If you’re thinking about investing in an electrical vehicle, we say it’s a wise decision to do so. But before making this investment, it’s better that you do some research to assess if electric cars are feasible for you.
Learning about factors like charging, tax credits, and the cost of owning electric vehicles is crucial. That is why below, we offer the most important electric vehicle charging FAQs to help you with your journey.
So, if you’re looking for information like how much or long it takes to charge an electric car or where to charge an electric car, you’ve stumbled on the right guide!
How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Car? All You Need To Know
First, let’s begin with the basics. There are three ways to charge your car: at home, at a public charging station, and at your workplace. Reputed organizations have started to install charging ports in their parking spaces to facilitate their employees.
If you’re charging at home, you first need to buy a wall box. And then, you must install it in such a way that you find it easier to charge your EV as soon as you park the car. Now, the essential concern: how fast can my EV charge?
The answer is that it depends on factors like your battery size and the power range of the charging port are. The higher the energy of your connectors, the lesser time it will take your EV to charge fully.
On the other hand, the larger your EV’s battery size, the more time it will need to recharge.
Check out, Should I Buy a Used Electric Car? The Pros and Cons
Types Of Charging Ports
The chargers can be classified into three categories: slow, fast, and rapid chargers. Slow charging points 3kWh or 5kWh and fast ones supply power worth of 7kWh or 22kWh. The fast-charging points can supply up to 50kWh power.
On average, an electric car that has a battery size of around 60kWh can take a maximum of 8 hours to charge from zero-to-hundred. That is when it uses a fast 7kWh charging port.
On the other hand, a rapid AC charger can charge an EV within 35 minutes. But it only charges your EV up to 80% that quick because you should ideally charge your EV battery till 80% only.
Your home wall box usually offers you a 3kWh or 7kWh charging port. This indicates that you can charge your EV from zero to full overnight without a hassle. If you’re in urgent need of charging, you can search for rapid charging ports near your place.
Most public ports offer fast charging that can charge an electric car within 4 to 6 hours. 22kWh charging ports, though it takes less time, charging your EV in 1 or 2 hours at maximum.
Check out, What Would Happen if Everyone Switched to an Electric Car
What Are The 12 Questions You Search For About Charging Your EV And More?
Now let’s address your confusions and answer the 12 major queries running in the minds of potential EV buyers.
1. Can I charge an electric car at home?
Yes, you can charge your EV at home. You will have to buy and install an EV wall charging unit. The charging unit offers 7kWh power. You may buy a lower power wall charging unit of 3kWh.
However, your EV will then take longer to charge from zero-to-hundred. You can install the charging unit in your driveway, attach the Type 1 or Type 2 connector and charge the electric car.
>> Check out the price of the EV wall charting unit <<
2. What is the difference between the Type 1 connector and the Type 2 connector?
Type 1 connector has a five-pin plug and is used for EVs in North America or older models of Europe. Type 2 connector has a seven-pin plug and is more commonly used today.
Most of the public charging points offer Type 2 sockets. It would be best if you searched on what plug your EV will use beforehand. It helps when you’re buying a wall charging unit for your home.
3. How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?
If your wall charging unit has 3kWh power, you can charge your EV fully in 8 to 14 hours. A 7kWh powered charging unit takes 3 to 5 hours to recharge your EV. On the other hand, a 22kWh-powered rapid unit charges an EV in less than 2 hours.
4. How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
On average, U.S. citizens pay 12 cents per each kWh they consume. You can also calculate the exact electricity cost by dividing the monetary total of your electric bill by the kilowatt-hours (kWh) you consumed.
That will give you the amount you spent for every kW hour you consumed. Whatever your average rate is, it will be much lesser than your fuel consumption in the end.
Read How Much Time Does It Take to Charge a Tesla
5. Where should I charge my electric car in a public place?
Thoughts like “where to charge an electric car” may surface in your thoughts. We’ve got you covered, though. If you don’t have a wall charging unit at home or are out and your EV needs to recharge, you can always use the public charging stations. The number of public charging stations continues to increase around the globe.
That’s why you shouldn’t worry about that. Chances are, you will find a public charging point near our home or workplace without a hassle.
