Preparing to own a Plug-in Electric Vehicle
One of the major challenges that EVs face is the range between charges and the amount of time required for recharging.
Charging options
Most EVs will charge at home at the Level 1 or Level 2 charging level. Your home's electrical panel and wiring may need to be upgraded to support Level 2 charging. Level 3 charging is still being developed.
Level 1, 2 and DC Fast Charging
|
| Level 1 | AC energy to vehicles on-board charger. Common U.S. household receptable. 120 volt outlet. | 120V AC; 16 A | SAE J1772 (16.8 kW) |
| Level 2 | AC energy to vehicles on-board charger. 208-240 volt, single phase. Max current is 32 amps continuous, with a brand circuit breaker rated at 40 amps. Max continuous power specified as 7.68 kW. | 208-240V AC;
12 A to 80 A | SAE J1772 (16.8 kW)
IEC 62196 (44 kW)
Magne Charge
IEC 60309 (3.8 kW) |
| DC Fast Charge | DC energy from an off-board charger. No min energy requirement, maximum is 400 amps and 240 KW continuous power supplied. | Very high voltages
(300-600V DC);
High currents
(100s of amperes) | CHAdeMO (62.5) |
Electric vehicle charging stations will be simple to use once infrastructure is in place. The first charging station in Kansas was in installed in Roeland Park on 12-21-2010. Locate a charging station.
Charging Time
Charging time is limited by the capacity of the grid connection and power rating of the electric vehicles on-board charger. Charging time and preferred delivery method will differ from vehicle to vehicle.
Examples
Nissan Leaf has a range of approximately 100 miles with the ability to be charged at 120V. Recommended charging is at 240V. A full charge on 240V is estimated to take 8 hours.
Chevy Volt has a range of approximately 340 miles (first 40 all electric) with the ability to be charged at 110/120V in 10 hours or 220/240V in 4 hours.
Considerations for purchasing an EV
- Will I need to upgrade my homes electrical system to support charging?
- Will I need to hire an electrical contractor to upgrade my homes electrical system? What permits and inspections will need to be completed?
- When will I charge my EV and does my schedule allow adequate time to charge my EV?
If you have additional questions, contact us by email at EV@WestarEnergy.com