Many people are choosing to purchase an electric vehicle. Since 2018, there has been an 83% increase in sales of electric cars. With more of these vehicles on the road, public charging stations can get busy. Moreover, the time it takes to achieve full charge makes waiting at a public charging station inconvenient in some cases. For this reason, many electric car owners are installing electric vehicle charging stations at home.

What are Electric Vehicle Charging Stations?

Electric vehicle charging stations, also called EV charging stations, are not so different from the chargers you use to power your phone or tablets. However, these are designed to charge the batteries of electric vehicles and require more than a typical wall outlet. Hiring EV charging contractors to set up the proper equipment is critical to successfully installing electric vehicle charging stations at home.

Types of Electric Charging Stations

There are different types of EV charging stations. When you purchase an electric vehicle, a Level 1 charging cable is usually included. This basic type of charging cable uses a typical 120-volt household outlet, making it the simplest option and the lowest cost.

However, these chargers take a long time to fully charge the car’s battery – sometimes more than 30 hours. Generally, every hour of charging using a Level 1 car charger equates to about five miles worth of charge. If your vehicle’s battery is designed for 200 miles worth of travel, that can result in a lengthy wait.

For this reason, many people installing electric vehicle charging stations at home opt for a Level 2 charger. These involve a higher circuit, equivalent to an electric clothes dryer. An electrician can install this level charger at your home. Typically, you can fully charge your electric car’s battery (for those 200 miles) in roughly 10 hours. That means that owners can easily charge their vehicle overnight.

Level 3 chargers have the capability to charge 80% of an electric car’s battery in about 20 minutes. That dramatically cuts down the charging time. These chargers are commercial grade and tend to be quite costly, with installation often exceeding $45,000. That’s why homeowners typically don’t select them when installing electric vehicle charging stations at home. Instead, these are most commonly found at commercial charging stations.

Installing Level 2 EV Charging Stations at Home

When installing electric vehicle charging stations at home, most people opt for Level 2. On the low end, these chargers run about $300. However, higher-grade chargers will cost more. The average cost of the charger and professional installation by a certified electrician is around $1,000.

Installing electric vehicle charging stations at home can provide you with a considerable level of comfort and convenience. Waiting to use a public charging station can be inconvenient, especially during peak charging times. Home charging stations allow you to easily charge your vehicle any time it’s parked at your residence, ensuring it’s ready to go when you need it.