The good news is that if you own your own home or have landlord permission, most plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) and PHEVs can charge at full speed at home using standard Level 2 chargers. These plug into a 240-volt outlet, similar to what many clothes dryers and some electric stoves use.
What are EV chargers made of?
A typical at-home ev charger installers station provides 40 amps or 9.6 kW of power, which allows most long-range EVs to add about 25 miles of range in an hour of charging. That’s a bit slower than the fastest public Level 3 stations, which can refill an EV up to 80% in about 30 minutes—although most people will not need to reach that kind of range-extending level during normal driving or road trips.
If you want to enable smart charging modes like solar integration or load balancing, you’ll need an EV charger with built-in capability to obtain data about your home’s solar system and other electricity-consuming loads. Some chargers are compatible with external CT meters or meter kits, while others can be configured to work with third-party software such as Charge HQ.
If you’re considering a home EV charger, be sure that it’s UL Listed, which indicates that it has passed a series of tests and is safe. Also, check with your local utilities to see what rebates are available to help you cover the cost of installation. Some utilities have special deals during off-peak hours to give you a lower rate for charging.