Important Tips You Should Know Before Charging An Electric Vehicle
There’s
no doubt that electric vehicles are the future, with many signs pointing
towards a world where fossil-fueled models will eventually become obsolete. Countries
worldwide have already started creating infrastructure that supports electric
cars on the road, improving the confidence of people to invest.
But how
are these vehicles charged? What are some things to know before getting
started?
If you’re
thinking about buying an electric car soon, then you should know how to
maintain it to minimize problems moving forward.
How to Charge an Electric
Vehicle
If you’re
planning to purchase an electric vehicle, it only makes sense to know how you
can keep it topped up for use. Here are the main tips to consider so you can go
about recharging your car properly:
- You want to avoid electric vehicles charging to their maximum capacity. Simply aim for around an 80% charge rather than going full. This will allow your vehicle to have space for regenerative braking so it can transform kinetic energy into one it can use as fuel.
- Keep your EV charged at home if you don’t plan to cover long distances with it. Avoid overcharging as well and only set it to a maximum of 50% charge so your electric car battery doesn’t get spoiled.
- Avoid deep discharging as much as you can. This is when you let the car battery run empty before you go and recharge it. Making this a habit will result in your battery losing out in terms of effectiveness in the long run.
How Long Does It Take to
Charge an Electric Vehicle?
A
standard electric vehicle battery is about 60kWh and takes around 8 hours to charge
from zero to full through a 7kWh charging point. This time is sufficient enough
to get someone up and running the next morning.
There
are other stations that have rapid 50kWh chargers. These locations are capable
of providing vehicles with around 100 miles of fuel in just 35 minutes.
How Much Does It Cost to
Replace Electric Vehicle Battery?
The
normal cost to replace an electric vehicle battery ranges between $5,000 and
$9,000 per piece. Meanwhile, a simple refurbished EV battery can go as little
as $2,000, which could help owners save on costs.
What
makes EV batteries better than their gas-powered counterparts is that they tend
to last longer. Although they are more costly at the start, electric vehicle
batteries are worth the price due to their increased lifespan.
Can I Install an EV
Charging Station at Home?
So long
as you have a driveway, a garage, or another location where you can safely park
your vehicle, then installing an electric vehicle charging station at home is
possible. Keep in mind that some installations can be more complicated compared
to others.
Generally
speaking, you’ll end up spending less time and money installing one if you can
park your vehicle as close to an existing power source as possible.
Conclusion
The tips
provided in this post are designed to help aspiring electric vehicle owners
know what they should do when charging the models they wish to purchase soon.
By
following the advice above, you should have a good idea of what to do when
charging an electric vehicle moving forward.