Electric Vehicle Ownership
Electric Vehicle Charging Options
Charging times vary depending on the type of charger used.
Level 1 chargers use a standard household outlet and charge about two to five miles of range per hour, making Level 1 a good choice for plug-in hybrid vehicles but not battery electric vehicles.
Level 2 chargers can be installed at your home by a professional electrician and charge about 10-20 miles of range per hour. A good choice for any EV when charging overnight or all day is possible.
Level 3 fast chargers are the most efficient and can be found at commercial locations. Level 3 can charge about 60-80 miles of range in about 20 minutes, making it a good choice for any EV when a quick charge is needed on the go.
Electric Vehicle Charging Costs
Charging costs will vary depending on a variety of variables including vehicle model, charger type, when you charge your vehicle, where you charge your vehicle and current electricity rates.
For example, charging your vehicle after 11 p.m. during the winter months would typically be cheaper than charging your vehicle in the summer during the afternoon.
Public charging stations can cost between $0.20 and $0.60 per kWh on average. It's estimated that electric vehicle owners who charge their vehicles during off-peak hours will pay approximately 1/7th of the cost of gas.
Electric Vehicle Maintenace
Electric vehicles may require less maintenance than conventional vehicles in many different ways. EVs are fully operated on batteries, which means there are no oil changes needed and fewer fluids to maintain. Being a fully electric vehicle, there are no fuel or water pumps to maintain as a normal gas-fed vehicle would require.
Brake wear and tear is also reduced thanks to the regenerative braking on EV models. The use of kinetic energy when braking to charge the battery results in a system that is much gentler on the brake pads and results in a longer lasting brake system.
With less moving parts, EVs don't require tune-ups, cooling system flushes, spark plugs or drive belt maintenance as frequently as gas-powered vehicles. EVs operating on an electric system results in the battery, motor and other electronics requiring less maintenance.
At-home charging stations typically don't require frequent maintenance, although the maintenance levels depend on the type of charging station. EV owners utilizing at-home charging stations would be responsible for personal maintenance that includes storing charging cables securely, checking charging parts regulary for damage, and keeping the charging equipment clean.
