Guide On How To Charge Your Electric Car With Charging Stations
Electric cars (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles are relatively new on the market and the fact that they use electricity to propel themselves means a new infrastructure has been put into place, one which few are familiar with. This is why we have created this useful guide to explain and clarify the different charging solutions used to charge an electric car.
In this EV charging guide, you’ll learn more about the 3 places where it’s possible to charge, the 3 different levels of charging available in North America, fast charging with superchargers, charging times, and connectors. You’ll also discover an essential tool for public charging, and useful links to answer all of your questions.
Before we get into those concepts, it is good to know the various terms used for charging stations. They usually all refer to the same thing.
- Charging station
- Charging outlet
- Charging plug
- Charging port
- Charger
- EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)
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Electric Car Home Chargers
Charging an electric car or plug-in hybrid is mainly done at home.Home charging accounts actually for 80% of all charging done by EV drivers. This is why it’s important to understand the solutions available, along with the pros of each.
Home Charging Solutions: Level 1 Level 2
There are two types of home charging: level 1 charging and level 2 charging.
- Level 1 charging happens when you charge an electric vehicle (EV) using the charger included with the car. These chargers can be plugged with one end into any standard 120V outlet, with the other end being plugged directly into the car. It can charge 200 kilometers (124 miles) in 20 hours.
- Level 2 chargers are sold separately from the car, although they’re often purchased at the same time. These chargers require a slightly more complicated setup, as they are plugged into a 240V outlet which allows charging 3 to 7 times faster depending on the electric car and the charger. All of these chargers have an SAE J1772 connector and are available for online purchase in Canada and the USA. They usually have to be installed by an electrician. You can learn more about level 2 charging stations in this guide.
For every electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid, the use of a level 2 home charging station is recommended to help you charge faster and enjoy your EV’s full potential. Provincial and municipal incentives are available in some regions to help with purchase and installation costs. You can also check the following websites for more information.
- Quebec incentives for electric car home chargers
- British Columbia incentives for electric car home chargers (the program is temporarily suspended)
- For the United States, we suggest you check your government website.
The pros of home charging
To enjoy all the benefits of charging at home, you need to use a level 2 home charger.
A fully charged battery in a few hours
A level 2 charger allows you to charge your electric car 5 to 7 times faster for a full-electric car or up to 3 times faster for a plug-in hybrid compared to a level 1 charger. This means you’ll be able to maximize the use of your EV and reduce stops to charge at public charging stations.
It takes around four hours to fully charge a 30-kWh battery car (standard battery for an electric car), which allows you to make the most out of driving your EV, especially when you have a limited time to charge.
Start Your Day Fully Charged
Home charging is normally done on evenings and at night. Just connect your charger to your electric car when you come home from work, and you’ll be sure to have a fully charged battery the next morning. Most of the time, an EV’s range is enough for all your daily travel, meaning you won’t have to stop at public chargers for charging. At home, your electric car charges while you eat, play with the kids, watch TV, and sleep!
Save Big on Charging Costs
- In Quebec, it is about 30% less expensive to charge at home than at a public charger and 6 times less expensive to drive 100 km (62 miles) on electricity than on gas.
- In Ontario, it is roughly 65% less expensive to charge at home than at a public charger and 5 times less expensive to drive 100 km (62 miles) on electricity than on gas.
- In British Columbia, it is roughly 30% cheaper to charge at home than at a public charger and 5 times less expensive to drive 100 km (62 miles) on electricity than on gas.
- In the United States, it all depends on the price of electricity and gas. You have to compare the consumption of electricity in kWh/100 miles of the EV multiplied by the cost of the kWh vs. the consumption of gallons/100 miles of the gas car multiplied by the price of a gallon of gas. That way, you will be able to quickly know how much you could save on your travel costs.
Electric Car Public Charging Stations
Public charging allows EV drivers to charge their electric cars on the road when they need to travel longer distances than allowed by their EV’s autonomy. These public chargers are often located near restaurants, shopping centers, parking spots, and such public spaces.
