One of the biggest concerns people have about electric cars concerns charging them. People fear being stranded somewhere without a charging station nearby. Although those concerns are valid, most charging is done at home. Modern electric vehicles have plenty of battery power to get you where you’re going and back home without having to find a charging station.
Home Charging Stations
No matter where you charge your vehicle, the actual charger is housed in the vehicle. That way wherever you have access to power, you can simply plug in. A home charging station, which is technically named Electric Vehicle Service Equipment or EVSE, is great because it will take less time to charge your vehicle than with a regular outlet. All home charging stations are not the same. Some work faster than others, and the costs range just like the capabilities of the EVSE. The best thing to do is talk with the vehicle manufacturer to find which one works best and then talk with them about installation of the unit in your garage or home.
Adaptors for Your Vehicle
If you don’t have access to your home charging station, or any other station, you can plug into a standard outlet. Some adaptors should be included with your purchase of the car, and, if they aren’t, you should be able to purchase them. Keep in mind that a standard outlet will charge your vehicle much slower than other outlets.
Public Charging Stations
Despite the fact that most charging will be done at home, and the fact that you can plug into any outlet, most people still fear that they won’t be able to find a charging station. These fears are not rational, because there are actually thousands of charging stations across the United States. If you live in or near any medium-sized city, you’ll be able to find at least one public charging station. To help you find these charging stations, there are many different websites like Carstations, Chargepoint, and Project Plug-In. There are also sites like PlugShare, which not only show public stations, but private stations that are open to other people using them. In the Indianapolis area alone there are over sixty charging stations according to Chargepoint.
Interested in an Electric Car?
If you’re interested in learning more about electric vehicles, visit your nearest Hubler dealership. The helpful representatives will be able to tell you all of the things you need to know, and you can even set up a test drive.