How to Charge at Home

How to Charge at Home

How to Charge at Home

The first step when considering EV charging at home is to understand your typical driving behavior, such as how many miles you typically drive per day, and where you plan to park your EV. This will inform your investment in EV charging equipment and electrical upgrades to meet your needs. The power of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is determined by the circuit voltage and available amperage. Voltage is typically either 120v or 208/240v and amperage is determined by the circuit breaker in your electrical panel and wiring, typically ranging from 20A to 80A.

You can charge your EV virtually anywhere. A mobile charger is essentially an extension cord that you can use to charge from a standard outlet.

 

Level 1 charging from a 120-volt outlet can add 3 to 5 miles of range per hour, and an overnight charge may be sufficient to cover daily driving.

Level 2 charging (208-240-volt) is faster and adds about 20 to 40 miles of range per hour. You can either use a mobile charger and a 240-volt outlet near your vehicle or hardwire a dedicated EV charger. Many homes already have a 240-volt outlet in the garage that can be used for EV charging, although a hardwired charger can provide more power than an outlet. Charging

Charging Efficiency

A commuter driving more than 1,000 miles per month may need a dedicated high-amperage charger, while a driver who mostly uses their EV for short trips around town may find using a mobile charger plugged into an existing outlet is sufficient. The efficiency of your EV is also important when considering your charging needs. A smaller EV with an efficiency of 4 miles per kilowatt-hour (4 mi/kWh) charging at 24 amps will add range at the same rate as an electric truck with an efficiency of 2 mi/kWh charging at 48 amps. Chugach encourages members interested in purchasing an EV to first talk with an electrician about existing wiring in their home or garage and discuss upgrades or reconfiguration of existing circuits to support EV charging needs.

From electric grid perspective, the best time to charge is overnight after 10 pm when demand on the Chugach system is lower. Most EVs can be programmed to start charging at a specified time, or to reach a target state of charge by a certain time. Chugach encourages EV drivers to try out the scheduled charging feature on their vehicle and determine what makes sense for their needs. Many EVs default to start charging at midnight, which can create a local spike in electric load if there are multiple EVs in your neighborhood that begin charging simultaneously. Choosing a target completion time before 8am can help distribute charging across off-peak hours.