What You Need to Know About EV Charging: The Basics

With electronic vehicles becoming increasingly popular, more and more people are starting their shopping process. The possibilities are intriguing, but the vast majority quickly discover that there's plenty they need to learn.

One of the most important subjects is charging an electronic vehicle (EV). EV charging is actually easy to do, but if you're not aware of how the process works and what issues come into play, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

So let's get to it and answer the most important question of all: What do I need to charge my EV?

Level 1

The first thing you need to know about charging an electric vehicle (EV)is that there are actually three different levels.

The first and simplest level is known as Level 1 in the EV community, and it refers to a simple charge using a conventional 120 V wall outlet.

While this is convenient, there is a downside to this as well-it takes a long time. Think 40 hours, give or take, for a Chevy Bolt, for instance, if you're going from nearly empty to a full charge, and each hour will add about 5 miles to the range of your vehicle.

One thing to know across the board is that letting your EV battery run to the point where it's nearly empty isn't a good idea at all, and if your usage is steady you probably don't want use a Level 1 charge much. It is handy as a fallback, though, so it's important to know the basic parameters that are involved.

Level 2

Level 2 chargers are much more efficient and convenient. The voltage level is 220-240, which is what you'd find in a standard outlet you'd use for

an electric clothes dryer, for example. You can even get an adapter you can plug into that kind of outlet if you happen to have one in your home, which makes this option even more convenient.

Another bit of good news for this kind of charging is that it's faster. Figure 6kW per charging hour, which will add 25 miles to your range. A full charge will take about 9 hours, which makes it a good option given that most vehicles are parked about 95 percent of the time. Think of it as the standard mid-level option when you do your shopping, and factor it in accordingly.

If you want to do frequent road trips, getting a Level 2 charge can be tricky. More and more charging stations are beginning to pop up as electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, but obviously this is something you need to check on before you hit the road.

Level 3

These chargers go by a number of monikers-fast chargers, DCFC chargers, and DC fast chargers. think of them as industrial-strength charging-the voltage level is 400, and they usually charge at a rate of 50-60 kW.

That means you could fully charge out hypothetical Chevy Bolt in a little over an hour-70 minutes, to be exact, and add 150 miles per hour of charging.

As wonderful as this sounds, there is a downside-cost. This kind of charging usually costs $30 for a full charge for 200 miles of range, so now you're back to the kinds of equations we're all doing when we pull up to the pump these days.

Despite this cost inconvenience, most EV drivers use Level 3 charging to some extent. The reason is simple-if you're shuttling between work, school and home, you can use Level 3 as a top-off option.

Level 3 is also a great option if you're doing a lot of road trips, but once again you need to do some planning if you want this to be part of your usage pattern. It's also important to know that not all EVs are designed to handle Level 3 charging, so keep that in mind as well.

There's some detailed technical information about your spark plugs as it pertains to compatibility, and it's also a good idea to do some homework about the charging companies as well.

Consult the Experts

Finally, if you're looking for information about the plugs, aftermarket auto parts and maintenance issues, check out our online catalog, and you'll find plenty of listings and information. If you happen to live in South Florida, feel free to drop in at our Miami office, which is located at 3401 NW 73rd St, Miami FL 33147m or you can call us toll free at 305 694-6112.