Electric automobiles charged at home typically need around 7,200 watts (W), though this varies depending on the mode and home charger. The majority of electric car chargers utilize 32 to 40 amps and connect to a 240 volt outlet in your breaker box.
The amount of time you drive your electric vehicle (EV) has the greatest impact on the amount of electricity it uses to charge. Americans drive around 14,000 miles per year on average, and EVs use 0.35 kilowatt-hours (kWh) every mile driven, according to data from fueleconomy.gov. Given these figures,
- A year’s worth of 14,000 kilometers equates to about 38.4 miles each day. That’s around 13.4 kWh of electricity per day using a level 2 home EV charger.
Different models of cars use varying amounts of electricity and have varying kWh per mile ratings. Here’s how much electricity you’ll use over the course of a year in automobiles with varying kWh/mile ratings, assuming you drive your car like an average American (14,000 miles per year):
How many watts do different electric cars use in a month?
In this post, we’ll largely be talking about the electricity required by electric automobiles in terms of kWh. The rationale is simple: your energy bill is calculated in kWh, and you are charged according to how much kWh you consume per month!
Types of EV chargers
Electric vehicle chargers are classified into three levels based on their wattage: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging. In the examples above and below, we’ve assumed you charge your electric car at home using a standard Level 2 charger, which is how most EV owners operate.
What is the energy consumption of an electric car charger?
Electric vehicles can be charged with power consumption similar to that of common household appliances. Most electric vehicles charging at home on a 240-volt level 2 charger will need less than 7,200 watts. A typical electric furnace consumes 10,000 watts, whereas a water heater consumes 4,500 watts. The electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) or the car’s onboard charger, which limits the rate of electricity the vehicle can receive, limit the power demand for an electric vehicle. Onboard chargers in many first-generation plug-in vehicles are restricted to 3,600 watts, which is comparable to the power consumption of a normal house air conditioning system, however newer electric vehicles have greater onboard charging rates. When compared to level 2 charging, some owners merely utilize a conventional 120-volt household outlet (level 1 charging), which has a very slow charge rate and minimal power drain. Some electric vehicles, such as those made by Tesla, allow for even faster charging at home and higher power needs, akin to that of an electric heater. While an electric vehicle can consume a significant amount of electricity while charging, its overall fuel cost is lower than a comparable gasoline vehicle.
Electric car chargers consume how many amps?
Although all Level 2 chargers use 240V, the charging speed varies depending on the amperage, or electrical current, of the charger. Your demand for speed will vary depending on the range of your EV, your commute, and your driving style: a car with shorter range, a long commute, or always driving at top speed may indicate that a faster charge at home might be beneficial. A 32-amp charging station is a suitable choice for many vehicles because most EVs can take in about 32 amps and contribute around 25 miles of range each hour of charging. You might also use a quicker 50-amp charger to boost your speed or prepare for your next vehicle, which can add around 37 miles of range in an hour.
To charge a car battery, how many kWh is required?
If you grew up in the gas-powered era, you’re definitely familiar with the term miles per gallon (mpg). Our new unit of measurement for electric vehicles is kilowatt-hours per 100 miles (kWh/100 miles).
So, instead of looking at the cost per gallon of gasoline as you drive past the petrol station, you’ll go to your energy provider and check at the cost per kilowatt hour.
Electricity rates differ depending on where you live and the pricing structure used by your utility. We’ll go through that in greater depth later. For now, let’s use typical numbers to calculate the cost of charging an electric vehicle.
Per 100 miles, a normal EV battery consumes 30 kWh.
1 We can calculate how much it costs to drive those 100 miles using the national average household utility rate of around 13 cents per kWh.
You may see your state’s average utility rate on the Energy Information Administration’s website, or contact your local utility supplier for more precise information. Despite the fact that electric rates vary widely across the country, they remain more stable than gas prices. 2
What does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?
Electricity expenses in California vary, but the average is around 18 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). Charging an electric car with a 40-kWh battery and a 150-mile range, such as the Nissan LEAF, would cost roughly $7 at this price. Meanwhile, at $3.70 per gallon, a 25-mpg gas vehicle would cost about $22 to fill up with enough petrol to drive about 150 miles. One of the numerous advantages of driving an electric vehicle is the cost savings.
Is it possible to connect my electric car into a standard outlet?
Level 1: Electric automobiles come with a 120-volt Level 1 portable charger as standard equipment. Yes, these chargers may be plugged into a standard household outlet and do not need to be installed. Isn’t it amazing?
Level 2: Drivers can also purchase and install a higher-powered Level 2 device in their home. Using our Home Charging Advisor, you can find Level 2 chargers and learn about incentives. Our FAQs might help you learn more about charging at home.
A plug-in 120/240-volt Level 1/2 charger is included with Tesla’s electric vehicles. These require a 240-volt outlet, which most homeowners will need to have installed by a professional.
Most electric car owners desire the assurance and convenience of a faster charge, so they will eventually install a 240-volt, Level 2 charging station in their home.
For a Tesla charger, what size breaker do I need?
