As more and more individuals choose electric vehicles (EV), they are also installing an EV charging station at home (also known as electric vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE).
If you’re looking to install a home charger for your electric vehicle, only choose an option that is safety certified and have it installed by a qualified electrician.
The time it takes to charge your electric vehicle will depend on the type of EV charger you install in your home.
Choosing Your EV Charger Level
One of the decisions to be made will be what level of charger is best for your situation. There are 3 Levels of EV Chargers. Most homes will use a Level One or Level Two.
Level One EV Chargers
- Connects to a standard 120-volt outlet
- One hour of charging delivers about 4-5 miles of driving
- Takes an EV battery 12 to 20 hours to fully charge (6 to 12 hours for a plug-in hybrid)
- Commonly used in homes
Level Two EV Chargers
- Uses a connection to a 240-volt outlet, like those used by ovens and clothes dryers. Our qualified electricians can install this outlet for you.
- One hour of charging delivers about 15-60 miles of driving
- Takes an EV battery 6 to 14 hours to fully charge (4 to 8 hours for a plug-in hybrid)
- Commonly used in homes, businesses, and common areas
Level Three Chargers (also known as Fast Chargers)
- Uses a direct current connection to an electrical system
- Thirty minutes of charging delivers 50-170 miles of driving (depends on power output of the station and vehicle type)
- Takes an EV battery 1 to 4 hours to fully charge (15 minutes to 3 hours for a plug-in hybrid)
- Most commonly used in businesses and common areas
Tesla Charging Stations
Custom Electrical Services is a Tesla certified electrical contractor for EV stations in Iowa. Tesla vehicles can also stop to charge at Supercharger Tesla charging stations. Tesla has its own adapter for this station.
EV Charging at a Public Charging Station
Most plugs come standard and ready to connect with public EV charging stations. The exception is for Tesla vehicles, which requires an adapter.
Not all chargers are compatible with all vehicles. Make sure you know and understand the connectivity and capabilities that apply to your electric vehicle. The CHAdeMO and SAE Combo (also called CCS for “Combo Charging System”) are the most used connectors by electric cars manufacturers. Vehicle owners will need to ensure they have the correct plug connector for the applicable station.
Finding a Public Charging Station
You can use a EV charging station map to find electric vehicle charging stations near you. Tesla vehicle owners can find charging stations with this map.
Federal Tax Credit
Until December 31, 2021, there is a federal tax credit available to residences and businesses that purchase and install infrastructure for environmentally friendly transportation, including charging stations. Find out more about this program on the U.S. Department of Energy website.
What to Look for When Choosing Your Home Charging Station for your Electric Vehicle
- Understand how you use your vehicle and when and how often you will be charging it. Will you have one or more vehicles requiring charging at the same time?
- Choose the Level of charging station for your home. In most cases, we recommend a Level 2 charging station. A Level 2 charger will provide you with the convenience of charging at home overnight and gives you more driving time faster.
- Consider where you want your charging station installed. Knowing where your car will be parked can help determine the length of charging cable you will need.
EV Charging Stations for Businesses and Commercial Properties
Custom Electrical Services installs EV charger stations for businesses too! Business customers are installing these stations not only for customer convenience, but also to help with their Green Initiatives. We have recently installed EV Charging Stations at hotels, restaurants, and retail stores. Help your business reduce its carbon footprint and install EV stations today.
EV Charging Stations that Connect to WI-FI
We can install EV stations that connect to Wi-Fi too. This allows the owner to control usage and rate of charge. This allows you to monitor your EV charging from your phone. For businesses, it provides an ability to monitor and adjust off site. Do not want customers to charge during store off hours? Set an automatic schedule to shut off the station when closed. You can even change the level of charging remotely, read usage, and allow customers to reserve the station depending on which EV station they choose!
Contact Us for a Quote for Your EV Home Charger Installation
We’re familiar with most home and commercial EV charging stations and are happy to come out and provide you with a quote. We’ll make sure you have appropriate electrical supply, consult with you on the location of the charger and secure permits.