To locate them easily, we suggest you use ChargeHub’s charging stations map that is available on iOS, Android, and web browsers. The map lets you easily find every public charger in North America. You can also see most chargers’ status in real time, make itineraries, and more. We’ll be using our map in this guide to explain how the public charging works.
There are three main things to know about public charging: the 3 different levels of charging, the difference between connectors and the charging networks.
Charging Station Connectors
Charging Station Networks
Related: How long does it take to charge an EV, and what does it cost?
The story you’re reading here is all about the EVs with the fastest charging capability for those that need to get a move on.
But how long does it take, in general, to charge today’s EVs? See our detailed explainers below.
Electric v Petrol: How much does it cost to charge an EV vs fuel a petrol car?
What are the running costs of an electric vehicle when compared to the internal combustion engined cars we’ve known for so long?
For most buyers, it’s not necessary to know the physics and science behind a kilowatt-hour (kWh), any more than you need to understand the calculation of a combustion engine’s power figures.
Put simply, a kWh is a unit of energy just like a calorie or joule, but one that’s particularly applicable to electric vehicles and their batteries.
The higher the number, the more energy the battery can absorb through charging and then release when required to drive the vehicle.
Context, though, is far more important than equations. At the upper end of the spectrum, the BMW iX is available with a 112kWh gross battery, while at the opposite end of the spectrum, the Mazda MX-30 is 35.5kWh gross.
However, note that these figures are the total gross battery capacity. The actual net capacity that’s available for owners to use is lower – 105kWh and 30kWh respectively. That’s because manufacturers implement bottom and top ‘buffers’ to help protect the battery health and ensure safety.
For perspective, your smartphone battery can store about 0.005kWh – or a total of about 2kWh over the course of a year’s use.
Even though your smartphone only holds a relatively tiny amount of energy, it doesn’t need to charge for any more than about eight hours to fit most people’s daily routines. Plug it in at night, and it will be ready for another day’s use the following morning.
Is it time to buy an electric car? Crunching the numbers!
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It can be different for cars, however.
If you’re going to be using an electric vehicle to retrace largely the same route each day, and you are confident its single-charge driving range is more than enough (typically 300 to 600 kilometres depending on the model), then you really only need to replenish enough for the next day via a three-pin trickle charging cable. After all, you don’t need to always fully fill up a fuel tank.
If you need to utilise the full range capability everyday, then you’ll need to install a Level 2 AC wall box to fully recharge overnight (about eight hours).
But, for those days when you chose to go the long way, add in extra errands or even embark on a road trip, charging times become paramount over battery capacity, as you may need to top up while on the run – just as you do in a combustion-powered car.
Audi’s head of development of charging time and charging efficiency, Silvia Gramlich, highlighted the importance of battery charging speed and overall capacity.
Customers should not just be interested in the maximum value of charging power, but rather how it progresses and may have to be reduced during a charging process, because otherwise the batteries – for physical reasons – heat up, she said.
The crucial question for customers is: how many kilowatt hours can I recharge in what period of time?
Australia’s electric cars with the longest driving ranges
What range-anxiety? Here are the best long-range EVs on sale in Australia today and how far they can take you on a single charge.
Charging a battery is a little like getting air into a pool floaty, where the most pressure is required to fill the very last bit.
That’s why EV manufacturers often refer to an 80 per cent charge time, as this offers the best ratio of range to time.
Importantly, it’s also the general rule of thumb to maintain good battery health for lithium-ion packs, as cells are more stressed at the top- and bottom-end. However, the emergence of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathodes generally allows regular 100 per cent charging without excessive degradation concerns. Car manufacturers have different charge limit recommendations, so follow the owner’s manual.
After about the 80 per cent point, charging speed slows dramatically – regardless of battery type – and, therefore, most owners would not wait at a public charging point for the remaining 20 per cent of the charge in return for the extra investment of time.
Charging speed is related to battery capacity and driving range – but not exclusively. That’s because there are two other key factors at play.
