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How to Charge an Electric Vehicle

How to Charge an Electric Vehicle

Are you looking into getting your first EV? Do you already have an EV, but aren’t sure how else to charge outside of just plugging it in at home? Well, today’s the day we answer those questions!

To start off with, there are three separate definitions for EV charging, divided into “levels” of charging.

Level 1 – Charging an EV from a 120v outlet.

This is the same outlet that you find in any household. The same type of plug we use every day for charging our phones, our laptops, and EVs! For an EV, this the slowest method of filling your battery up. Usually, 3-5 miles an hour.

Level 2 – Charging an EV from a 208v or 240v setup, or outlet.

Also found in most households, typically designed to power ovens, dryers and your EVs! Very rarely do garages or outdoor plugs come set up with 240v systems. It’s common that a new EV owner will want to upgrade their home setup to a level 2 system.

For a full battery electric vehicle, level 2 is the go-to method of charging an EV. This charges between 25-35 miles an hour so when you wake up the following morning, you will find a full “tank” of electrons!

Level 2 stations are also commonly found at workplaces and restaurants or parking lots, where you can park your EV, and go explore a new area of town while you charge (or simply refuel while you head into the office).

Level 3 – Also known as DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charging) or Supercharging (Tesla’s method of level 3 charging).

This is the fastest form of charging an EV and charges at a rate of 50 miles an hour to several hundred depending on the DCFC station. These are our future “filling” stations, where you’ll pull off the highway, and stop for between 10 minutes or up to an hour to fill your battery up.

After learning about the different levels of charging, you may next wonder, “Okay, so where do I charge my vehicle?” Well, if you’re a homeowner and can park your EV near an outlet, then it becomes as simple as “Do I charge at level 1 from that plug, or do I upgrade my wiring for level 2”. Usually, local utilities have incentives to help with those upgrades, AND for charging during its off-peak hours. Be sure to check out our vehicle and charging incentives pages to learn more about that!

Contact us if you’re interested in learning more!

If you don’t have the ability to charge at home (like me) you can either check to see if you can charge at your workplace or see if there is public charging available near you.

There are also several helpful apps to help you locate a charging station near you (for the day-to-day routine), and/or a DCFC charging station (for those longer road trips). One app I recommend is PlugShare, which easily combines with your GPS apps.

So, long story short, most drivers have the ability to charge at their existing homes, and more and more charging stations are being built throughout the country. It’s getting easier and easier to charge an EV!

Still have questions? Visit our Contact Us page to send us a message!

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