If you have an electric car, you might be wondering how to save money and energy by charging it at home instead of going to a special charging station every time you need to charge your battery. Installing an EV charging station in your home or garage can help you stay green while saving time and money, but it’s important to choose the right type of charger if you want the best results. Level 2 charger installations are one of two main types of household electric vehicle (EV) chargers, with level 1 chargers being the simplest and cheapest variety available on the market.
The Different Types of Electric Vehicle Chargers
The three levels of electric vehicle chargers are level 1, level 2, and level 3. Level 1 chargers can charge the battery in about 4 hours, but take up to 24 hours if the car is very low on charge. Level 2 chargers can charge the battery in about 30 minutes and need only 10-15 minutes for cars with less than 20% power. They are also cheaper than level 3 chargers. Level 3 chargers can fully charge a car in as little as 5-10 minutes, but they are also more expensive than both level 2 or 1.
Why You Should Install a Level 2 Charger
You can save time, money, and the environment when you install a level 2 charger in your home.
For starters, most electric vehicles will take between eight hours (at the lowest charge) to twenty hours (at the highest charge) to fully charge on a level 3 charger. With a level 2 charger, it will only take 4-6 hours depending on how much power you need. If you’re running low on time or don’t have access to level 3 charging stations near you all the time, this can be very beneficial. Secondly, there are usually no monthly fees for installing and using an in-home level 2 charger while there are often monthly fees associated with using public charging stations.
How to Install a Level 2 Charger
Level 3 chargers are more expensive than level 2 chargers, but they can charge an EV up to eight times faster. However, if you want the convenience of being able to quickly charge your vehicle at home without spending too much on a charging station, installing a level two charger will work just as well. Here’s how:
- Have an electrician install 240-volt wiring in your garage or outside the house.
- Choose where you’ll want the charger mounted (near an outlet).
3. Have an electrician install the power supply box inside or close to this location (the power supply box should be near the mounting surface).
The Benefits of Installing a Level 2 Charger
In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of an electric car revolution. And with Tesla cars making their way into more and more garages, it’s no wonder that public charging stations are popping up all over the place. But what if your house is one of those places where there’s no outlet near the street? Or what if you just don’t want to deal with navigating parking lots and waiting around for your car to charge? The solution may be easier than you think. All you need is a level 2 charger installed in your garage or driveway!
