Electric Vehicle Chargers

Say Goodbye To Gas Stations!

Now you can fuel up at home, overnight, for a fraction of the cost of an internal combustion car. All you need is a battery-powered electric vehicle and one of these fast home chargers.

Are you the proud owner or future purchaser of a battery electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle? Don't forget the charger. You'll use public charging stations when you're on a road trip, but the experience of owning an electric vehicle improves dramatically when you can recharge on your own schedule, without having to worry about finding a place to plug in moving your car when it's done charging. A personal charger also lets you take advantage of the best electric rates, especially if your utility charges lower rates in off-peak hours.

Most electric vehicles include a cable that allows you to plug into a standard household outlet for what's known as Level 1 charging. In the U.S., that means a 120V circuit capable of adding about 3-5 miles of range for every hour of charge. This sort of trickle charging might be good enough to cover your daily commute if you charge overnight, but it gets frustrating fast.

A much better choice is a Level 2 charger, which requires a 240V circuit. Depending on your car's capabilities and the Level 2 charger's output current, you can add 30-60 miles of range for every hour of charging. A Level 2 charger doesn't have to be expensive, and the hardest part of installation typically involves paying an electrician to wire a 240V circuit for it.

The most important feature to look for in a Level 2 charger is compatibility with the charging capabilities of your vehicle. That includes not just the plug at the end of the charging cable but also the amount of power your EV is capable of accepting. Many plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, for example, charge at a very low power rate, so spending extra for a high-powered charger is wasting money.