The Key to Fast Charging Electric Cars Is Flying 248 Miles Above Our Heads
Advanced tech designed to cool NASA spacecraft could find its way into next-gen EV charging stations.
- It’s not so simple to make faster electric vehicle chargers, because the increased electricity means excess heat, too.
- A NASA experiment meant to cool electronics aboard spacecraft could also find its way into EV chargers.
- Theoretically, a charging station with this technology could juice up an EV battery in just five minutes.
Only a few obstacles stand between electric cars and true automotive supremacy. Most electric vehicles remain prohibitively expensive (even with tax credits), and charging infrastructure is still frustratingly scarce. But the problem that looms large in the minds of the EV curious is charging time. A gas-guzzling F-150 takes only minutes to top off at the pump, but its electrified cousin, the F-150 Lightning, takes more than a half-hour tethered to a fast charger to reach just 80 percent battery capacity.
Unfortunately, quickly pumping more energy into an EV isn’t as easy as it sounds, because more electricity means more heat—a troubling combination that can have explosive results. In other words, to make a faster-charging EV, you need some way to deal with those excess degrees Fahrenheit.
You love cutting-edge tech. So do we. Let’s nerd out over it together—join Pop Mech Pro.
Flying at 17,500 miles per hour some 248 miles above our heads aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is a project known as the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE). Today, NASA cools onboard electronics with a single-phase system, a sub-cooled element that stays in a single liquid “phase.” However, the FBCE—designed by Issam Mudawar, a professor of mechanical engineering, and his lab at Purdue University—is a two-phase system. As its name suggests, the system uses two phases, both liquid and vapor, to more efficiently transfer heat.
From Popular Mechanics
The experiment’s Flow Boiling Module contains heat-generating devices along a flow channel filled with coolant. As things heat up, water boils near the channel’s wall, forms bubbles, and then “depart[s] the walls at high frequency,” according to NASA. This heated vapor is then replaced by coolant pulled from the interior of the flow channel. The vapor eventually condenses and returns to its liquid form.
After being delivered to the ISS in 2021, the FBCE team conducted tests to see if this cooling technique worked in microgravity, a feature that’s unnecessary for EVs (unless NASA wants to recharge Elon Musk’s space Tesla). While the data gathered from FBCE will improve spacecraft cooling systems on long-duration missions (where more power and improved thermal management are needed), the impact of the underlying technology could be felt much closer to home.
Must-Read ⬇️
Many modern EV fast-charging stations are rated at 350 amperes due to temperature restrictions. NASA estimates that Purdue’s cooling system could increase that to a whopping 2,400 amperes. To put that into perspective, a charging station supplying a steady flow of electricity at 1,400 amperes alone could fully charge an EV in just five minutes.
Getting tech from a laboratory to the real world can take years, but this cooling system could be an exception to the rule. In November 2021, Mudawar teamed up with Ford and aimed to create a prototype cable by 2023. Months later, Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering announced the creation of the Research Center for Electric Vehicle Charging and Thermal Management, which is dedicated to delivering on these liquid-cooled, next-gen charging cables.
Of course, charging stations and batteries will also need to be redesigned to supply and store this huge jump in ampere output, but having a cable that can handle the heat is an important piece to the puzzle. Maybe one day, the tech found in NASA’s most advanced spacecraft throughout the solar system will be found on streets throughout the world.
Darren lives in Portland, has a cat, and writes/edits about sci-fi and how our world works. You can find his previous stuff at Gizmodo and Paste if you look hard enough.
Top 10 fastest charging electric cars in 2023
The electric vehicle (EV) market is growing—quickly! and more as more people are recognizing the environmental and financial benefits of driving electric.
Speed is top of mind when it comes to buying an EV—and we’re not just talking about miles per hour. Charging speed is a crucial factor that can make or break its convenience and practicality. As electric vehicle technology evolves, the FOCUS has shifted from solely increasing driving range to reducing charging times. Fast-charging EVs can significantly reduce charging duration, making long-distance trips and daily commutes more convenient and efficient.
