What Is an Electric Vehicle Charging Station?

An EV runs on a battery like any other rechargeable device, such as a smartphone. To charge the car, you need to have an electricity source. EV charging stations act like any other cord charger in that they change the electricity running through your house, usually 120- or 240-volt AC, to the proper flow for your vehicle.

What Are the Different Types of Electric Charging Stations Available?

EV charging stations come in multiple complexities depending on what you need them for and where you need to install them. The three types of electric car charging stations include:

  • Level 1: A Level 1 charger is an electric vehicle plug-in at home that uses your house’s electrical current directly from a wall socket. Since they use your house’s current, they are easy to set up and cost less, with a trade-off of much longer charge times. These chargers work best for hybrid vehicles.
  • Level 2: A Level 2 charging station operates on a 240-volt current. These stations usually plug in the same way a dryer would. As a result, most people hire an electrician to run the same type of circuit in their garage, then hard-wire the charger to it. Since they have a higher voltage, your car will charge faster.
  • Level 3: Level 3 chargers are intended for commercial use. These chargers have DC fast charging, which makes them even quicker than Level 2. This benefit is often why they are used for commercial charging.

How Much Does an Electric Charging Station Cost?

The cost of electric chargers varies between the three levels. General pricing guidelines are:

  • Level 1: These chargers either come with the purchase of your vehicle, or you can buy one for between $180 and $300.
  • Level 2: Depending on charger complexity, these have a larger price range of between $300 and $1,000. You will also be paying for an electrician and a permit for this electric car charger for your house, so be sure to get a qualified estimate from an experienced professional.
  • Level 3: These charges cost upward of $50,000, putting them in a big business’s budget range.

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

Like an EV charger’s cost, the time it takes to charge a car also varies depending on the type and battery capacity. Generally, you can expect:

  • Level 1: It will take between 35 and 50 hours or longer to recharge the battery fully.
  • Level 2: It will take less than 10 hours to recharge the battery.
  • Level 3: It will take between 20 minutes to one hour to fully recharge the vehicle.

Why You Should Choose Us as Your Car Charging Station Company

If you need an EV charging station, Tuckey electricians are here to help. We have installed chargers for numerous types of electric vehicles, including Tesla models. Our team can install charging stations in commercial settings like stores, city parking lots or apartment buildings or in home garages.

Contact us online or call (717) 249-3733 to request an appointment!

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