Electric cars have become more popular in the western area lately because of how many companies promote them as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Like gas stations, EV charging stations should also be as prominent due to the rising ownership of these cars. They are also necessary as a cost-effective, energy-efficient way to power electric vehicles.
However, there have been many complaints about EV charging stations being unreliable. Most apps could not connect to the station and had payment transaction failures. Even then, many gas stations still do not have EV charging stations installed in their establishments. Another issue brought by EV owners is that each charging station has a different app you should install on your phone to connect to it. This issue is why most homeowners opt for an EV Charger Installation service for their own homes. Rush Electrical Service can help you out with this concern.
This article section lists some of the most popular EV charging station companies with excellent software, quality services, and even technical support.
- ChargePoint
ChargePoint is one of the largest electric charging point companies, with a global network of EV charging stations that allows users to charge their EVS with a single account. ChargePoint provides hardware, cloud services, and 24/7 reliable customer support. This company has installed over 60,000 electric vehicle charging stations worldwide and delivered over 123 million charges.
- ABB
ABB is one of the world’s best and most advanced EV charging station companies. ABB provides residential stations ranging from 3 kW to 22 kW and DC Fast Chargers with capacities exceeding 350 kW. ABB provides a wide range of EV charging solutions for industrial fleets, commercial fleets, heavy-duty trucks, and even long-distance buses.
- Shell
Shell has been an energy company for over 100 years and is sought-after by many residents for gasoline necessities. This company has created and promoted clean energy and sustainable solutions, making them one of the world’s top EV charging companies. Shell promotes its EV charging ecosystem, which includes home charging, business and retail charging, and on-the-go charging.
- Siemens
Siemens is one of the best EV charging companies, providing high-quality eMobility solutions such as innovative software and high-performance EV charging infrastructures for all types of businesses, EV fleets, utilities, entire cities, and end customers. Siemens creates cutting-edge smart EV chargers that control every aspect of the charging process, improving performance while lowering costs.
- Tesla
Tesla is well-known for being a pioneer in the EV industry, having established itself as the best EV manufacturer and one of the largest electric car charging companies. Over 30,000 Tesla Global Superchargers and over 4,500 charging destination sites are available. Tesla offers smart charging solutions for residential, commercial, and retail applications, including regular chargers and superchargers. The unfortunate part is that their EV charging stations are custom-built solely for Tesla vehicles.
Is EV charging free?
Most EV charging stations will charge by the kilowatt-hour, which is the amount of energy transferred to the car’s battery. Unless it’s a free charger, the session fee is greater than the cost of charging your electric car at home.
Individual station owners often set charging rates. A ChargePoint network logo on a charger does not imply consistent prices. The charger at your local grocery store may not be the same price as the station in the parking lot of a nearby shopping center.
Some large retailers, such as Whole Foods, provide free chargers in various locations. However, free EV charging stations are far less common than those requiring payment. Some public stations also charge by the minute.
Can I charge my EV with solar panels?
Although, technically, the answer is yes, it would take too long to be a practical method. Basic EV charging stations are already slow, and charging from solar panels would make the process slower. Calculations have been made, and it would take solar panels with a certain amount of voltage to be adequate to charge an EV. It is calculated to need 3840 watts, while most inverters available in the market are only for 1000 to 3000 watts. Finding the equipment would be difficult and costly. For now, EV charging with solar panels is just impractical.
Is it cheaper to charge an electric car than gas?
Charging an electric vehicle at home is significantly less expensive than filling up a car that uses gasoline, and it is also significantly less expensive than using a public charging station. It will cost nearly $18 to get 3.9 gallons of gas and drive 100 miles if you pay $4.50 per gallon. On average, the price you pay for charging at home is around $0.14 per kWh. So, charging an EV at home is much cheaper than buying gas.
However, those savings quickly disappear when you travel and use public chargers. Using public chargers is inevitable if you cannot install an EV charger at home or intend to make frequent road trips. Most public EV charging stations in the United States provide fast charging speeds, making them more expensive than a regular EV home charger.
Is it possible to plug my electric car into a regular outlet?
Depending on the volt outlet installed in your home, the charging time for your EV may vary. If you only have a 110-volt outlet at home, it would be about four to five hours of range per hour charged. This outlet is called a Level 1 EV charging station. For an overnight charge consisting of 8 hours, you can drive up to 36 to 40 miles. For homeowners who do not travel a lot for a day, the charge provided by a 110-volt outlet is enough.
However, if you have a 240-volt outlet at home, you can consider it a Level 2 EV charging station. These outlets are also the ones typically installed in many public charging stations. You get 180 miles of range over 8 hours of charging. This method is recommended for drivers who drive more miles in a day.
Can you use a generator to charge an electric car while driving?
Generator charging for your electric car is possible, but it has to be set up correctly by a professional electrician. Also, note that this operation would require you to have a large generator and that it would need a plug that is the correct size of your car. This process comes with many challenges, and it would be preferable to consult your local electrician regarding this concern. Regardless, it is better to charge your EV at home overnight.
Are you still confused about where to set up a charging station for your EV at home? You can read more about home EV charging stations or consult our crew of electricians at Rush Electrical Service today.