You’ve probably seen plenty of advertisements on TV recently for electric vehicles. From the big game to the local news, they seem to be everywhere. You’ve seen claims about environmental friendliness, powerful performance, and so much more, but there are probably many questions on your mind, including “How do electric car charging stations work?” Electric vehicles indeed represent a little bit of a lifestyle change from the old way of doing things where you went to the pump in Corona. However, we’d like to let you know that from electric car charging stations cost to locations, we’ve got a guide to help you make the transition.
How do electric car charging stations work? You’ll want to know which type you’re using first. There are three types of electric car charging models, two of which you’ll find on the road. There’s level 1, which is almost exclusively found at home. This is the same as an old-school electrical outlet, and it only provides a few miles of charge for each hour of charging. For most electric vehicles available in Riverside today, expect to spend more than 24 hours to get a full charge.
However, the models available out in public are much quicker. The slower of the two is level 2, which will typically give you a full charge overnight. However, if you are just looking to top up, most modern EVs can provide somewhere between 60 and 120 miles of charge in 45 minutes.
The biggest and best of the three has to be level 3 DC Fast Charging. If you’re looking to get the full charge on a road trip or during your grocery run, this is what you’ll want to pick. In most cases, you’ll be able to get 200-300 miles of charge in a 30-45 minute period. These car charging stations are most often found at grocery stores and fast food establishments, so you’ll be able to get a meal or get your groceries done and have a week’s worth of driving ready on average.
There are several different charging ports you’ll have to contend with when it comes to charging your electric car, and they differ based on what model you have and whether you’re going level 2 or level 3.
Level 2 car chargers are all the same if your EV was made after model year 2000. They all have J1772 charging ports. Level 3, on the other hand, that’ll differ. If you have a Tesla, you’ll have a different charging port than all others. However, if you don’t have a Tesla, you’ll have either the CCS (combined charging system, also known as SAE Combo or just Combo) or the CHAdeMO plug. Most Level 3 chargers are designed to accommodate the two common ones, while a Tesla requires you to find a proprietary Tesla charger.
If you’re concerned about the electric car charging station cost, you’ll want to know a few things off the bat. For one, it’s almost always cheaper to charge at home. When you charge at home, you’re paying the kilowatt-hour cost that you pay to keep the lights on. This is almost certainly cheaper than filling up on the road.
Some electric car charging stations are free with certain models, but this only applies for a limited time. Don’t expect to have this for the life of your vehicle. You’ll have an app with your vehicle that will direct you to these charging stations in most cases.
If you’re out on the run, you’ll want to consider that charging costs differ between Level 2 and Level 3. Level 2 is cheaper and will typically cost between $15 and $25 to charge the average car fully. Level 3 is more expensive and will typically cost between $30 and $45 to get a full charge in Ontario. This is contingent on daily demand pricing, so charging during peak times will typically cost you a little more.
One thing that gives people trepidation about electric cars is the question of the road trip. How do I get charged as I hit the highway? Thankfully, new level 3 chargers are rolling out across the country constantly, meaning you’ll have more and more options to charge your car. One thing that will differ with the new way of road-tripping is that you’ll have to take more short breaks for a meal, the restroom, or for supplies.
Now that you know the answer to “How do electric car charging stations work?” it’s time to shop for your EV with a team that’s got your back. BMW of Murrieta has a great selection of electric vehicles just waiting for you to discover. Contact us today and we’ll help you get started. In the meantime, browse our new vehicle specials for opportunities to save on your next electric vehicle or learn more about electic vehicles in general from BMW!