6. How long does it take to charge an electric car on a public charging point?
Every EV takes a different time to fully charge, varying on the model of EV you have and its battery size. An EV with a 60kWh battery size takes 8 hours to charge from zero to a hundred, using a 7kWh charging point.
You can even charge your car up to 80% within 30 minutes if the public charging station offers a 50kWh rapid charger. Ideally, you use a rapid charger to charge your car faster if your car’s battery size is bigger.
7. For how long can I drive a fully charged EV before it needs a recharge?
You can drive a fully-charged EV with a 64kWh battery size for 9 hours before finding a charging place to recharge it.
However, that also depends on what EV model you own, its battery size, and the speed you’re driving it. The more your driving speed is, the lesser area you’ll cover before your car needs a recharge.
Below are the estimated ranges for some of the electric cars when charged 100%:
- Tesla Model 3 LR: 560 KM (348 MILES)
- Kia e Niro: 453 km (281 miles)
- Renault Zoe: 394 km (245 miles)
- Hyundai IONIQ: 310 km (193 miles)
8. Does weather affect EV charging?
You can charge an electric car regardless of the weather. That isn’t an issue. However, the weather might affect the overall performance of your car.
For example, your EV might cover a smaller distance than usual when fully charged during extreme summers or winters. One of the reasons for this is the excessive use of an air conditioner or heater that takes more energy off the battery, causing it to discharge sooner than usual.
But other than that, you can drive your EV in the rain and even take it for a car wash later. Some EVs like Jaguar i-PACE even have features to work in flood situations as well.
9. When should I sell my electric car?
Owning an EV is strategic. But it’s more strategic to know when is the ideal time to sell your EV and buy a newer one. There are numerous things to consider as you decide on the perfect time.
For instance, if you think your model is getting old or obsolete, there is another EV with better and latest technological features. Or if your EV’s battery warranty is about to expire soon.
You may even be relocating somewhere where there isn’t a nearby EV structure available. In such scenarios, you should make the best return on your asset and sell the car.
10. Should I buy or lease my electric car?
If you’re thinking of getting a new EV, you’ll either have to buy or lease it. You may not have enough savings to buy the EV.
Therefore, leasing a car might be the more affordable alternative. You can even opt for buying the car but leasing its battery. That way, you will have to make monthly payments for the battery but not own it.
Going for this option decreases the total cost of buying an electric car. Not only do you get to make some savings on your budget, but you also reduce your worries about the battery.
If the battery depreciates or needs fixing, your leasing company will be responsible for catering to it, not you.
11. What is the best EV I can buy today?
Investing in electric cars is a critical decision. The answer to “what’s the best car to get?” depends on several factors. Your affordability, your required battery size, and preferred technological advancements are some of the primary elements.
But overall, some of the safest and rewarding EVs include Hyundai IONIQ 3, Tesla Model S, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Renault Zoe.
12. Do I get a tax credit by purchasing an EV?
You can avail yourself of tax credits on buying an electric car and plug-in hybrids both. You cannot receive any tax credit if you buy any of the newer EV models by Tesla.
However, apart from that, you receive a tax credit for up to $ 7500 upon buying the other models. The credits decrease your total tax bills for the year. Hence, purchasing an EV becomes even more affordable and pocket-friendly for you.
You may like the following electric car articles:
- 4-Seater Electric Car
- How Much Power Does an Electric Car Consume?
- Best Portable Electric Car Heaters
- Benefits of Electric Cars Other than Just Being Cost-Effective
- 15 Facts You Didn’t Know About Electric Cars
- How Are Electric Car Charging Stations Powered
- Charging an Electric Car in an Apartment
Own An EV Today
Considering how the world is evolving with technical updates coming up left and right, it’s not hard to claim that EVs are the future of cars. The booming demand from consumers and increasing interests in the EV are major indicators.
As firms continue introducing advanced electric cars and federal governments offer incentives, it’s high time you invest in an EV today. If you don’t have enough saved up, go for leasing the car.
Enjoy the benefits of owning an EV. Hopefully, the 12 vital queries we answered above were effective in washing away your queries as well. If you still have some questions unanswered, leave a comment for us, and we’ll answer them right away!
My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.