While conventional cars rely on refueling to stay functional, electric cars naturally require charging. As such, a major concern that many people consider buying an electric car is running out of power when on the road – is it still possible to recharge an EV in this situation?
You can charge your EVs outside, at a charging station or at home. Consider installing a Level 2 charging station at your home to conveniently charge your EV outdoors.
Countless EV owners prefer charging their cars at a nearby charging station, especially when running errands in a mall or working at their offices. Despite their widespread usage, there are still a few things to keep in mind before you charge your EV outside.
Is It Safe To Charge An Electric Vehicle Outdoor?
Most EV manufacturers have designed their cars to work even in harsh environmental conditions, so you don’t have to worry about charging your car outdoors.
The port in which you connect the charger is constructed in a way that it is incredibly waterproof and does not let water cause any damage to its circuits. Once you connect a charger, like a level 2 and level charger, to the port, it creates a watertight seal that ensures a safe and reliable charge even if your car is exposed to rain or snow.
Types Of Outdoor Charging: Level 1, 2 And 3
Charging Levels start from Level 1 and go all the way up to Level 3. Each charge level has a different rate, with Level 1 being the slowest and Level 3 being the fastest. With that said, EV owners are lucky enough to only find Level 2 or Level 3 chargers at public charging stations.
Let’s dive into the details of each of these charging Levels.
Level 1 charging
A Level 1 charger is the electric charger that comes with your electric car when you buy it. These chargers conveniently plug into any standard 120V electrical socket that you can easily find in your garage. However, Level 1 chargers are extremely slow and can take up to 24 hours to fully charge your car’s battery.
If you don’t intend to charge your car while it’s safely tucked away in the garage, then a Level 1 charger may not be for you. These charging devices aren’t designed to handle bad weather, animals, and the other amenities that come with charging your vehicle outside.
Level 2 Charging
Level 2 charging is commonly utilized among EV owners since it provides a fair balance between charging speed and electricity consumption costs. Level 2 chargers give 240V of energy and can increase your vehicle’s range by up to 80 miles per hour.
If you are looking to install an outdoor system to charge up your car, you should always go for a Level 2 system. Make sure the charging station you install is designed for all weather conditions and is water and fire-resistant. You should also consider getting a special enclosure to protect your charging equipment from animals, theft, and other natural elements.
Level 3 Charging
Level 3 charging is the quickest form of public charging available for your EV. With Level 3 charging equipment, you can juice up 20 miles of range in your vehicle in only 3 minutes! In contrast to Level 1 and Level 2 charging, which use alternating current, Level 3 charging uses direct current (DC), owing to the faster charging speed.
Since Level 3 chargers are designed to be used commercially, they are built to be able to charge cars in an outdoor environment. They feature all the necessary safety measures needed to enable them to safely charge your car outdoors.
Here’s a little comparison between a Level 2 charging station and a Level 3 charging station:
| Level 2 Charging | Level 3 Charging |
| Provides 240V of energy | Provides 400-900V of energy |
| Uses Direct Current (DC) | Uses Alternating Current (AC) |
| Cheaper to install | Extremely costly to install |
| Standard cost to charge | Costly to charge |
Where To Find Charging Stations
Since it’s pretty common to get your vehicle charged up at a public station, it’s vital for EV owners to find nearby charging stations for their convenience. Fortunately, there are numerous places — closer than you might expect — where you can find a charging station for your EV.
Some of the most common places are listed below:
Car Dealerships
Car dealerships are one of the most common places where you’ll find a charging station for your EV. Customers who have purchased a vehicle from these dealerships can sometimes even get free charging. A few common examples are Hyundai, Audi, and Volkswagen dealerships that provide free EV charging to their customers.
National Parks
As part of its Green Parks Plan, the National Park Service (NPS) collaborates with partners and networks to provide Level 2 EV charging for park visitors, workers, and commercial vehicles. Charging stations have been built at visitor facilities, lodges, and partner sites, allowing visitors to recharge in various places across the park.
How To Find Charging Stations
Finding the exact location of a charging station can be challenging at times. However, with the help of a few apps, you can quickly discover nearby charging stations.
PlugShare
Plugshare is the most common app that EV owners utilize to find nearby charging stations. This application is one of the simplest ways to locate EV chargers. With this app, not only can you easily find a charging station, but you can also find nearby charging entirely free stations. This application is one of the simplest ways to locate EV chargers.
Plugshare also promotes crowdsourcing information, enabling EV owners to update charging station information. This feature makes this app very dependable since inactive charging stations are instantly removed.
FAQs
Q) What Are Smart Chargers For EVs?
Smart chargers help you save money by avoiding long periods of high power demand. You can automatically charge your vehicle when the power costs are at their lowest. These chargers also provide fast charging for an EV.
Q) Is It Possible To Overcharge An EV?
When an EV’s battery is full, it will stop charging. Therefore, it’s not possible to overcharge an EV. Multiple safeguards are installed in EVs that prevent the car from overcharging, which could resultantly overheat the components.
Q) Do EVs Come With Free Charging Packages?
Multiple EV manufacturers, such as Audi and Lucid Air, provide free EV charging for their customers. These packages can vary depending on the manufacturer.
Conclusion
As electric vehicles get more popular, the number of public charging stations are also increased. You can expect to find charging stations at your nearby hotel, park, or car dealership. Nevertheless, it’s always a good investment to get a charging station installed at your home, being cheaper and more convenient in the long run.
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