As the popularity of electric vehicles in Iowa continues to grow, more drivers are needing to charge their vehicles. But, those charging stations aren’t always very accessible.
So what can you do? Many wind up charging their electric car at home.
Homeowners may be worried about what that would mean for their electricity rates. But charging an electric vehicle at home doesn’t have to mean a huge power bill!
Continue reading as we take a look at the different types of charging you can implement at home, and how you can maximize your savings.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Iowa
With the purchase of an electric vehicle in Iowa, homeowners can have the convenience of charging their vehicles at home. But electric vehicles are still such a new idea for many homeowners, and it’s still hard to know which charger is the best.
We’re here to help with a quick overview of the 3 types of electric car charging stations available.
Level 1 Vehicle Electric Charger:
The level 1 charger is the standard charger that you get with your vehicle, there is no special process for installing them. Just plug this charger into your 120 volt outlet and it is ready to charge! This type is ideal for a lot of homeowners and won’t require you to spend more money.
Level 2 Vehicle Electric Charger:
The level 2 charger uses 240 volts, however since the standard outlet is 120, this one requires a special installation. 240 volts is equivalent to what ovens and dryers use.
In order to provide you with those 240 volts, you would need a double pole circuit breaker to be attached to two 120 volt outlets using a 4 strand cable. In order to do this you may have to replace your entire breaker box, or may have to install a double pole breaker in your existing panel.
After doing this, you can run the cable to your location where you will be charging your vehicle.Make sure when doing this, that that cable is insulated. Then install your charging unit where you will plug into your car. The unit is a great way to not let the electricity flow until you plug it into your car’s charging port.
This is a very technical installation with huge risks if you try to do it yourself. The smarter choice is to have a professional install this part. On average this costs about $200-$1,200.
Level 3 Vehicle Electric Charger:
Level 3 chargers are what we know as charging stations or “DC fast chargers.” Think of the rows of chargers you see in Target parking lots or at freeway rest areas the public can use. Fast chargers provide electric vehicles that are compatible with about 80% charge in 30 minutes.
If you have a Tesla you may know these level 3 chargers as superchargers which are able to put up to 170 miles of range into your car’s battery within 30 minutes.
The major drawback with these chargers? Not all electric vehicles in Iowa can use these chargers, so it is important to know if your car is compatible with it or not. The fee for public charging ranges from flat monthly fees, per minute fees, or in some instances both combined.
Using Charging Stations with Solar
One of the advantages of getting an electric vehicle and home solar is being able to charge your car and have your energy needs met without seeing your monthly costs balloon out of control.
When a homeowner goes solar with us at Purelight, we can take into account the amount of electricity that charging your vehicle would add to your bill when building your system. That way we’re able to encompass your expected energy usage to design a system that will wipe out your power bill.
But what about the cost? With the recent passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, homeowners have a ton of ways to save even more money by getting an energy efficient home and car. Ultimately, if you’re going to invest in an electric car, investing in solar is a smart choice too.
Purelight Helps You Own Your Power!
If you’re looking for the right option that would work for charging your vehicle and maximize your savings, solar is a great investment.
Purelight Power can build your system that will take into account home vehicle charging, and make the most out of your system.
Take this 60 second survey today to find out if your roof qualifies for Purelight’s solar for $0 down program.
