More and more drivers are switching
to electric vehicles or EVs.
In this video, I'll walk you through
everything you need to know when it comes to charging one.
Let's get to it.
First, let's talk about how EV chargers work.
They transfer electrical energy from a power source,
like the electricity in your house,
to a battery inside the vehicle.
The rate of this energy flow is measured in kilowatts.
The battery stores the charge so it can be used later.
Let's break this down a little further
using a swimming pool as an example.
Volts are the amount of electricity
your battery is getting, or in our example,
the water pressure coming from the hose.
Amps are the electrical flow
through the charging cable.
The higher the amps, the faster your vehicle charges.
In our example, the wider the hose,
the more water that can pass through.
Volts times amps equals kilowatts.
Kilowatts is the amount of water being added
over a period of time.
They're how much energy your EV gets per hour.
For example, a seven-kilowatt charging station
can deliver seven kilowatts of power
to your EV's battery per hour.
In short, the higher the kilowatt output,
the faster your EV will charge.
The same is true with amps.
Generally, the higher number of amps
will lead to faster charging.
Some manufacturers offer chargers at various amp ratings.
For example, Juicebox has chargers
with amp ratings of 32, 40, and 48.
If you already have a 240-volt outlet in your home,
similar to what you may have on an electric dryer,
that you can use for EV charging, look for a charger
that has the same style plug as the outlet.
Try to use a charger that uses up to 80%
of the amp rating for the breaker on the circuit.
For example, if the outlet has a 40-amp breaker,
look for a charger that is rated for 32 amps.
Chargers that have a higher amp rating than the breaker
on the circuit can often be derated to a lower amperage.
But how can you find out the amps on a 240-volt outlet?
Well, it really depends on the outlet.
Some outlets are rated for lower amps,
while others can handle higher ones.
You can usually find the outlet's rating
on a label or plate near the outlet.
If it isn't there, you can look at your electrical panel
and see how many amps the breaker is for that outlet.
If you don't have an outlet installed,
it may be a good idea to partner with an electrician
to ensure the most effective charging with your EV.
They can look at things such as your electric panel size
or capacity, breakers, and wiring that you may need
to have a charger installed in your home.
All right, so now that you understand the key terms
and how they apply, let's talk chargers.
There are three main types of chargers,
level one, level two, and DC fast charging,
sometimes referred to as level three.
Level ones are the most basic.
They can be plugged into most standard outlets
using an NEMA 5-15 plug.
Don't let this confuse you.
It's just the technical name
for your standard three-prong outlet.
With these, for every hour you charge,
you'll get about four to five miles of range.
This is great for those that don't drive much
or only need to go short distances,
and the good news is that level one chargers
are often included with the vehicle.
Now, level twos are much faster than level ones,
providing up to 25 miles of range per hour of charging.
This is usually good for most EV users
and their day-to-day needs.
Level two chargers require a 240-volt outlet
or are hardwired to your electric panel.
For example, this one from Juicebox
plugs right into a 240 volt NEMA 14-50 outlet.
If you already have a 240-volt outlet,
you can mount the charger nearby.
Just make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommendations
and place it where it can reach the car
without the use of an extension cord.
However, if you're hardwiring it,
the process can be more complicated.
We won't get into the details here.
Just know that hiring an electrician is strongly encouraged.
You might need an adapter for some level twos.
For example, a NEMA 10-30 or a NEMA 14-30.
Check out this level two charger from Wallbox.
It uses a hardwired connection.
They're usually mounted to a wall, often in a garage,
making it convenient to plug into your vehicle,
and most connect to wifi so you can keep an eye on things
in the app, and depending on the charger,
you might be able to make some adjustments.
And when you're shopping for a charger,
see if your state or utility provider have programs
to help with the installation, cost of the charger,
or even a discount on electricity.
These programs often have requirements
like only using it during certain times of the day,
but they can really make a difference.
Finally, there are DC fast chargers,
sometimes referred to as level three.
These aren't currently available for home use,
but can be found in commercial spaces via useful apps,
including those that come with the vehicle.
As the name implies,
these are the fastest chargers available
as of this recording.
They use a special connector
and can charge a battery up to 80% in just 30 minutes.
These are great for long road trips,
when you need to recharge quickly,
or if you don't have an at-home level two charger,
but perhaps can easily visit a DC fast charger near you.
Now, you should know that not all EVs
are compatible with fast charging,
so you'll want to check your vehicle specs to find out.
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Also, another critical consideration
are connectors and ports.
The two connectors and ports you will often see
for level one and level two charging are J1772 and Teslas.
As you probably guessed, the type you need
depends on your charger and vehicle.
For example, the Juicebox and Wallbox chargers
have the J1772 connector.
If you need it, you can get an adapter
like this one from Lectron, which works with a Tesla.
Lectron also has an adapter that will allow a Tesla
home charger to work with an EV that has a J1772 port.
When charging your EV at home with a J1772 connector,
you may notice that it doesn't use
all the connection on your EV's charging port.
These additional connections are used with a CCS
or CCS1 connector when you're using
a DC fast charger with your car.
As you can see, compatibility is everything.
Not all EVs are compatible
with all types of chargers and connectors,
so it's important to get the right ones based on your needs.
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So that's a bit about the equipment.
Now let's talk about how it works
and it starts with an exciting thing called the kilowatt.
Like I mentioned earlier, this is the measurement
of energy being transferred.
The higher the kilowatt rating,
the faster your vehicle will charge.
Now, there are two kilowatt ratings,
one for your vehicle and one for the charger.
They're separate.
In other words, the battery in your EV
can only charge so fast.
It has a max rating, and the charging station
can only kick out so much energy.
Remember when I brought up that other term, kilowatt hour?
Yeah, this measurement is talking
about the capacity of the battery.
You may see things such as a 50-kilowatt hour
or 75-kilowatt hour battery.
Okay, all that info to help answer the critical question.
So how long will my vehicle take to charge?
Well, unfortunately this is one
you'll have to answer on your own,
because it depends on the type of charger,
size of the battery in the car,
how low of a charge the battery has, and other variables.
But let me give you some ballparks.
If you have an EV with an extremely low amount of charge
in the battery, level one charging can take
24 hours or more to fully charge it.
Level two, on the other hand, can cut that time in half
or even better, and DC fast charging
is usually only an hour or two.
But again, remember that not all EVs
are compatible with fast charging
and other things that can impact how fast a car charges.
That said, there are few things to keep in mind
when it comes to charging times.
For example, a battery often charges faster
when it's low or empty.
Think of a movie theater.
If you're the first person in,
you can find a seat quickly,
but when the theater is nearly full
it might take more time to find a seat.
The same is true with battery charging.
Also, outside temperature is a big factor.
Cold weather can slow down the charge rate.
Because of this, some manufacturers recommend
warming up the batteries, possibly by a heated garage
or a battery pre-conditioning feature
in the EV, before charging.
If that's not possible, just know that the weather
might have an impact on the charge rate.
So there you have it.
A quick rundown on the EV charging process and equipment.
Hopefully you learned a thing or two.
Thanks for watching, and check out our channel
for more Tech Tips from Best Buy.
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