Electric Vehicle Charging

Understanding Electric Vehicle Charging at Home

Electric vehicles (EVs) can offer many benefits such as lower fuel costs, reduced emissions and quieter operation. Before you begin charging an EV at home, it’s important to understand when and how to charge. Charging at the wrong times or with the wrong settings can result in higher-than-expected electric bills with PCEC’s demand-based billing structure.

With the right charging setup and charging habits, members can better understand and manage the costs associated with electric vehicle charging.

Why Charging Settings Matter

Many electric vehicles and chargers are defaulted to settings that charge immediately and as fast as possible. If EV charging is not set up to spread out the voltage load, members may see a sharp increase in their electric demand. This is because the full energy use of a typical Level 2 charger often exceeds the power consumption of most other common household electric appliances. This can significantly impact your bill.

This risk is even greater when charging occurs during other peak household usage times, such as between 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., when many members are also running appliances like washers, dryers, ovens or other large electric equipment.

PCEC bases a member’s demand charge on the current month demand or 50 percent of the highest demand recorded during the past 11 months, whichever is higher. This means that a single high-demand charging event can affect your electric bill for nearly a year.

By spreading charging over a longer time period, especially overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., you can help avoid creating a demand peak and keep your EV charging costs as low as possible.

Level 2 Charging at Home

Level 2 chargers are the most common and efficient way to charge an electric vehicle at home. They provide a much shorter charging time than a standard outlet and are significantly more affordable than relying on public charging stations.

Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt outlet, similar to what is used for large appliances like electric dryers. If your home does not already have a 240-volt outlet available, a qualified electrician will need to install one to ensure safe operation.

For most members, Level 2 charging offers the best balance of speed, convenience and cost when used correctly.

How to Reduce Home Charging Cost

Home charging costs can be significantly reduced by setting up your Level 2 charger to spread the charging load over the longest period of time possible. PCEC recommends charging your electric vehicle overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., when overall home electric demand is lower.

Charging times and charging power levels can usually be adjusted through:

• The settings on your EV itself (see vehicle operating manuals), or

• The settings on your Level 2 charger

Many new electric vehicles come with a charger, but not all chargers include programmable features. Some members may find it helpful or necessary to purchase a programmable Level 2 charger that allows them to control charging start times and charging rates.

Electric Vehicles Charging Options Explained

AC Level 1 Charging (Standard Home Outlet)
Provides charging through a standard 120 V AC plug and does not require installation of additional charging equipment. Level 1 is most often used in home applications, but is sometimes used at workplaces. A full charge may take up to 24 hours with level 1 120 V charging.

AC Level 2 Charging (May Require Home Upgrades)
Provides charging through a 240 V plug and requires the installation of additional charging equipment by a qualified electrician/installer. Level 2 is used in homes, workplaces and for some public charging stations. Level 2 charging is generally required to support heavy daily driving.

DC Fast-Charging (High-Power Public Charging)
This format is used in public charging stations and is typically not available for home use. Provides charging through 480 V AC input and requires specialized, high-powered charging equipment and special equipment in the vehicle itself. DC Fast-Charging can deliver an 80 percent battery charge for most EV models in about 20-30 minutes.

For more information about electric vehicles and vehicle options, visit https://energyright.com/ev/find-an-ev/.