Most drivers of electric vehicles (EVs)—which include all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)—charge their vehicles overnight at home using AC Level 1 or AC Level 2 charging equipment. Residential equipment is frequently installed in garages, but outdoor installation and use are also safe, even if the vehicle is being charged in the rain. Outdoor installations require outdoor-rated equipment. Charging at multifamily housing requires additional considerations and may be more like public charging than charging at a single-family home.
Many EV owners are able to meet their daily driving range requirements by charging overnight with Level 1 equipment, requiring no additional cost or installation, provided that a power outlet on a dedicated branch circuit is available near their parking location. Level 2 charging equipment can be installed for drivers with less regular schedules, longer commutes, or EVs with large batteries that require more than overnight (or the typical dwell time) to fully charge. State and utility incentives may be available to help offset the cost of charging equipment.
Most Level 2 products have standard safety features and status lights. More advanced, "smart" Level 2 products have features such as data collection, user interface systems, enhanced displays, charging timers, communications capabilities, and keypads. Purchasing safety-certified equipment is recommended, such as the products certified under the ENERGY STAR label, which are tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, along with having a certified electrical contractor.
Electricians can inform homeowners whether their home has adequate electrical capacity for vehicle charging. Some homes might have insufficient electric capacity for Level 2 equipment. However, a qualified electrician can add circuits to accommodate the capacity needed for Level 2 charging.
The City of San Jose, California, was one of the first to issue requirements for installing vehicle charging systems in single-family homes and duplexes, and explains the permitting process and location planning for a home charging unit. In recent years, other cities have followed suit, such as Seattle’s tip sheets for both residential and commercial EV charging installations.
Charging equipment installations must comply with local and state codes and regulations. Appropriate permits may be required from the local building and permitting authorities.
EV charging infrastructure is considered a continuous load by the National Electrical Code (NEC). Your electrical contractor should understand and use the appropriate NEC for a safe and code-compliant installation. NEC Article 625 contains most of the information applicable to charging equipment. If possible, consult vehicle manufacturer guidance for information about the required charging equipment and learn the specifications before purchasing equipment or electrical services.
In many areas, a site installation plan must be submitted to the permitting authority for approval before installation.
The fuel efficiency of an EV may be measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 miles. To calculate the cost per mile of an EV, the cost of electricity (in dollars per kWh) and the efficiency of the vehicle (how much electricity is used to travel 100 miles) must be known. If electricity costs ¢10.7 per kWh and the vehicle consumes 27 kWh to travel 100 miles, the cost per mile is about $0.03.
If electricity costs ¢10.7 per kilowatt-hour, charging an EV with a 200-mile range (assuming a fully depleted 54 kWh battery) will cost about $6 to reach a full charge. To compare the fueling costs of individual models of conventional and electric vehicles, see the Vehicle Cost Calculator.
For EV charging, the stability and planning benefits of household electricity rates offer an attractive alternative compared to traditional types of transportation. Learn more from the report: Comparing Energy Costs per Mile for Electric and Gasoline-Fueled Vehicles.
The city of Seattle in Washington, États-Unis, has 1480 public charging station ports (Level 2 and Level 3) within 15km. 91% of the ports are level 2 charging ports and 46% of the ports offer free charges for your electric car.
Seattle, also known as Emerald City, is a port city where activities are never lacking in its dynamic downtown. As it borders the Pacific Ocean, 90% of their electricity is derived from hydropower, putting mass electrification of transportation and the development of the charging infrastructure on the agenda.
Downtown has a strong concentration of level 2 charging stations and level 3 charging stations (DC Fast Charging stations or DCFC) within a radius of 10 miles. Some of these are found in the neighbouring Capitol Hill at Harvard Market and REO flats. Moreover, the city of Seattle has launched a program for the year 2017 where they will add 20 fast charging stations to its charging infrastructure.
When you visit Seattle (or live there), it’s essential to make your way to the Pike Place Market, century-old market since 1907 in Seattle’s port, only a few steps away from the city’s museums and touristic hubs. Locate the first Starbucks that was ever founded in the Soames-Dunn building, vintage hats and the smell of fresh fish emanating from the market stalls and restaurants. That’s right, seafood lovers will be happy to relish in the catches of the day – salmon, halibut, tuna, crab, shrimp, oysters, mussels and much more!
From Space Needle tower, you can experience the 360-degree view of the city, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, the Olympic mountains that divide Washington State in two and Mt. Rainier. It goes without saying that the city is in a prime location and provides a high quality of life for its citizens. Seattle’s charging infrastructure provides charging stations from various networks such as Blink, Greenlots, Tesla, EVgo, ChargePoint and SemaCharge.
The project Drive Clean Seattle, an initiative to develop the charging infrastructure has been established in 2016. Since then, Mayor Ed Murray will lead the way bringing electric vehicles in his fleet.
Use the ChargeHub charging stations map to see all of the public charging stations in Seattle, also available on iOS and Android. You will find all of the necessary information for your trips in EV (address, availability, network, type of connector, etc.).
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