One of the many benefits of owning an electric vehicle (EV) is that you'll never need to visit a gas station. And charging it is as simple as plugging in a power cord, like any other household electronic device.
But since electric vehicles are essentially complex, self-contained power plants, there's value in understanding the various aspects that affect charging performance, battery health, and cost of ownership.
Keep reading for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the charging and regular maintenance of an all-electric vehicle.
Every electric vehicle can be charged by plugging the appropriate cable into any household power outlet. This method, called Level 1 charging, is accomplished with the power cord typically included as part of the lease or purchase of the electric vehicle.
Level 1 charging is the most convenient form of charging because all you need is access to a standard electrical outlet found in your garage or outside your home - no setup or modifications are required. But since the battery capacity of an electric vehicle is quite large, and household electrical systems aren't industrial strength by nature, Level 1 charging is the slowest method of replenishing power.
Waiting nearly two days to charge your vehicle is not ideal, so all EVs offer a faster-charging speed obtained via Level 2 charging. This higher power delivery is most commonly found in commercial parking lots in malls or shopping centers and designated EV parking spaces in office complexes.
Some Level 2 charging stations are offered as complimentary perks. Still, others may require a paid subscription or one-time payment to activate charging - the electricity you're using isn't free after all.
Level 2 charging significantly speeds up the charging process, with many electric vehicles reaching an optimal operating range after about 4 to 8 hours of being plugged in. Keep in mind that the power delivered by Level 2 charging stations can vary; ultimately, your vehicle controls how quickly it can charge.
The speed and convenience of Level 2 charging can be had in your home too, but it may require professional installation of charging equipment and possibly modification of your home's electrical panel if there isn't enough capacity.
"Quick Charging" or Level 3 charging, is the fastest form of recharging available today and can only be found at dedicated stations which require a subscription or payment. But the benefits are well worth the cost, especially if you're taking a long road trip or forgot to charge your vehicle the day before.
Today's newest electric vehicles can take advantage of Level 3 charging. When connected to a 350 kW DC fast charger, your electric vehicle will charge the fastest!
With electric vehicles becoming more popular, charging stations are easier to find than ever, especially if you live in a large metropolitan area. Many major malls, grocery stores, and office buildings have dedicated EV parking spaces with charging stations, and more "EV rest stops" are popping up alongside America's most popular freeways.
EVgo, Electrify America, and ChargePoint are examples of the growing networks of charging stations in the country. Finding specific charging stops is as simple as visiting a website or mobile app. Many EVs will already have these charging locations programmed in the navigation system, and Android Auto or Apple CarPlay will also have this information on hand.
In some ways, EVs are just like your smartphone in that the best time to charge it is, honestly, whenever you have convenient access to power. This could be when you're at work, shopping for groceries, or parked at home for the evening.
Because the element of time is unavoidable with electric charging, most people like to always top off whenever they can so they don't end up with a low battery and "range anxiety." When charging at home, utilize the EV's built-in scheduling function to charge automatically during non-peak hours to reduce electric bill costs and network load.
In the past, most vehicles on the road were fueled by gas or diesel. So it made sense to measure efficiency by how many miles a vehicle could travel on a gallon. Hence the familiar MPG on the window sticker.
But when the automotive industry began to pivot toward electric vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needed a new measurement. MPGe stands for "miles per gallon equivalent." In creating the MPGe standard, the EPA based it on the energy in a gallon of gasoline being equivalent to 33.7 kilowatt-hours (kWh).