Most of your charging will take place overnight while your car is parked at home. Your electric vehicle purchase will come with a charger that plugs directly into either a standard 120 volt or 240 volt outlet. During your car shopping research, you will hear terms like “Level 1” or “Level 2” charging:
- Level 1: Charging with a 120V outlet; delivers between 3-5 miles of range per hour
- Level 2: Charging with a 240V outlet; delivers between 12 and 60 miles of range per hour, depending on the cable’s amperage
While Level 1 charging will not require any further installation, we recommend opting for a Level 2 charging station to provide you with long-term flexibility and keep your vehicle ready whenever you need it. To install a Level 2 charging station, you will need an electrician to set up a wall connector for your vehicle and equip your home with an outlet capable of charging your vehicle at the desired amperage. Typically anything above 32 amps may require additional hardwire installation or electric upgrades. With a higher amperage, you can significantly reduce the vehicle’s charging time from about 6 hours at 12 amps to 1 hour at 50 amps.
You can buy a Level 2 charging station and schedule at-home installation at the same time as you purchase your vehicle with the dealership. Additionally, there is a growing marketplace of third-party chargers and accessories should one decide to go a different route for at-home charging station installation. You can expect pricing for the station to range anywhere from $400 to $1000 and installation around $1200, both of which may be eligible for tax credits of up to a 30% discount or a $1000 credit. For each charge, you pay your electricity provider by the kWh. Assuming the national average of $0.13/kWh, a full charge at home would cost you $10 for a vehicle like the Volkswagen ID.4, which has a 77 kWh battery capacity.
