The Basics of EV Charging!

Where to charge?

Home - This is where the majority of people charge. It is probably most convenient, you just plug your car in in the garage every night and you’re good to go during the day.

Work - This is actually where I charge, my work has a bunch of stations to plug in during the work day, and I leave the office with a full charge.

Public - This is probably the least common option, but is becoming more popular. These are charging stations in places like shopping malls and grocery stores. This way people can plug in while they are doing their shopping. This is a good option for people that might not have stores close to where they live. For example I took a trip up to an outlet mall about an hour away that actually had chargers on site. So I plugged in while shopping and left with a near full charge. These could also be fast chargers on a longer distance road trip where the range of your car can’t take you the full distance of your trip. These allow you to charge up really quickly and get on your way. An example of these would be Tesla’s superchargers.

Destination - These might be one of the most important types of charging when you are travelling shorter distances, but also staying the night. These chargers are typically at hotels where people are staying overnight. So guests can plug in overnight during their stay and be ready to drive again in the morning. I just did this a couple weekends ago and did a video on it, so if you wanna check that out it is linked below.

Levels of charging?

Level 1: This is what I like to refer to as trickle charging or slow charging. And it is basically just plugging in to a regular wall outlet. Charging speeds are going to be very slow - so this typically takes multiple days to charge a car completely. I usually only use this in a pinch or when I’m visiting a family member that doesn’t have charging close to their house. In these situations I’m usually staying for a few days so leaving my car charge for a long time isn’t a huge deal.

Level 2: This is typically what you see at public locations, or at work locations. I like to call this medium speed charging, because if you are charging at this rate it will probably still take you a few hours or more to get a full charge. So it’s great for places where you are leaving your car sit for an extended period of time.

Level 3: This is actually usually referred to as fast charging or DC fast charging, while levels 1 and 2 use alternating current to charge the battery, this is the only method that uses direct current. This means you can push a lot more charge into the battery in a short amount of time. These types of chargers usually take less than an hour to do a full charge, and it usually doesn’t even take that long. I haven’t spent any more than 30 minutes at one of these chargers while my car is charging.

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#ElectricVehicles #Charging #HowLong

Apps I mentioned:

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[Sibs]

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[tomewatson]

Great video Alex!


One thing to keep in mind when using public chargers is always check the rate before charging. Where I live there are public chargers that are free, but there are also public charger that are more expensive than buying gas. The Plug Share app makes it easy to check the rates. Don't just go to the nearest charger. Find the one in the area with the lowest rate.

[fevengr]

Good info! Going to Kansas City next week to pick up our Model 3 LR AWD…….WOOHOO!! Added a 240V outlet in the garage just last week. We’re ready!

[sumguy]

I’m curious: is there any danger to charging in the rain or snow? There doesn’t appear to be much insulation against such things.

[BrucexfromxCanada]

Hello from Canada:

I see you are from Ohio. (I am from the greater Montreal Island, quebec, Canada area).

I wish all American You Tubers would show the state they come form as many of us are not as familiar with the true local considitons in different parts of CONUS. I have not been in a lot of States uut did have a bunch of road travel in wy working years in some of the northeast, about as far wet as Ironton and Ashland Ky.

Now for the "electrifying" bits!

I am a retired electronic technician with some added electrical qualifications. However sometimes people call me "the engineer without the degree".

So, for Quebec:

In the greater Montreal area there are fast chargers available. Typical of what you said for Ohio, there are fond in parking lots and are operated by Hydro Quebec, our government-run electric utility. Quebec has a lot of electricity because of huge water projects like James Bay, and we also export electricity to the U.S.

As for payment, major credit cards are your best option. do not wastte time with asking american banks to provide Canadian cash, that is more easily obntained here form any of the Chartered Canadian Banks. There are about 5 of them but each had many branches across Canada.

As a route from, say Cleveland to Montreal (about 2 days of the borders were open), you would need to find chargers along I-90 to Buffalo, then after crossing into Canada, you would likely find lots of them in the Niagara district. However in the summer tourist season charge up in the U.S. so if you are delayed by border traffic, you will have enough charge.

From there to Toronto is about 90 miles at 100 Km. speed on the Queen Elizabeth way. I know there are some teslaa chargers along that area as a friend lives in that area and has a Tesla. He says he can get to Toronto and almost back oin a single charge.

Once you get to the North sode of the Burlington Bay Skyway (across the west end of Lake ontario), you have a choice of routes.

If you continue with the Queen Elisabeth Way, you will arrive in downtown Toronto, but can also continue to join the Don Valley parkway to Hwy., 401 going east to Montreal. However traffic can be very heavy at times.

I f you are going through Toronto, a better choice would be either the Hwy 407 electronic toll road around Toronto to the east of it, or, once passed Oakville on the QEW, change to Howy 403 which will surpentine you into How 401 (no toll) and then on to the east. distance from Toronto to Montreal is about 500 Km. and in good weather takes about 6 hours. Chectki wtih Ontario Hydro about availability of chargers, or possibly online.

Canada, Weather and distances:

1) Watch the weather, as temparatures vary widely both night and day and by season, also, additilonally, regionally
Toronto's climate is a bit cooler than Ohiom and Montreal is cooler again. However Montreal in summer can be hot an humid, going as high asabout 32C with humidity.

In winter you could experience as low as -30C with high winds and a lot of snow. For that reason in the winter season "snowflake" tires are mandatory and not everywhere are chains allowed!

If you have a NOAA radio, bring it as the same services are perfomed by Environment Canada on the same band.
On You Tube Wolter's World has done some nice videos about Canada but he doesn't mention EV charging, as I think he flies in. (For those who like Amtrak, they have 3 joint cross-border services. their Maple l\Leaf once it crosses into Canada near the Burlington Bay skyway area, follows much the same route I mentioned via the QEW. into Toronto Union Station.

So, for now we watch the world go by online, being "COVID-ulant" but by next summer we will see what might have opened up.

[ericcook]

If you're not made a video about it yet I've been requesting this from anybody I know that has one of these kind of cars I want to know how it works when you pay for them like compared to gas what is it cost and how do you even pay to begin with like I get it when you're at your house you use your own outlet but the public charges for an example how do you pay for electricity I really doubt you just plug it in and that's it I'm sure you got to pay for it right

[deanandjanaclapham]

Do you have to shut off power supply before disconnecting power cable?

[mikeakaspike]

In the process of purchasing a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV. I haven't really found an answer to this question yet. Are there adapters available to use a Tesla supercharger? Even is it's only level 2.. When I google this, all I get is a bunch on results for the reverse. Adapters to go from J1772 to Tesla...