A 240 volt NEMA 14-50 outlet is the preferred home charging installation option for Tesla automobiles. Electric stoves and leisure vehicles are frequent uses for this outlet. This outlet, which is equipped with a 50 amp circuit breaker, allows for a recharge rate of around 37 kilometers per hour.
Is it possible to charge an electric automobile using a standard plug socket?
These can only be found at public charging stations that operate at rates of 50kW or above. To utilize the rapid chargers, your automobile must have a CCS plug. Although ultra-rapid charging stations, such as those on the developing IONITY network, may offer up to 350kW of power via a CCS connection, this is merely foreshadowing: no electric cars on the market can presently consume electricity at that rate.
CHAdeMO sockets
While CCS is a German and American-developed quick DC charging technology, CHAdeMO is its Japanese counterpart. CHAdeMO is Japan’s answer to rapid DC charging connectors, developed by Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and a slew of other electrical appliance companies. To use the connectors offered at public charging stations, cars must again have a special CHAdeMO socket. The good news is that CHAdeMO connectors are available at all rapid DC charging stations that include CCS connectors.
Can I use a three-pin plug to charge my electric car?
Yes, you certainly can. The majority of electric and plug-in vehicles come with a home charging wire that can be connected into a standard outlet. Keep in mind that a household socket’s maximum current draw is 3kW. This means that charging an electric vehicle like the Nissan Leaf, which has a 40kWh battery, will take at least 13 hours. Manufacturers are increasingly advocating three-pin connectors as a last choice, so keep that in mind when evaluating whether or not an electric vehicle is good for you.
How to use a home wallbox electric-car charger
To make charging their vehicles more convenient, most plug-in car owners will install a wallbox charger. You can either get a tethered device with the charging cable attached, or you can get an untethered unit with just a socket and the cord provided by you. In either case, finding the charging socket on your vehicle (typically concealed by a cap, similar to a fuel-filler cap) and plugging in the cable is simple. Charging will be indicated by lights in the wallbox, and most automobiles will have their own readout on the dashboard or infotainment screen.
How to use a public electric-car charger
The charging procedure is similar to that of a home charger. Drive to an open bay, pay in advance or use a subscription card to unlock the charger, and then plug the cable into your vehicle’s socket.
How much power is required to charge a Tesla?
Level 1 charging stations connect to a typical 120V outlet in your home or garage. While Level 1 systems may get the job done, they are the least effective way to charge your electric vehicle and can take up to three days to fully charge a Tesla. Because of the extremely slow charging rate, Tesla vehicle owners frequently rely on the Tesla public charging Supercharger network or install their own home EV charger.
A Level 2 charging station, which provides the necessary 240 volts needed to charge your Tesla, is the second home charging option for a Tesla EV driver. Level 2 charging solutions are connected to a separate 50 amp circuit, which may necessitate professional installation. Level 2 chargers may charge your Tesla around 6 times faster than a level one charger because they have much more power. Depending on the Tesla model, the maximum rate at which it can charge ranges from 7.2kW to 11.5kW. So, how many kWh does it take to charge a Tesla? Teslas have battery capacities ranging from 50 kWh for the Model 3’s base range to 100 kWh for all Model S and Model X variants.
Where to charge an electric car is a question that all new EV drivers have. The most frequent way to charge is at home, which is usually the most handy if you have a reserved parking area. If you live in a densely crowded region, you may have to wait longer than intended to utilize a Tesla Supercharger. You can charge your Tesla from the comfort of your own home with a Tesla home charger. You may read our breakdown of Tesla charging station cost if you want to understand more about the costs of a public charging station versus a home charging station.
What is the monthly electricity consumption of an electric car?
- Rather of using public charging stations, electric car owners charge their vehicles at home.
- The cost of charging an electric automobile adds $30 to $60 to your monthly power bill.
- Electric automobiles are generally less expensive to fuel and maintain than traditional cars, while they may be more expensive to purchase.
To charge an electric automobile, how many solar panels are required?
According to a study conducted by consumer solar panel installation reviews website SolarReviews, using home rooftop solar to charge an electric car in the United States costs only $415 per year, compared to $662 on grid electricity at home and $1,058 with a public EV charger. The survey also discovered that filling a petrol car’s tank can cost up to $1,260 per year.
Rooftop solar panels, a central string inverter that converts the solar panels’ DC output to AC, and a level 2 EV charger are all part of a typical solar EV charging configuration. According to SolarReviews, five sun panels are required to charge an electric vehicle.
The average American travels 13,500 miles per year, or roughly 40 miles per day, according to the US Department of Transportation.
Because electricity from the power grid is still mostly derived from fossil fuels, home solar charging produces the least amount of carbon emissions.
Solar roof panels are less expensive in the long run in practically every state than buying electricity from the grid, where the average kilowatt-hour cost is growing over time. Home solar’s levelized cost will remain stable, and in most circumstances, it will be less expensive than grid power. According to SolarReviews, charging an EV with solar for 25 years may save $16,250 by the time the solar panels’ warranty expires.