What Is EV Charging Stations
One of the major benefits of owning an electric vehicle is that you can charge your battery at public charging stations on your way to and from work, shopping, and other destinations. These stations are popping up in suburban parking lots, at big box stores and malls, and even in urban garages. But what are they exactly, and how do you use them?
EV charging stations transfer electricity from the grid to your car through an AC plug or a DC connector (also known as a “plug”) that fits into your EV’s charging port. The plug has a flat side that sits against the charging station to secure it and a curved side that points down toward your parked vehicle. A single charger can have multiple connectors, and multiple types of connections are compatible with most modern EVs. However, only one vehicle can charge at a time.
Different Ev Charging Stations offer different speeds of power. Level 1 charging uses a 120 volt (V) alternating current (AC) outlet, similar to a household clothes dryer plug. Typically, it takes between 40 and 50 hours to recharge an empty battery at this speed, adding about 5 miles of range per hour of charging.
Most public EV charging stations are Level 2 (240V), which is up to 15 times faster and provides 10 to 20 miles of range for each hour charged. You can install a Level 2 charger at home through a dedicated 240V outlet and electrician installation.
Level 3 charging, also called DC fast charging or direct current fast charging (DCFC), is available at some public stations and is up to three times faster than Level 2. These 480+ volt outlets, often found in high-traffic corridors, can quickly recharge BEV batteries from empty to 80 percent in just 20 minutes to an hour.
What Is EV Charging Stations and How Do You Use Them?
You’ll usually pay for a charging session by the kilowatt-hour (kWh) that you consume, and many public stations charge based on usage — much like how you’d pay to park at a regular metered spot in a parking lot. You can save money by charging at home, at work during off-peak hours, or at public stations that offer discounted rates during those times.
Many EV drivers find that once they start using public charging stations, they begin to build them into their daily commutes. They plan their errands to run them later in the day so they can use the fastest available chargers, and may schedule their trips to be near specific public charging locations on longer drives.
Another benefit of EV charging stations is that they can help you reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of energy your car pulls from the power grid, which is normally powered by fossil fuels. You can further reduce your environmental impact by scheduling your charging to occur during times when solar energy is most abundant.
Whether you’re looking to make the switch to an electric car or are already an EV driver, there are plenty of resources to help you navigate the new infrastructure. Download a mobile app to locate EV charging stations in your area, and keep a printed map or poster of public chargers in your car to make it easier to find and use them on the go.