Charging speed is essential in overcoming slower charging rates as batteries reach capacity. It’s important to note that charging rates may vary depending on factors like weather, battery temperature, and charger performance. Manufacturers can also update charge rates through over-the-air updates based on battery health data. As technology continues to advance, we can expect further improvements in charging infrastructure, making EV ownership even more appealing.
The availability of charging stations also significantly impacts the EV ownership experience. Fortunately, charging infrastructure has been steadily expanding, with a growing network of fast-charging stations found in urban centers, along highways, and in rural areas. This expansion not only makes EV ownership more convenient but also helps alleviate range anxiety, the concern that an EV’s battery will run out of power before reaching the next charging station.
Furthermore, home charging solutions have become increasingly sophisticated, with Level 2 chargers, such as the Enel X Way JuiceBox, offering fast charging speeds and Smart features for a seamless charging experience.
Top 10 fastest charging electric cars
Here are the top 10 fastest-charging EVs in 2023, focusing on their peak charge rates, which indicate the maximum charging speed when connected to a Level 3 DC fast charger.
2023 GMC Hummer EV pickup: Peak charge rate up to 350 kW
Get ready for a new era of power with the 2023 GMC Hummer EV Pickup. This massive and powerful electric truck features a tri-motor configuration and a 200 kWh battery pack. With a starting price of 110,295, the Hummer EV Pickup can be charged up to 350 kW and has a range of up to 329 miles, making it not only the quickest pickup but also the fastest-charging EV on the market.
2023 Lucid Air: Peak charge rate up to 300 kW
Tying for second place is the latest MotorTrend Car of the Year, the 2023 Lucid Air. This innovative electric vehicle outshines its predecessors in terms of technology and performance. Although one vehicle currently charges faster than the Air, none can cover more miles on a single charge or offer a more comfortable ride. The Air is available with either a 112 kWh or 118 kWh battery pack (a 92 kWh pack is expected to join the lineup soon) and can cover up to 516 miles on a full charge. Lucid rates the Air conservatively at a charging rate of 300 kW, but charge rates as high as 350 kW have been observed. With a starting price of 87,400, the Lucid Air can be charged up to 300 kW.
2023 Audi E-Tron GT: Peak charge rate up to 270 kW
The 2023 Audi E-Tron GT is a luxurious electric sports sedan based on the Porsche Taycan platform, featuring a 93.4 kWh battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel drive. With a starting price of 104,900, this electric vehicle has a peak charge rate of up to 270 kW, tying it for second place with the Porsche Taycan. Unlike the Taycan, which has multiple battery and motor options, the E-Tron GT is exclusively available with the larger battery pack. It can cover up to 238 miles on a single charge.
2023 Porsche Taycan: Peak charge rate up to 270 kW
The 2023 Porsche Taycan is a high-performance German electric sports car, available in both single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations and with a choice of a 79.2 kWh or 93.4 kWh battery pack. Although the Taycan may not outpace the American Tesla Model S in a straight line, it surpasses the Tesla in peak charge rate with its 270 kW figure, consistently observed in various Taycan models, including the station wagon and SUV versions. With a starting price of 90,900, this electric vehicle has a charging speed of up to 270 kW and a range of up to 246 miles, depending on the configuration.
2023 Tesla Model S: Peak charge rate up to 250 kW
The 2023 Tesla Model S sedan shares a spot in the fourth-place tie with its siblings, the Model 3 and Model X, with a peak charge rate of 250 kW. The Model S has identical powertrain specifications as the Model X but can travel up to 405 miles on a single charge. In testing, the tri-motor Tesla Model S Plaid recorded a 250 kW peak charge rate, which was sustained from 10% to 30% charge, adding 187 miles of range in about 15 minutes. With a starting price of 88,490, the Tesla Model S is a sleek and powerful electric sedan with a charging speed of up to 250 kW and a range of 405 miles.
2023 Tesla Model X: Peak charge rate up to 250 kW
The 2023 Tesla Model X is a luxurious SUV with distinctive falcon-wing doors, featuring a 100 kWh battery pack and dual- or tri-motor all-wheel-drive configurations. With a starting price of 98,490, this electric vehicle has a charging speed of up to 250 kW and a range of 348 miles, making it tied for fourth place with the Tesla Model 3 in terms of peak charge rate.
