Two Things You Need to Know About Electric Vehicle Chargers

Since 2010, over 2.4 million hybrid and electric vehicles have been sold in the US. Between January 2021 and January 2022, there has been a 37% increase in the number of “plug-in” electric vehicles and hybrids sold. With a Biden Administration executive order targeting 50% of all vehicle sales to be electric vehicle sales by 2030, US drivers have numerous incentives to purchase these vehicles. What does this mean for you? A greater need for infrastructure to support electric cars. But what are some of the things you should know about electric vehicle chargers?

There Are Different “Levels” of Electric Vehicle Chargers

A Level 1 charger uses a standard 120-volt electric outlet which most homes already have in their garages or near where they park their vehicles. The convenience is great, but the speed of charging using a 120-volt is very slow, up to 8 hours to fully charge a hybrid and up to 20 for an electric vehicle. And for commuters who drive a lot, that might be a problem.

Level 2 chargers use a 240-volt outlet—like the one used by your dryer and allow you to charge your vehicles up to 5 times faster than a Level 1 charging station.

Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations are designed for residential use. Level 3 charging stations use very high voltages to charge electric vehicles quickly and are better used in commercial applications when many vehicles need one charging station.

The Cost of Electric Vehicle Chargers

There are two significant expenses associated with powering electric vehicles; the cost of hiring a qualified commercial electrical company to install an electric vehicle charging station and the cost of electricity.

The cost of charging the average electric vehicle is about the same as running the average central air conditioning system for 6 to 12 hours. When compared to the price of gas, this cost is a bargain.

Although you can install an electric vehicle charging station yourself, that might not be a good idea. If it isn’t done correctly, the charging station may damage the vehicle’s battery which is (by far) the most expensive component in the vehicle. Instead, having a trained professional such as the commercial electricians at Tri-State Electrical Contractors is a better idea. At Tri-State Electrical, our electricians have been trained to properly install electric vehicle charging stations and can do it for residential, commercial, or industrial electrical customers.

For more information or to get a quote for our commercial or industrial electrical services, call (423) 800-2134, fill out our simple online form, or email us at info@tristateec.com today.