate of 7.2 to 19 kilowatts, depending on the car and the charging station. Anyone whose daily mileage regularly exceeds, say, 60 km (37 miles) should consider installing one. Depending on the car and the charging station, charging at 240 V can add 16 to 97 km (10 to 60 miles) for every hour of charging—possibly up to 320 km (200 miles) overnight. Such Level 2 charging stations are usually mounted on a wall or a post.
Another Level 2 alternative is a portable charging cord that operates on both voltages—and these cords are becoming more common in the latest EVs. They come with different “pigtails” that plug into the charging unit to allow it to use different outlets. In North America, that’s a standard 3-prong 120-V household outlet or a NEMA 14-50 socket (most commonly) for 240-V charging.
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