When a gasoline-powered car needs fuel, you just stop at a gas station and fill it up. But electric cars bring some new considerations. Naturally, you want to take proper care of your electric car batteries and make sure your battery’s life span is a long one.
A new electric car with a range of 250 miles might, after a decade or more, lose some of its range depending on how well you take care of it. Battery degradation doesn’t happen all at once, but over time during ownership. On average, today's electric car batteries might lose about one or two percent of their range per year. New electric car batteries are designed for durability and will outlast the usable life of a vehicle.
We are all accustomed to using lithium-ion batteries in our cell phones and laptops, and many of the charging tips that pertain to them work just as well for your electric car batteries! All lithium-ion batteries experience some level of degradation over time – and losses of capacity can impact your driving range. Luckily, there are ways to get the most out of electric mobility with these tips.
Driving slower will conserve energy used from your battery. The faster you drive, the quicker you’ll run down your charge. Over time, taking your time and keeping off the accelerator will increase battery life.
With lithium-ion batteries, it’s best to charge to around 80% rather than to a full charge. In fact, most electric cars let you set a “target charge” of whatever level you desire. Consult your owner’s manual on how to find the optimal level of charge.
When you’re setting out on a long trip and want the maximum range possible, set the target charge to 100 percent. On the other hand, if you have plans to be out of town and your electric car will just be sitting in the garage, leave your car plugged in but set the target charge lower while you’re away.
When parking on a hot day, find a shady spot as electric car batteries hate extreme heat! This will prevent your battery from overheating and thereby reducing your charge.
If you’re taking a road trip and will be driving beyond your battery capacity, search ahead of time for available charge stations. To locate these stations nationwide, you can check out our GreenCars Charging Station Map to find one along your driving route. Or you can use your vehicle’s on-board navigation system. Planning stops on your route using the navigation system has an additional advantage, in that the car can automatically pre-condition the battery to charge at the fastest rate possible.
Electric car batteries work best under optimum conditions, especially when it comes to charging. Temperature is the main influence. Not only does a battery deliver its maximum performance at a certain temperature, but it’ll also charge fastest at a certain temperature – somewhere between 60- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit. When connected to a Level 3 DC fast charger, a battery at its optimum temperature will quickly reach its maximum charging speed and maintain it for longer than if it’s too cold (or too hot).
Depending on which electric vehicle you drive, using battery “preconditioning” ensures the fastest charge times, letting you get on your way sooner. The best way to do this is by programming the charger as a destination in the navigation system. Your car, knowing you’ll be charging soon, will heat or cool the battery to accept the fastest charge automatically.
Using quick charge on your EV battery is a great way to get a charge fast, but every time you use quick charge it takes a little life away from the battery, especially in extremely cold conditions. Reducing quick charging will add battery life in the long run.
One thing worth noting, a nearly empty battery will charge faster than a nearly-full one – you’ll notice charging speed tail off as you start to fill the battery up – so plan to drive longer distances between fast-charging stops and pre-condition the battery before each stop to save the most time. Because most public charging stations charge your credit card based on how much time you’re plugged in; pre-conditioning can save you money as well as time.
Make sure that you don’t let your electric car’s battery deplete completely, as that can reduce overall battery life. We recommend charging when the battery dips below the 30 percent mark.
Most people plug their electric cars in at night so it can charge while they sleep. This is an ideal time to charge, but you need to make sure it isn’t on the charger for too long. If your charger has a timer, set it to shut off at least an hour or two before you plan to leave your house in the morning.
Many EVs let you control charge timing with a mobile app or through the infotainment system and will even let you schedule your normal departure times – letting you pre-set the cabin temperature, seat and steering wheel heaters, and other energy-sapping devices – to be active before you depart. This improves your range as the car is already at the desired temperature when you set off, meaning the heater or air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard.
