Most Americans are familiar with gas stations — why they’re useful, where and when to seek them out, and how to use them when it’s time to fill up. But there’s another way to power vehicles on the road today that’s far less familiar to the average American: electric vehicle charging stations.
It’s estimated that roughly 1 out of every 100 cars on the road in the United States are electric vehicles, and in the first quarter of 2022 the number of registrations for electric vehicles in the U.S. shot up a whopping 60%.
As more and more Americans buy and drive electric vehicles, more and more Americans rely on — and need to understand — electric vehicle charging stations.
If you’re unfamiliar with all of the ins and outs of electric vehicle chargers, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are the answers to all of the questions you might have about electric vehicle charging stations.
What Is an Electric Vehicle Charging Station?
Let’s start with the basics. An electric vehicle charging station does for electric vehicles what gas stations do for the typical gas-powered vehicle: It will charge up the vehicle so it has the power to move you where you need to go.
Gas stations work by pumping gasoline into your car’s gas tank, which then powers the internal combustion engine of your vehicle. Without gasoline, gas-powered cars won’t run.
Electric vehicles work in a similar way, but instead of being powered by gasoline, they’re powered by batteries that need to be charged (and recharged) with electricity. When these batteries are depleted, the electric vehicle won’t run.
An electric vehicle charging station is a pretty simple concept, then: It’s a place where you can charge or recharge the battery of your electric vehicle, giving you the power to run your vehicle and transport you where you need to go.
Why Do Electric Cars Need Charging Stations?
Electric cars need charging stations because the batteries of electric vehicles deplete over time. In the same way that internal combustion engines use up the gasoline in gas tanks to power a car, electric car batteries use up their electric charge to power electric vehicles.
Once this electric charge is depleted, the electric vehicle needs to visit an EV charger in order to recharge its battery.
How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car at a Charging Station in the U.S.?
Charging times for electric cars at charging stations can vary, depending on the make and model of electric vehicle that needs charging, the size of the electric car’s battery, and the specifications of the EV charging station.
Generally speaking, there are three classes of electric vehicle charging stations: Level 1, Level 2, and direct current fast charging (DCFC).
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Level 1 EV Chargers
Level 1 EV charging stations use 120-volt outlets, commonly found in households. Electric vehicles come with a charging cord that can plug right into one of these 120-volt outlets, making your home or apartment a chargepoint.
Level 1 EV charging locations require the least amount of charging infrastructure, but because of the low voltage involved, they’re also the slowest charging solutions. On average, a Level 1 EV charging session will add roughly 5 miles of range to your electric vehicle every hour.
This means that you can expect to get between 40 and 50 miles of range added to your EV battery overnight. For people that don’t drive their electric vehicles long distances, this can be enough.
Level 2 EV Chargers
Level 2 electric vehicle chargers use higher-voltage outlets. In residential settings, 240-volt outlets are used, while 208-volt charging ports are used in commercial charging locations.
It’s far quicker to charge up using a Level 2 EV charger. Fully charging an empty EV battery with a Level 2 charger can take between 4 and 10 hours — far quicker than the 40 to 50 hours needed to fully charge an empty battery with a Level 1 charger.
Direct Current Fast Chargers
The fastest way to charge your electric vehicle is through a direct current (DC) fast charger. These public charging stations use DC fast charging to fill your battery up.
Oftentimes these public charging stations are found in parking lots. One example of direct current fast chargers are TeslaSuperchargers. There are more than 35,000 Tesla Superchargers comprising the Tesla charging network, making cross-country travel with an electric vehicle possible.
DC fast charging can charge an empty battery up to 80% of its capacity in 20 to 60 minutes. EV drivers will enjoy this quick charge time because it allows them to charge up mid-journey and then continue on their way.
The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that charging the final 10% of a battery can take as long as the first 90%, so if you’re in a rush, it might be a good idea to only charge your car’s battery up to that 90% mark.
Are There Electric Car Charging Stations for Home?
Yes, there are options for electric car charging stations for home. Level 1 EV chargers (as mentioned above) can plug directly into your home’s 120-volt outlets, making a home electric car charging station without much effort.
