Cooperative Living August 2019 - 28

EnergySense | by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen, Contributing Writers
Power Up! Four Steps to Charging Your EV at Home
D
D
ear Pat and Brad: I'm seeing more information about
new models of electric vehicles with longer ranges and
better prices. Is it worth making the switch from gasoline
to electric? And how would I charge the battery at home?
- Damien
ear Damien: You're right! Electric vehicles (EVs) are
getting more attention these days. Electricity as a vehicle
fuel is typically one-half to one-third the cost of gas or
diesel, and EV batteries now enable longer ranges. The upfront
price of an EV is still higher than its gas-powered cousin, but the
cost is coming down.
The Chevy Bolt, for example, has a range of up to 238 miles
on a full charge and costs about $36,000 before incentives. The
number of models is also increasing, and we could even have an
electric pickup truck option in the near future.
It's important to note you may have to pay upfront costs to
charge your EV at home, but it depends on which charging
option you select. Let's take a look at the important steps.
Step one: Choose your EV
There are two basic types of EVs: The all-electric vehicle,
which is commonly referred to as an AEV or EV, and the plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle, also known as the PHEV, which can run
using an electric motor or a gas engine. The gas/electric hybrid
started with the Toyota Prius in 2000, where the battery assists
the gasoline engine, yet the car is fueled solely by gasoline. The
PHEV features a larger battery that fuels an electric motor,
which can power the car independently. A PHEV can run solely
on electricity for about 15 to 50 miles depending on
the model. This electric-only range may be sufficient for running
errands or for those with a shorter daily commute.
Step two: Select your charging level
There are two levels of charging to consider for your home. A
Level 1 charging unit is the most basic. It's usually included with
the vehicle and plugs into a typical 120-volt outlet, so it is the
easiest and cheapest charging solution.
A Level 2 charging
unit is more powerful
and needs to be
purchased separately. It
plugs into a 240-volt
outlet, the type used for
larger appliances (like a
clothes dryer), which
most of us don't have in
our garages or outside
our homes, so there's an
additional cost to have
the outlet installed.
Step three: Know
your needs
Most EVs travel 3 to 4
miles per kilowatt-hour
(kWh). Level 1 charging
units distribute charge
to the battery at 1 to 2
kWh, giving the battery
roughly 3 to 8 miles
range per hour of
charging. So, if you
drive your car 40 miles
or less during the day
This is a 240-volt outlet for
a Level 2 charging unit.
Above: An all-electric vehicle (AEV or EV) can have lower
overall costs of ownership than a gasoline-fueled vehicle
due to its lower number of moving parts.
Left: A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
(PHEV) has a gas engine that takes
over if the large battery runs out
of charge.
26 | Cooperative Living | August 2019
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF DENNIS SCHROEDER/NREL
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living August 2019

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