A new generation of lithium-ion electric car batteries are on the horizon that could last millions of miles. A new technology called solid-state batteries are reported to offer enormous capacity, giving a driving range of over 1,000 miles per charge and recharging times of just five minutes.
In the meantime, battery degradation in today's battery electric cars is really nothing to concern yourself with if you follow our few simple pointers. Battery degradation is a very slow process, and you will likely sell or trade your EV in long before loss of battery function becomes a problem.
One of the biggest complaints electric car owners have is the extended amount of time it takes to fully recharge their electric car’s batteries. Depending on your vehicle and the EV car charger you use, you may find yourself waiting over 12 hours to fully charge your vehicle. However, there are a few ways EV owners can make their electric cars charge faster and even save money in the process. Whether you charge at a public car charging station or charge at home, it’s easier than you may think to get your EV to charge faster.
Electric Vehicle Charging
Basics
In order to understand how you can charge your electric vehicle faster and more efficiently, you will first need to learn about the various electric vehicle chargers on the marketplace today.
Level 1 EV Chargers
These charges provide charging power through a household 120 V AC plug and do not require additional equipment in order to charge your vehicle. This method of charging is often used in private residences and at some businesses.
A Level 1 charger can be plugged with one end into any 120 V outlet and requires no additional installation or infrastructure costs if you have an outlet located near your electric vehicle. Although they may require no additional equipment, Level 1 charging is the slowest way to charge your electric vehicle and often requires extensive hours of charging time in order to fully charge your car.
Level 2 EV Chargers
Unlike Level 1 electric vehicle chargers, Level 2 chargers normally provide charging through a 240 V plug and require a dedicated circuit breaker (based on the chosen chargers’ Amperage). These chargers are sold separately from the car, although many electric vehicle owners choose to purchase them at the same time they purchase their electric car.
Level 2 chargers are the most prevalent type of chargers and are available throughout Canada from companies such as metroEV. Public electric car charging stations are often Level 2 chargers, along with most free EV charging stations you find.
DC Fast Chargers
DC fast chargers, also commonly known as Level 3 chargers, typically provide charging through a 480 V input and will require a special socket in your electric vehicle (CCS/CHAdeMO). Depending on your vehicle, these fast-charging stations can provide an 80% charge in less than an hour by converting AC power to DC power. You will typically find these chargers at commercial vehicle charging stations alongside major highways and shopping centers that experience high levels of traffic.
Sometimes referred to as EV fast chargers, Level 3 electric car chargers will require significant investment and additional infrastructure to install. Thankfully, the Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Initiative (EVAFIDI) can cover up to 50% of the cost to purchase and install a DC fast charging station at your business or workplace.
EV Charger Types
How to Charge Your Electric Vehicle Faster
Upgrade Your
Electric Car Charging Station
If you just purchased your electric vehicle, chances are you may be using a Level 1 charger that charges your electric vehicle through a standard electrical socket. Unfortunately, many EV owners may need to charge their cars anywhere from 8 to 12 hours in order to reach a full charge from a depleted battery. It provides 6-8km/hour. However, upgrading to a Level 2 charger at your home or workplace can significantly reduce your charging time. Level 2 chargers offered by metroEV can provide up to 32km/hour.
Depending on your vehicle, these electric car stations can charge your car from fully depleted to fully charged in 2-10+ hours, with most vehicles being fully charged in just a couple of hours. A Level 2 charger will charge nearly 3 to 5 times faster than a standard Level 1 charger and does not require any unreasonable demand for power from your building’s existing electrical infrastructure.
Additionally, many local governments and utilities are now offering customers incentives to install Level 2 chargers in their homes or businesses. Level 2 chargers can also be more energy-efficient than Level 1 chargers and are ideal for multi-residential buildings.
