By Josh Goldman
It's 90 degrees here in our nation's capital but it might feel like the winter holiday season to those who reserved a Tesla Model 3. Expected to have a 215-mile range and sticker price of $35,000 (or $27,500 after the federal tax credit), the Model 3 will compete with the similar spec'd Chevy Bolt for the prize of cornering the early majority of electric vehicle owners.
No other automaker has a relatively affordable, 200 mile-plus range electric vehicle on the market, yet (the nextgen Nissan Leaf will compete too), and one or both of these vehicles may be a pivotal point in the modern shift to electrics. Assuming you're already sold on the benefits of driving on electricity, here are a couple tips for you to consider if you're prepping for an electric vehicle.
1. Prepare Your Home Charging
There are two main options for charging an electric vehicle at home: (1) 120V charging from an ordinary home outlet and (2) 240V charging from either an upgraded home circuit or existing circuit for a heavy electric appliance like a drying machine.
There is also DC fast charging, but that is only applicable to charging on-the-go and described in more detail below. Before deciding on how to charge, talk with a couple licensed electricians to better understand your home's electrical capacity. Mr. Electric appears to win the Google SEO for "electrician for electric vehicle," so maybe head there for a start.
Electric Vehicle Charging Level 1 (120 volts)—about 4-6 miles of range per hour of charge
- Uses an ordinary wall outlet just like a toaster.
- Typically won't require modifications to electric panels or home wiring.
- Confirm that your home's electrical circuits are at least 15 or 20-amp, single pole by consulting with a licensed electrician.
- Slow, but can get the job done if you don't drive that much on a daily basis. If you only need 20 miles of range, for example, only getting 20 miles of charge each night is not a problem. For road trips, most EVs are equipped to handle the faster charging options that can make charging pit stops on road trips pretty quick.
Electric Vehicle ChargingLevel 2 (240 volts)—about 10-25 miles of range per hour of charge
- Installation costs vary, but here's a 30-amp charger from Amazon that is highly rated and costs around $900, including installation, and here's one that includes an algorithm to minimize charging emissions and costs.
- Will likely require a new dedicated circuit from the electric panel to a wall location near the EV parking spot.
- Consult with a licensed electrician to verify that your home has a two-pole 30 to 50-amp electrical circuit breaker panel.
Electric Vehicle Charging Level 3 (aka DC fast charging) (400 volts)—Not for home use, but can charge battery up to 80 percent in about 30 minutes
- The fastest charging method available, but prohibitively expensive for home use.
- Some vehicles can get an 80 percent full charge in as little as 30 minutes, depending on the electric vehicle type.