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Electric Vehicle Charging Explained: What You Need to Know

electric car charging

Investing in an electric vehicle (EV) allows us to avoid costly gas station visits while simultaneously preserving our health and the environment. However, there is still a learning curve when it comes to charging, both in terms of cost and duration. 


 

We\'ll address your top concerns regarding EV charging so you can confidently drive and fill up.

How much time does an electric car require to charge?


 

Depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the battery in your specific car and the location and timing of the charge, charging an electric vehicle (EV) from empty can take as little as 20 minutes or as long as 40 hours. To begin with, it\'s helpful to understand the three stages of EV charging.


 

  • Level 1: This is EV jargon for connecting the chord set that comes with your electric vehicle to a standard 120-volt outlet—the same type that you would use, for example, to charge a phone or light bulb. In summary, if you\'re charging from an empty , this amount of charging takes between 40 and 50 hours. However, it\'s important to remember that American automobile owners only travel around 31 miles each day on average. Thus, Level 1 could be enough for your everyday requirements or, in an emergency, to increase your mileage.


 

  • Level 2: This indicates that you are charging from a hardwired device or a 220-volt socket, which is the same type used by large appliances like washers. You may charge from empty in this case in four to ten hours. While public Level 2 charging stations are frequently found in places where cars park, such as offices or business lots, most electric vehicle owners also install this type of station in their garage to allow them to charge overnight. 


 

  • Level 3: These chargers, often referred to as direct current fast chargers or DCFC chargers, offer the quickest charging rates and may fully charge an electric vehicle (EV) in as little as 20 minutes. Although using these public charging stations is more expensive, they are especially useful for drivers who are pressed for time and live in cities where it is difficult to recharge. They\'re also becoming faster. Vehicles were normally charged at 50 kW by the first generation, but the ones that are installed now are usually at least three times more powerful, with some even reaching 350 kW.


 

In general, there are a few more considerations. One, charging your battery from empty to full will not happen very often. Since EV drivers are far more likely to "top off" their batteries, actual charging times are comparatively faster. (Generally speaking, to maximize battery life, manufacturers advise maintaining a charge between 20 and 80 percent.)


 

Furthermore, not all batteries have the same rate of acceptance of charge; this constraint is especially important for Level 3 charging. Since many of the first generation of EVs could only charge at 50 kW, they were unable to utilize the 350 kW Level 3 charging stations, which are becoming the norm in the industry and can provide hundreds of miles of range in the time it takes to get a coffee and use the restroom.


 

Do electric cars make sense to buy?

 

You can drive an electric vehicle (EV) and learn how to charge one with confidence. Throughout the vehicle\'s lifetime, the typical EV user saves thousands of dollars, spares the community from harmful exhaust emissions, and contributes to the permanent removal of fossil fuels that worsen global warming.

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