Make Plans To Charge Your EV at Home

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If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle, be sure to plan how you will charge your EV at home.
EVs today come with a 110-volt compatible charging unit, described as a Level 1 charging unit that you can plug into any standard 110-volt household electrical outlet. Charging with a Level 1 unit provides 4–5 miles of range per hour of charging, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

But upgrading to a 240-volt, or Level 2, charging unit cuts charging time by 75%—for about 180 miles of range over eight hours. Level 2 chargers are what most commercial charging stations provide and must be plugged into 240-volt outlets—what electric clothes dryers use.

When shopping for an EV charger, consider the following advice from the DOE:
Because garages are often small or full of stuff, seek an EV charger that is an appropriate size for your space.

If you plan to charge your EV outside, search for a charger that is rated for outdoor use.

Don’t leave the cable hanging while it’s not in use. Get a charger with a holster that holds everything neatly together.

Make sure the charger you buy has a UL mark or the mark of another recognized testing laboratory for safety.

Have a qualified electrical technician install your charging equipment.

Follow all local, state and national codes and regulations for charging equipment installations.

Consider, too, whether charging an electric vehicle at home makes sense for your budget. The fuel efficiency of an EV is measured in kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. To calculate the cost per mile of an EV, the cost of electricity and the efficiency of the vehicle must be known. If electricity costs $0.06 per kWh and the vehicle consumes 33 kWh to travel 100 miles, the cost per mile is about $0.01.

BEC recently introduced time-based usage rates for EVs to help you save even more when charging your EV at home. Learn more at BanderaElectric.com/TBU.