Here are five good reasons to install a Level 2 charging station at your home or rental property:
1. More convenient
An estimated 80% of EV drivers reportedly charge their vehicle at home, usually overnight. Those who install an EV charging station at home get in the habit of plugging the car in to charge at night, much like plugging in their cell phone. You won’t need the car (or phone) while sleeping, so you take advantage of the downtime and know you will be fully ready to go in the morning. Additionally, opting to install an EV charging station at home saves you the time involved in traveling to a public charger and waiting — sometimes for hours — while the EV acquires enough range for your needs.
2. Less expensive
Driving an EV was already cheaper per mile than running on gas when gas prices averaged $3.50 a gallon. However, to keep costs down, most people install an EV charging station at home and use it overnight, when electricity costs are lower. Conversely, those using public charging stations are typically using more expensive electricity during the day.
3. More predictable
You don’t have to worry about waiting in line or getting stuck while charging at nearby public charging stations if you install an EV charger at home. Plug your EV in at your convenience, and program it to charge while you sleep, with the comfort of knowing you will have considerable range in the morning. Your EV undoubtedly came with a Level 1 charger that can be plugged into any 120-volt standard household outlet the charger’s cord reaches. While this charger will not fill most batteries even when plugged in all night, a Level 1 charger will add about 5 miles per hour, which may be adequate for your commute. Better still, if you had a more powerful Level 2 charging station installed at home, plugging in overnight can give you a range of about 250 miles, depending on the battery.
4. Better for your battery
EV automakers recommend limiting how often you use a Level 3 fast charger. Studies have found that frequent supercharging can degrade an EV battery faster than lower-level chargers. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage when finding a vacant fast charger on a road trip so you can return to the highway faster, but using a Level 3 fast charger has been shown to affect the battery life negatively. Tesla has even programmed its cars to limit charging speeds if they are supercharged too often.
5. Attracts tenants and increases property value
For property owners, making EV charging stations available is a way to differentiate your building and attract tenants.
