How Can I Increase my EV Charging Speed in my Garage?

Electric Vehicles (EVs) might be a complete joy to drive, but the adrenaline rush from a 4-second 0-to-60-mph sprint has a price: it uses up valuable battery energy.

Your electric automobile must always be charged, whether big or small, brand new or used. You can charge every EV station’s socket in public, at home, or at work.

Despite this, more than 80% of plug-in electric vehicle owners charge their cars at home (source: energy.gov). The most economical and effective way to charge your electric car’s battery is at home.

Can you increase your EV charging speed in your garage? Let’s find out.

Things You Need to Know About EV Charging Speed

Have you ever used a home outlet to prevent your gasoline automobile battery from freezing when the weather is extremely cold?

If you answered yes, did you know that the outlet may be used to charge your EV battery? This charging process is known as Level 1 charging. Typically, the car has a charging station for this kind of charging. All-electric vehicles can use level 1 charging.

Now, we get what you’re thinking: “All I need is a household outlet to charge my EV in the garage. Simple!”

Hold on! There is much to learn about level 1 charging and the speed at which electric cars charge.

The simplest approach to begin charging your EV in your garage is to use a level 1 charging station. However, this is typically reserved for emergencies and roadside maintenance. Therefore, it stays in the car’s trunk most of the time.

It is because level-1 charging stations are equipped with 120-volt plugs. As a result, they can only charge one electric vehicle at a time, and it can take up to 24 hours to produce an optimum full charge of 80% at a speed of roughly 9 km/h.

So, how can you increase your EV charging speed in the garage? First, you must outfit yourself with a more effective charging station to benefit from a higher charging speed at home. Let’s find out.

Which Charging Station Should You Employ in Your Garage?

Among new EV drivers, one of the most talked-about topics are which garage charging station delivers the fastest charging speed.

Using a level 2 charging station in your garage is the quickest way to charge your electric vehicle. It must be directly plugged into your household energy source, which can necessitate the services of a licensed electrician.

Why a level-2 charging station? level-2 charging stations are equipped with a 240-volt plug. At a charging speed of around 22.5 kilometers, it can offer an optimal battery charge of 80% in 4 to 5 hours.

However, various factors, such as the following, affect how long an EV takes to charge.

• The size of your EV’s battery will determine how long it takes to charge.

• The maximum power output of your garage charging station: even though the vehicle’s onboard charger can accept high power, if the garage charging station can produce less, it will not charge the vehicle as quickly as possible.

• The maximum power your EV’s onboard charger can tolerate is 120V and 240V. Therefore, the vehicle will restrict the charging power and alter the charging time if the charger can provide more.

• A battery’s maximum power intake might be limited by extreme cold or heat, impacting charging time.

Level 2 charging stations are “smart,” allowing you to control them wirelessly through WiFi or Bluetooth using an app on your phone. These smart garage charging stations offer benefits like access control and data monitoring benefits but charge less quickly. Check which smart features a particular garage charging station offers before purchasing if those features are important to you.

One important thing to remember is that most EVs come with a smartphone app that can do several of these smart capabilities. So it would be best to start by seeing what your electric vehicle offers to avoid paying twice for features you may already have.

Things to Consider When Choosing an EV Charger for Your Garage

When choosing an EV charger to install in your garage, the charger’s compatibility with your car won’t likely be a problem. Still, there are many other factors to consider while making this decision.

Speed

Depending on the range of your EV, how far you travel, and how you drive, you may require a faster charge in your garage if any of the above factors apply to you. For example, if you commute long distances or always drive at high speed. All Level 2 chargers use 240V; however, a charger’s amperage, or electrical current, determines how quickly batteries will charge.

Supply

A 240V power supply is necessary for all Level 2 chargers. In addition, the charger you select must have an amperage, or current, level compatible with both your garage’s and your car’s electrical capability.

As per the National Electrical Code, each electrical circuit must be rated for 25% more amperage than the output of your charger. So, for instance, if you want to purchase a 40-amp Level 2 charger, you will want a circuit breaker with a minimum 50-amp rating.

Location of Your Charger

Put your EV charger in your garage as close to your electrical grid. Your electrician might need to run the conduit from your panel to the spot where you will charge. Then, depending on where you want to park, you can install an outdoor-approved waterproof charger indoors or outdoors.

Features

It’s one thing to find the appropriate and fast charger. Another is finding a smart and fast charger. Some WiFi-enabled “smart” EV chargers connect to an app to control charging, create a timetable, and receive handy charging reminders.

An app can also help you track kilometers traveled and charge expenses in one spot without additional work if you’re a data geek or just curious about how much you spend on charging.

Cost

The typical home EV charger runs between $500 and $900, roughly half what most drivers spend on gas annually. In addition, your home charger is something you’ll maintain for a long time, bringing it with you and (if it’s possible) changing the amperage for your next vehicle.

With a smart charger that has undergone safety testing and is covered by a warranty, it is worthwhile to safeguard your investment in your electric vehicle.

Placing a level 2 charging station in your garage is necessary to increase the speed of charging your EV. There are various models of EV charging stations available on the market. Some plug-in versions may be relocated, and others are wall-mounted variants.

With the smart level-2 charging stations, you can also check your charging history and set charging sessions for particular times of the day. However, due to the increasing number of electric car models on the market today, these differ more and more. As a result, you must pick a charging station that meets your needs and way of life.

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An EV battery, like porridge and planets, does best in the Goldilocks Zone.

Never let your battery sit at 100% charge. Generally speaking, lithium-ion batteries do best when they operate in the 30%-80% charge range. Although it may take some extra planning, prolonging the time spent within that middle range may extend the life of your battery. One reason that batteries in mobile devices only last a couple of years is that they are pushed to their maximum daily, fully charged to fully drained.

Continuously charging to full capacity is stressful on your battery. If you don’t need the maximum charge, don’t use it. This is why most manufacturers offer “standard” or “normal” charge levels, which do not charge the battery up to the highest level but instead keep them at 80%. By all means, do the full charge when you need it, but do it right before you start the trip. Leaving a battery at max charge for even relatively short periods of time can possibly affect longevity.