Public charging is easy, but there are details that you need to understand
First, it’s important to note that most electric vehicle (EV) owners charge at home most of the time. One of the best things about owning electric vehicles is that you can plug your car in when you get home from work and wake up with a full charge in the morning. No more visits to gas stations, no more smelly hands and no more expensive gasoline.
However, people who live in apartments or condominiums may not have the option to charge at home. Also, you can’t top up at home when you’re on a road trip. You may be able to recharge at your destination, but if your journey is longer than the range of your car, you’ll need to recharge along the way.
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Fortunately, public charging is available for EV owners who need to use it. As the infrastructure continues to grow, there are still areas where public charging stations are limited. Nevertheless, you should be able to map your travel routes and find conveniently located stations.
Public charging is as simple as hooking up your car and waiting for it to have enough capacity to get you to your destination – or the nearest public charging station. However, there are a few details that you need to know in order to make your public charging experience hassle-free.
Charging speeds vary widely between public stations, different electric vehicles use different types of connections, and prices and payment methods vary by station. To speed up your charging pit stops and save money, you need a basic understanding of how charging curves work, especially when it comes to the level of your car battery.
Charge levels (speed)
There are currently three different charging speeds: Level 1, Level 2 and DC Fast Charging (DCFC), which is often unofficially referred to as Level 3. Level 1 charging refers to plugging into a standard 120 volt outlet. Yes, you can plug any electric car in your home into a standard electrical outlet, but it takes days to fully charge an electric vehicle using this method. You can expect it to add around 3 to 5 miles of range per hour.
Most EV owners have a 240-volt outlet installed in their home so they can use a level 2 charger. That way, they can add around 20 to 25 miles of range per hour. Charge level 2 should allow you to fully charge your car overnight.
If you’re on a road trip, you will likely find a level 2 public charging station at or near your destination. Level 2 charging stations are the most common across the country. Level 2 charging, however, is not ideal for use on the road or while commuting. They make more sense if you have time to stop for several hours, for example at work or in a restaurant or hotel.
DC fast chargers are most useful for road trips. These chargers also vary in speed, but you can expect your battery to be charged to around 80% in around 30 to 45 minutes.
If you are planning a road trip with your electric vehicle, it is advisable to determine the DC fast charge locations in advance. If possible, book a hotel with level 2 charging access on site or nearby.
Connections (plug)
One of the most confusing aspects of EV charging is the fact that there are three different types of connections. The most common is known in the industry as SAE J1772. Any electric car in the US can be charged with a Level 1 or Level 2 J1772 plug, and the plug comes standard with the car. All level 2 public charging stations use J1772 connectors.
If an EV allows DC fast charging, it will have a J1172 connector with two additional large pins that allow it to be connected to a DCFC system and charged. This is officially known as the SAE Combo Combined Charging System (CCS), which is commonly referred to as the J1772 CCS Combo Connector – or CCS for short.
Nissan and Mitsubishi use a CHAdeMO connector for DC fast charging. This means that you cannot quickly charge the Nissan Leaf or Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV at charging stations with CCS connections. However, the upcoming electric SUV Nissan Ariya will officially mark Nissan’s departure from the CHAdeMO connection in favor of the CCS connection.
The third and final connection only applies to Tesla vehicles. It is not compatible with any other electric car. The Tesla plug is the smallest and most streamlined among the charging plugs and works for all charging levels. However, every Tesla vehicle also comes with a J1772 adapter that allows it to be charged at public charging stations that do not comply with Tesla Level 2.
Tesla also offers a CHAdeMO adapter for DCFC, but not a CCS adapter in the US.
Charging basics
There are several mobile apps available to help EV drivers find charging stations. Some of the most commonly used are PlugShare, ChargePointe, Zap-Map, A Better Routeplanner, Open Charge Map, ChargeHub, and Chargeway. Some apps not only find charging stations, but also inform you about the speed of available chargers, which connections they have and whether they are occupied or not. Tesla vehicles have a built-in trip planner that enables all of this.
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Every electric car battery has a “charging curve”. While spelling it all out can be pretty confusing, here are the basics: Charging quickly spikes to a peak rate for a while, and then slows down as the battery nears full capacity. Remember to fill a glass with water. You can pour very quickly at first, but you have to slow down when filling the glass, otherwise it will overflow.
For this reason, it is best to quickly charge your car to around 80%. This way you can quickly recharge and be on the go again. Waiting for the car to fully charge can take much longer than charging to 80% as the last 20% can take as long, if not longer, than the first 80%. Once you notice that your car is slowing down significantly, it’s time to stop charging and get back on the road.
Charging to 80% is also better for the life of your battery, it speeds up your road trips and is more considerate of other EV drivers who may be waiting to use the charging station. Before heading out on your road trip, you should charge 100% at home. Once you have reached your destination, you can charge the car to 100% at a level 2 public charging station. Level 2 charging is cheaper than DCFC (or free), and when it comes to charging the last 20%, DCFC won’t give you any time advantage.
Charging networks
There are many different retail networks across the country and the list is growing. Aside from the Tesla Supercharger network, the three largest networks in the US are managed by EVgo, ChargePoint and Electrify America.
Prices and payment methods vary depending on the charging network, and prices may vary depending on the day of the week and the time of day. If you’re lucky, you might find a level 2 station that you can use for free. DC fast charging stations usually require an access card or a mobile app to use them. Simply link your debit or credit card to the app and you’re good to go. In contrast to petrol stations, only a few public quick-charging stations have credit card readers.
Some charging networks offer special tariffs that require a monthly fee but reduce charging costs. Regardless, DC fast charging is much more expensive than tier 2 charging, so it’s best to only use it when you absolutely need to. Still, even the most expensive public fast-charging is usually cheaper than paying for gas.
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