2023 Tesla Model 3: Peak charge rate of up to 250 kW
The 2023 Tesla Model 3 is a popular electric sedan available in both single-motor rear-wheel drive with a 54 kWh battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel drive with an 82 kWh battery. The Model 3 shares the fourth spot in a four-way tie for fastest-charging EVs with a peak charge rate of up to 250 kW, exclusive to the all-wheel-drive model with the larger battery pack. The base model is rated for 170 kW. With a starting price of 40,240, the Model 3 has a range that varies depending on the configuration.
2023 Tesla Model Y: Peak charge rate up to 250 kW
The 2023 Tesla Model Y boasts a peak charge rate of 250 kW, slightly ahead of the Kia EV6 on our list of fastest-charging EVs. This peak charge rate has been verified in testing and is limited by Tesla’s electrical architecture. The Model Y comes with a 75 kWh battery pack and is only available in dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration with up to 456 HP and 330 miles of range. With a starting price of 47,490, the Model Y is a versatile electric crossover.
2023 Kia EV6: Peak charge rate up to 350 kW
The 2023 Kia EV6 is a stylish electric crossover that secures a spot on our list of fastest-charging EVs with its 350 kW peak charge rate. Available in single- and dual-motor all-wheel-drive models and with 58.0- and 77.4 kWh battery packs, the EV6 can travel up to 310 miles on a single full charge, depending on the motor and battery configuration. Notably, the 77.4 kWh battery pack is rated for 350 kW charging, which we’ve confirmed in testing, while the smaller battery pack is limited to 195 kW. With a starting price of 48,700, the Kia EV6 is great.
Enel X Way chargers: Enhancing the EV experience
Enel X Way JuiceBox chargers provide several advantages for fast-charging electric vehicles. These chargers can charge an EV up to 9 times faster than a standard Level 1 120V plug, making them an excellent option for quick home charging. The Enel X Way App allows users to schedule charging times, track usage, and monitor charging progress from their smartphones. Furthermore, JuiceBox chargers are compatible with all electric vehicles using the standard J1772 plug, offering a convenient option for EV owners.
In comparison to other home chargers, JuiceBox delivers faster charging speeds at competitive prices, providing good value for money. These chargers have received positive customer reviews and won several industry awards for their design and functionality.
The EV revolution: Charging forward
Electric vehicles have come a long way since their introduction in the late 1990s. With more than 50 EV models available today and over 130 expected by 2024, drivers have an extensive range of options. Modern EVs are more affordable, faster, longer lasting, and more reliable than their predecessors. Battery electric vehicle sales have surged, capturing over 5% of the US car market this year.
Owning an EV can save drivers up to 450,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs, especially when using a Level 2 home charger. With continuous improvements in range, charging infrastructure, and performance, drivers no longer need to sacrifice convenience when switching to electric. Consequently, over 95% of EV drivers claim they won’t return to gas-powered vehicles.
As more states plan to phase out gas-powered car sales and experts predict that EVs will make up at least 50% of US car sales by 2030, now is the perfect time to consider going electric. With a vast selection of models available, having the right home charger is essential for a seamless transition to electric driving. JuiceBox chargers offer fast charging speeds, Smart features and app control, and compatibility with most electric vehicles. These chargers have a competitive price point and have been recognized for their outstanding design and functionality through numerous industry awards.
Selecting the right electric car and home charger is crucial for a smooth transition to electric driving. With the EV market offering an increasingly diverse selection of models, there has never been a better time to make the switch. Electric vehicles that charge up quickly can improve the ownership experience for drivers who value efficiency and convenience, especially when using Enel X Way JuiceBox chargers. The future of driving is undeniably electric, with significant savings on fuel and maintenance costs, while also reducing carbon footprint. Embrace the EV revolution, explore the various options available, and find the ideal combination of vehicle and home charging solution to meet your needs.