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How to Charge Your Electric Vehicle at Home

April 24, 2022

By HedgeHog Electric & Solar

With nearly 120 charging stations in St. George, you don’t have to drive far to find a place to juice up your electric vehicle. However, the most convenient way to operate your EV is to charge it at home.

EV owners have a couple of options to power up their rides. They can plug into a standard wall outlet, or they can upgrade to a Level 2 charger for faster charging. Each deserves careful consideration. Here’s what you need to know.

EV Charging With a Standard Outlet Takes Longer

Most electric vehicles come with a Level 1 EVSE, or electric vehicle supply equipment. It’s a specialized extension cord that includes a standard three-prong plug on one end and the vehicle connector on the other. This makes your car compatible with a household 120-volt, 15-amp outlet. Each hour of charging adds two to five miles of range. Owners of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles should find this sufficient. Leave it charging overnight, and you should have a full battery by morning. Depending on the EV model, you should be able to go 40 to 50 miles on a full charge.

However, Level 1 charging may test the patience of Chevy Bolt owners. It could take well over a day to charge an all-electric vehicle’s big battery.

Level 1 Charging May Require a Dedicated Circuit

Be sure that the receptacle you plug your EV into is on a dedicated branch circuit. In other words, the circuit isn’t also supplying power to any major appliances. You don’t want to discover that your car didn’t charge because a breaker tripped in the middle of the night, so consider having a dedicated circuit installed.

Level 2 Charges Faster, Requires Electrical Upgrade

You’ll need a Level 2 charging station if you want to charge up your vehicle in half the time. Level 2 charging uses 240-volt power, the same as your major appliances. You’ll need special charging equipment and maybe even a larger electrical panel to accommodate the added power demand. For the driver who can’t wait overnight to go long distances on a single charge, Level 2 is the way to go.

For all of your electrical needs, turn to the experts at HedgeHog Electric. Call 877-673-9751 to schedule your appointment.

Your Electrical Experts!

Electrical projects should be left to the experts who are well-trained in safety protocol and are equipped with the correct tools. If your home or business requires electrical repair or installations, HedgeHog Electric is here to help! Contact us online or give us a call. 877-673-9751

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