Along with deciding whether to avail of an EV charger installation or not, you should examine the sort of EV charger you will use at home. As an EV driver, you should incorporate this plan into your total cost of ownership. However, you must first learn about home charging and analyze your unique needs. Where do you keep your vehicle? How far do you drive each day? Most importantly, how fast do you want your automobile to charge?
Another factor to consider is that the cost and convenience of EV battery charging periods varies greatly depending on your requirements. The charger is a critical component in the equation. The kind of electric car battery, the amount of energy it can retain, and the level of battery depletion all influence the best charging time. Even the temperature of the surrounding air can have an effect on the battery’s capacity to receive a charge properly.
There are “plug-and-play” chargers that are ready to use right away, while others require you to hardwire the installation. At Eagle Rock Residential Electricians, we will teach you about the factors to consider when selecting an EV charger.
- Speed: Do you want to charge your electric vehicle fast?
Level 2 chargers use 240V, although charging speed varies depending on the amperage, or electrical current, of the charger. Your demand for speed will vary depending on the range of your EV, your commute, and your driving style: a car with a shorter range, a long commute, or constantly driving at peak speed may indicate that you may benefit from a quicker charge at home. Most EVs can take in around 32 amps of charging power, which adds about 25 miles of range per hour, so a 32-amp charging station is a suitable choice for many vehicles. You may also wish to speed up or prepare for your next car with a quicker 50-amp charger that can add 37 miles of range in an hour.
- Supply: Considering how much room is there in your electrical panel
You must select a charger with an amperage, or current, level compatible with your vehicle and the available electrical capacity in your home. The National Electrical Code requires that an electrical circuit be rated for 25% more amperage than the output of your charger.
- Safety and Reliability: How important is safety for you?
A portable charger may appear attractive for vacation, but dealing with cords and plugs on the ground becomes old quickly when you charge practically daily—and it’s not particularly safe, especially if you have little children (human or animal). Consider purchasing a wall-mounted charging station that provides a secure location to suspend the charging wire and connection while not in use.
Here is also a quick guide to how much current you need for each charging speed:
| Required Circuit / Breaker Rating | Charger Amperage | Estimated Driving Range Added Per Hour of Charging |
| 20A | 16A | 12 mi (19 KM) |
| 30A | 24A | 18 mi (29 KM) |
| 40A | 32A | 25 mi (40 KM) |
| 50A | 40A | 30 mi (48 KM) |
| 60A | 48A | 36 mi (58 KM) |
| 70A / 80A | 50A | 37 mi (60 KM) |
Five (5) Common Problems Encountered with EV Chargers and How to Fix Them
Electric vehicle widespread adoption is clearly on the horizon. And for the most part, the national debate is centered on electric vehicles and the many firms producing new automobiles to fulfill demand. The charging networks are receiving far less attention at the moment. This appears strange when we realize that some of the largest corporations involved with automobiles are gasoline companies. How much of the economy of internal combustion engine cars is due to the fuelling of the internal combustion engines? Plenty.
Here are the five most prevalent user experience design issues encountered by EV charger users:
- The Plug Does Not Reach
The charging cable’s reach is one of the most glaring design problems in many charging stations. When you pull up to a gas station, you never have to wonder if the pump will reach your vehicle. However, with many non-Tesla charging stations, the cable does not always reach the location where you need it to charge your car.
Cars are sometimes positioned across many parking spots to allow the cable to reach. This can sometimes include numerous parking EV charging stations. This, of course, will become increasingly difficult as the number of electric vehicles attempting to utilize those charging stations grows.
In a few situations, charging stations have the reverse problem, where the charging wire is visibly longer than it has to be and is at risk of being run over or tangled and mangled, causing difficulties that would necessitate extra maintenance.
- Variable Charging Speed
Not all charging facilities for electric vehicles are made equal. Even those that appear identical might differ substantially in terms of charging speed and hence overall experience. Keep in mind that if electric vehicles become popular, the majority of the general populace does not have a strong grasp of fundamental physics, and they should not be required to learn basic physics in order to purchase an electric vehicle.
- Heavy Charging Plugs and Cables
The holsters are also a little clumsy. When you consider gas stations’ “plugs and holsters,” it is evident that they have been designed (or were at some point) for the general population. This entire list, in fact, does not apply as much to every charging station. In terms of ergonomics and user experience, the supercharger network is presently the best built.
- Non-starts and Reboots.
The majority of EV charging networks advertise high uptime; however, this is clearly less truth and more marketing. Anyone with a charging network had at least one occasion when they had to re-park at an adjacent charger because the charger they were parked at wouldn’t start charging, or they had to wait for the charging station to reboot.
- Location.
Some charging stations are conveniently located and may be accessed by going to the address indicated on their individual app. However, there are several charging points that are concealed. Many charging outlets are hidden beneath gas stations or on the second and third floors of parking garages.
Should these problems be seen every time you charge your vehicle in every charging station in your area, you may contact Eagle Rock Residential Electricians for an EV charger installation in your home.
If you want to learn more tips about electric vehicle chargers, please feel free to visit our website and read our other blogs about it. You may also contact us here at your most convenient time should you have any concerns or emergencies that need to be addressed as soon as possible.