The popularity of electric mobility is on the rise. According to the International Energy Agency (IAEA), that number will rise to 145 million by this decade. Perhaps the most important thing is what consumers think. Millions have shifted to electric mobility. More than 45 percent of customers are considering purchasing an EV. McKinsey & Company has declared that “the automotive future” is electric and that passenger EV adoption is high. So that electric car home charging station for your electric vehicle is important.
That is not surprising. An electric car is more environmentally friendly, efficient, and less expensive than an internal combustion engine (ICE). It can also offer more convenience depending on how you drive it.
Although charging an EV is more time-consuming than filling up with gas, you don’t need to travel far to refill your tank most of the time. Instead of driving to the nearest gas station, you can charge your EV where you park. One of the most convenient ways to install electric car home charging station.
The majority of charging for electric cars will be done at home as they become more popular around the globe. While charging at home can be convenient, it is also new and different. It is also quite overwhelming.
How do you safely charge your electric car at home?
Many EV drivers charge their vehicles at home. While it is convenient and valuable, charging at home can prove dangerous. In the UK, 74% of electric car drivers admit to charging EVs unsafely because there are no public charging station nearby.
What is dangerous charging? How can you safely charge your electric car? Continue reading to learn everything you need about safely charging your electric car at home.
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Charging at home can be dangerous – if done wrong.
There are many options to charge your electric car at home. Home charging is generally the most convenient.
First, it is essential to learn about the different charging levels to understand the dangers. These chargers are not suitable for residential use due to the high power consumption. These chargers are better suited for use in on-the-go places like fleet, depots, or gas stations.
Type 2 chargers can charge some vehicles in 15 minutes. Because of their fast charging speed and lower power consumption, Level 2 chargers are often found in commercial or residential settings.
Level 1 charging is the most accessible, but it’s the slowest. You plug the cable from your EV into a standard wall outlet. Here are the dangers.
Many EV owners charge their electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles using extension cords that aren’t suitable for EV charging. A survey of 1,500 owners of PHEVs and EVs found that nearly four out of five charge their vehicles with an extension cord. Some owners connect multiple extension cords to cover greater distances to form a “daisy chain.” Others use indoor extension cords outdoors.
These charging methods can be dangerous, and it’s easy to see. It’s tempting to save money on electric car charging station. But is it worth risking your safety in exchange for convenience?
Home charging of electric cars is more straightforward.
You’re in the same boat: Your tank is nearly empty, and you need to top it off. You have to be home by the dinner party. Perhaps tomorrow morning will be enough to make it to the big meeting. Maybe not. But what do you do? What are you going to do?
You don’t need to travel far to charge your car at home. You can charge your car while you eat and play or sleep. Please find out how long it takes your car to charge at home. This page provides a comprehensive overview of charging times for electric car home charging station.
It is time-saving to be able to leave your house with a fully charged battery. It also reduces range anxiety, a primary concern for potential EV drivers. Range anxiety refers to the fear that your battery will run out and you won’t be able to find a change station. You won’t reach the median range in daily driving situations, such as going to work, dropping off the children at school, or grocery shopping. It currently stands at 402 km (250 mi).
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What are the options for electric car home charging station?
You can use three levels of EV charging to charge your car: Levels 1, 2, and 3. The higher the charging level, it will produce more power and charge your car faster.
This section will discuss the three types of electric car home charging station on the market and which one is the best for you.
Level 1 EV charger
You can plug a Level 1 charger into your wall at home. The charger draws minimal power from a standard household outlet, so it is the slowest way to charge an electric car. It is, however, the most affordable and accessible way to charge an electric vehicle. The cable and infrastructure are already included with the car.
A few things affect the time it takes to charge an EV using a Level-1 charger. First, the charge time will depend on the size of your vehicle’s onboard battery. A Level 1 charger can only produce 2.3 kW of power, so a charging time of one hour will give you approximately a 6-8 km (4-5 mile) range.
Level 1 charging may be sufficient depending on how many kilometers you drive on an average day. It will take between 10 and 12.5 hours to fully charge your car if you drive 80kms (50 miles) per day. However, Level 1’s charging capabilities are limited and are not always as safe, so most EV owners choose to use a level 2 charging station.
Level 2 EV charger
Level 2 charging, also known as residential or AC charging, is the next level in EV charging. It’s quicker, smarter, and safer than Level 1 charging, and it’s more cost-effective. You can find these chargers in homes, apartment blocks, public places, parking lots, and at the office. They are faster than Level 1 chargers and can be found at homes, apartment blocks, commercial parking lots, or offices. It depends on the power output.