Ontario EV Charger Rebates
EV fast-charging stations, otherwise known as DC fast chargers or Level 3 chargers, can also help save consumers a great deal of time when it comes to charging their electric vehicles. These EV charging stations are ideal for businesses, retail locations, and workplaces. When compared to Level 2 chargers, a DC fast charger may offer 10-30 times the charging speed depending on your vehicle. In other words, 15 minutes of charging at a Level 3 station can provide the same charge as 5 hours at a Level 2 station.
Charge When Its Warmer
Electric vehicle owners could face longer charging times when temperatures drop. EV fast chargers will take a longer period of time to charge your vehicle in colder climates due to the fact that colder temperatures will impact the electrochemical reactions within your battery.
Under some of the coldest conditions, researchers have found that charging in the cold could be roughly three times slower when compared to charging in warmer weather at a Level 3 charger. Charging your car during the daytime when it may be warmer can help increase the speed at which your electric vehicle charges. However, charging costs during a warmer time in the day or during peak hours will be more expensive when compared to charging at night when it may be colder.
Warm Up Your Batteries
Warming up your electric car’s batteries can help to lower the time it takes to charge your car. Plugging into a standard Level 1 charger can help provide the needed power to precondition the car before you use a Level 3 fast charger. Most Level 2 chargers, however, do not require you to warm up the car due to the lower power rating they have when compared to a Level 3 fast charger.
Other Factors to Consider
Alongside the tips above, there are some other factors EV owners must consider when it comes to the time it takes to charge their electric vehicle. For instance, you can only charge an EV’s battery at the maximum charge rate the vehicle accepts. As an example, if your EV’s maximum charge rate is 7kW, you will not be able to charge your car faster by using a 22kW charger.
Additionally, the speed at which your car charges will also be determined by the maximum charging rate of the charger you are using. If your vehicle can charge at 11kW but you only have access to a 7kW charger, you will only be able to charge at 7kW.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?
The cost to charge an electric car will vary on a multitude of factors, with one of the most important being the cost of electricity in your area. The cost of electricity in any given area can vary greatly, based on demand and peak hours. Thus, charging your EV overnight is not only cheaper but also greener in most scenarios.
When you charge at night, you will be able to take advantage of significantly lower energy prices, since you may be using off-peak electricity that is generated by cleaner energy sources. During the daytime, however, natural gas or other forms of energy may be required to meet an area’s electrical demand, which can cause charging your EV to become more expensive.
Commercial EV charging station costs may be much higher than charging at home since most commercial EV stations are used during the daytime when electricity is at its highest demand. Another advantage of installing a home charger is the far lower cost of residential electricity when compared to the cost of commercial electricity. In Ontario for instance, it may be far less expensive to charge at home than at a public charging station.
How much does it cost to install EV chargers?
Choosing
The Best Electric Vehicle Chargers
If you decide to take advantage of significantly lower residential electricity costs, you may be considering installing a Level 2 charger. metroEV offers EV owners access to Level 2 electric charging stations that can be installed in your own home or office without any significant modifications to your electrical system. Having a Level 2 EV charger installed in your home or workplace can provide convenient, energy-efficient and reliable charging.
Thanks to government initiatives, your electric vehicle charging station cost may be lower than you think. If you are looking to add a high-powered DC fast charging station to your business or workplace, such as the ones offered by metroEV, you may be able to find local initiatives that can help cover the cost of the charger’s installation and any infrastructure investments that may be required.
Best EV Charging Solutions for Your Condo
Thanks to a multitude of government programs and recent advancements in electric vehicle charging technology, charging your EV can take less time than you may think and cost far less than you may expect. If you are looking to install a Level 2 charger in your home or a Level 3 fast charger at your business or workplace, metroEV can help. Our team will evaluate your location, gain approvals, and provide you with ongoing support throughout your EV ownership.
MetroEV can help you understand, plan and install EV charging stations for apartment buildings, condos, businesses and more. Get in touch and our representatives can help build a solution that aligns with your unique EV charging goals all while ensuring a smooth transition. Contact MetroEV to get an EV charging quote.
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