The downside of a Level 1 home charging station is, of course, that it’ll take a long time to fully charge your electric vehicle’s battery. For this reason, many people choose to invest in a Level 2 EV charging system for their homes.
Level 2 electric vehicle home charging stations typically run between $400 and $700, and may come with an additional installation cost if your home isn’t already wired for 240-volt power.
What Is a Tesla Destination Charger?
Tesla is a popular maker of electric vehicles, and the company also constructs charging stations across the United States.
One of the more popular versions of Tesla’s charging stations are the Tesla Destination Chargers. Tesla Destination Chargers are wall connectors located at, well, destinations.
Ideally, you would drive your electric vehicle to a resort, hotel, or restaurant, and be able to plug your electric car into one of these Tesla Destination Chargers. Then, when you’re ready to leave, your electric vehicle’s battery has some extra charge to help you on your way.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at a Charging Station in the U.S.?
Generally speaking, the price you pay to charge your electric car’s battery at charging stations is going to be less expensive than the price you would pay to buy gas to drive a gas-powered car a similar distance.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the average cost for residential electricity in June 2022 was 15 cents per kilowatt-hour. Each kilowatt-hour translates to 3 to 4 miles of driving distance in an electric vehicle.
The average American drives roughly 13,500 miles per year, or about 1,125 miles each month. Knowing what we know about the cost of kilowatt-hours and how far each kilowatt-hour gets an EV on the road, we can estimate that the average driver would spend roughly $56 on electricity to charge their EV each month.
Are EV Charging Stations Free?
EV charging stations can be free or they can charge for usage, it really depends on the chargepoint. Some connectors won’t charge you for the energy you use, while others will charge per kilowatt-hour used, or bill you based on a subscription model.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Walmart?
Many Walmarts have partnered with Electrify America to install public charging stations in Walmart parking lots. Electrify America charges users either by the minute or by the kilowatt-hour.
These Electrify America public charging stations use DC fast chargers, which can charge an EV battery to 80% of capacity in 20 to 60 minutes. For DC fast charging, the cost per minute is around 32 cents, so a 20-minute charge would only cost you $6.40.
In other areas, Electrify America’s fast charging stations charge by the kilowatt-hour, at a rate of roughly 43 cents.
Do Electric Cars Charge While Driving?
No, electric cars do not charge while driving. Many electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles do charge while braking, using a technology called regenerative braking.
Regenerative braking won’t keep you on the road forever — eventually you’ll need to stop for an hour of charging or more. But this technology is great for slightly extending the range of electric vehicles.
How Long Can an Electric Car Sit Without Charging?
High voltage batteries have some unique characteristics compared to gas-powered vehicles. It’s recommended that if you’re not going to be driving your electric vehicle for a while, to leave it roughly halfway charged. This helps extend the life of the high-voltage battery.
It’s not recommended to leave your electric vehicle with no charge for more than three weeks, as this can hurt the future performance of the battery.
What Happens if an Electric Car Runs Out of Charge on the Road?
If your electric vehicle runs out of charge on the road, you’ll find yourself coming to a stop wherever you are, similar to what would happen if your gas-powered vehicle ran out of gas.
At this point, you could reach out to a roadside assistance company like AAA, which provides charging services on some of its trucks. If this isn’t available, you’ll likely need a tow to the nearest charging station.
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Do Electric Cars Lose Charge in Cold Weather?
The range of electric vehicles decreases in colder weather, thanks to the chemistry of high-voltage batteries. Generally speaking, you’ll lose roughly 20% of your electric vehicle’s range in cold temperatures, with the real drop-off occurring at 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Electric Car Battery?
Replacing an electric car battery can be expensive — on par with replacing the engine of a gas-powered car. The price of a replacement can run upwards of $10,000.
Thankfully, replacing electric car batteries doesn’t need to happen often, and car manufacturers offer long warranties that can cover this cost.
How Do You Find Electric Vehicle Charging Stations?
There are many ways to find electric vehicle charging stations in your area. The internet is a great resource for this;