It can deliver a minimum of 3.7 kW to 22 kW to an EV by Level 2 charging stations. A Level 2 charging station with 22 kW can fully charge a Tesla Model 3 in three hours and 45 minutes. But, drop it down to 3.7kW, and the time is only 13h45m. A Level 2 charging station with maximum power output will provide approximately 120 km of range per hour for an average electric vehicle.
A professional must install them at your home. However, a Level-2 charging station is ideal because it doesn’t require expensive grid upgrades. They connect to your home’s electricity supply using either 1-phase or 3-phase connectors.
According to the vehicle’s power output, Level 2 chargers charge five to fifteen times faster than Level 1. These frequently asked queries will help you understand charging times at Level 2.
Level 3 EV charger
The fastest way to charge your electric car is with Level 3 charging, also known as DC charging. A Level 3 charging station can charge an electric vehicle at speeds up to 50 to 250 kWh in as little time as it takes for a cup of coffee.
This charging station is 50x more expensive than a Level 2 charger because of its high-power output. You won’t find Level 3 chargers in residential environments.
Which is the best home charger for EVs?
Level 2 charging stations are used in residential charging stations. Many EV drivers begin with Level 1 charging but opt for Level 2 charging stations because they offer more functionality, safety, convenience, and speed.
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What is the speed of a Level 2 charger?
Most electric car home charging station come in Level 2 status, which can deliver between 3.7 and 22 kW of power output. A Level 2 charging station with maximum power output will give you approximately 120kms of range for your average EV after an hour.
As with all hardware, charging speed can be affected by many factors. First, charging speed varies depending upon the type of electric car home charging station (either 1-phase or 3-phase), whether they deliver 16A or 32A, and what type of EV it is.
Here’s an overview of the time it takes to charge a Tesla Model 3 at full speed fully.
Level 2: 1-Phase, 16A | 3.7 kW | 14h45m |
Level 2: 1-Phase, 32A | 7.4 kW | 7h20m |
Level 2: 3-Phase, 16A | 11 kW | 5h00m |
Level 2: 3-Phase, 32A | 22 kW | 3h45m |
Charging speeds depend on the amount of power your home can receive from the grid.
How much does it cost for an electric car to be charged?
Price is perhaps the most critical aspect of home charging. It is almost always less expensive to charge your EV at home than to fill up your tank with gasoline. It all depends on where you live, how big your car is, your charges, and when you charge.
The average price per US kWh in residential areas hovers around $0.13. For a vehicle with a capacity of 66 kWh, this would mean that it would cost approximately $9 to charge the entire battery. The EU has a higher price per kWh, with an average domestic price of EUR0.21.
But what does this all mean in practice? The average electric vehicle can travel approximately 6.5km (4 miles) per one kWh. If you drive your car 1000 miles per month, you will need 250 kWh to charge it properly. Charging your vehicle will run you $32.50 per month at $0.13 per kWh. You will pay EUR52,5 per month if you drive in Europe.
Do you need to charge your EV every night, or should it?
It is not the best practice to charge your electric vehicle every night. It can reduce the life expectancy of your battery. Research has shown that charging every night can reduce the battery’s life.
According to researchers from the University of Michigan, charging your car to 100 percent SoC every time can cause stress. That is because batteries can be stressed by charging at extremely high or low levels of charge (SoC), reducing their lifespan.
It is recommends that the vehicle’s battery capacity by between 20 percent and 80 percent. It also suggests that you only charge the vehicle when necessary and not every night.
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How to lower the cost of EV home charging?
It is essential to consider multiple factors when deciding whether or not you will be charging your EV at home. These are five ways to lower the cost of charging your electric vehicle at home.
Scheduled charging is possible at your electric car home charging station. Scheduled charging allows you to charge your EV at times that are not peak and protects your grid from overload.
It would be best to keep an eye on the charging session insights. By digging into charging habits, you can understand power consumption and costs. Then, you can plan your charging schedule accordingly.
You can make money from the energy created by using a green energy source. You can generate your electricity by connecting your charging station with a renewable energy source like solar panels. It will reduce your dependence on the grid and lower your costs.
Do you want to charge more than one electric vehicle? Load balancing is a good option. Load balancing distributes power among multiple EVs during charging. That optimizes power output to ensure charging is safe, intelligent, and evenly distributed.
Ask your employer for reimbursement of your charging costs. If you are an employee, your employer may be willing to pay your monthly transportation costs as an employee benefit. Look into an integrated charging management system that includes automatic reimbursement.
When it comes to EV charging, take electrical safety very seriously.
Although an extension cord may seem the cheapest and most convenient way to charge your EV, it is not recommended.
There are safer options.
It’s always a good idea for an EV to be charged at home using a certified charging station that has been installed by a professional. The same applies to charging your EV at home.
Home EV charger stations offer convenience and a variety of intelligent functions.