We spoke to ten EV owners, including three experts in e-mobility, to find out what charger they chose based on their needs to help you find one that will work for you.ĬhargePoint has emerged as the largest third-party provider of public EV charging stations, which should inspire confidence, and might play into why utility companies single out ChargePoint’s consumer-grade model for generous subsidies. They’re all suitable for both indoor and outdoor installation. All but the Porsche Wall Charger Connect can technically be hardwired or plugged into a 240-volt outlet, for ease of removal (though you may need a new outlet to be professionally installed for this purpose). Note that some subsidies are limited to specific chargers, and be prepared for significant red tape.Īll home chargers we recommend here will work with your car (provided you select the appropriate connector). ![]() In parallel, you should also look into any subsidies/rebates/credits the government (federal AND local) and power company may offer, while they last. (To calculate charging rates, you multiply voltage by amperage and divide by 1,000.) Charger and battery specifications also matter: Level 2 chargers range from 6 kW to 19.2 kW in the amount of power they can deliver, but if your car battery has an acceptance (or charge) rate of 6.6 kW, like the Nissan Leaf, for example, that means it can’t charge at a higher rate, even if the charger can deliver more. ![]() Chargers also range widely in feature set and relative complexity, from basic, straightforward models that simply charge when connected, to models that allow you to schedule charging remotely and monitor your electricity usage. Most people we spoke to spent around $500 for outlet or hardwired installation. For instance, your total cost might just be the price of your charger, if you’re able to just plug it into an existing outlet, or you might be looking at several thousand dollars’ worth of electrician’s labor, depending on your home’s existing infrastructure. Once you’ve determined whether your home has sufficient electrical capacity for a Level 2 charger (an electrician can help you with this, if you have any doubts), you’ll want to consider a few other things. (Level 3, or Direct Current Fast Chargers, such as Tesla’s Superchargers, can charge to 80 percent from empty in as fast as 20 minutes, depending on various factors, including the size of your EV battery, but this type is not usually feasible for home installation and can be found at charging stations.) But if public charging options aren’t convenient, or you want your EV to charge in four to ten hours, or to be able to do some topping up between trips, and you have the space for one, you’ll want to install a Level 2 charger, which can cut charging time by more than a half and is the type we’re covering in this guide. ![]() Many people are fine relying on public chargers or a household 120-volt outlet - what you use to charge your laptop or plug in your toaster, and what is also known as Level 1 charging - which adds about two to four miles of range per hour and might take 40-plus hours to charge a battery to 80 percent from empty. Whether you’re considering getting an electric vehicle or already have one, you’re probably thinking about how you’re going to charge it. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailers
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