Tesla Charging Options: Can I Charge My Tesla At Home
When it comes to charging a Tesla, there are three main options: the mobile connector , the wall charger , and the supercharger . The first two are home charging options, while Level 3 chargers are typically only seen in industrial settings or within Teslas charging network. Here are some details on each:
- Level 1: The mobile connector is the most straightforward. It comes standard with every Tesla vehicle and can be plugged into any ordinary 120-volt outlet, but it offers slow charging speeds of about 8-17 km of range per hour, depending on the car model.
- Level 2: Another home charging option, this is also referred to as a Tesla wall charger, or wall connector. While a Level 1 charger can simply be plugged in out of the box, the Tesla wall charger requires installation by a qualified electrician, but it provides additional power in order to charge your car faster.
- Level 3: This charger isnt typically seen in home use. These incredibly fast chargers, also known as superchargers, cost at least as much as the car itself, but they can charge a Tesla to 50% battery in about 20 minutes.
Are Home Charging Stations Safe
When you purchase a quality charging system that is designed for your vehicle and have it professionally installed, home car charging systems are completely safe. The National Electrical Code requires that any charging station needs to be certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory before being installed anywhere in the US. Look for the NRTL mark on the charger you purchase, like the UL mark or the ETL mark to ensure it went through testing and is certified for safety. Attempting a DIY install or purchasing a unit that has not been safety-tested could pose similar hazards to other electrical appliances, including the risk of an electrical fire.
Level 1 Vs Level 2 Ev Charger
When you purchase an electric car, it will likely come with a Level 1 charger. This charger is designed to plug into any standard 120-volt outlet. This means that you can plug your car in anywhere there is an outlet. This charger charges very slowly, however, and can take up to 24 hours to fully charge a depleted battery.
A Level 2 charger is different. This is either hardwired to your homes electrical supply or uses a 240-volt outlet. It can charge your car in 2 to 5 hours, so it makes more sense for people who drive frequently. This charger requires professional installation, which raises costs. Level 1 chargers do not require installation beyond ensuring there is an accessible outlet.
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How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Car
We’ve given you an idea of how long it takes to charge an electric car in our descriptions of the various charging stations available, but again the real answer is: “It depends.”
One important thing to consider is recharging an EV is a different process than filling up a conventional car with gasoline. With a home EV charging station , many EV owners never come close to depleting their vehicle’s supply of electricity. Keep the battery topped off, and recharging time should never become a concern.
Now, let’s say you’re away from both home and the office, and your EV’s battery is almost empty. How long does it take to charge an electric car in this scenario?
Use a public DCFC, and you could recharge your EV in an hour or less . Connect to a more common Level 2 public charging station, and you can recoup 15 to 25 miles of driving range for each hour the EV is plugged in. If you’re visiting friends or relatives, it could take as long as four days to trickle-charge the longest-range Tesla by plugging it into the same household wall socket you’d use to charge your phone.
Recharging time depends on the battery’s overall capacity, its state of charge, and the type of charging station you use.
Sharing With Your Dryer
Most houses have a 30 amp electric plug for your dryer. It may be easy for you to switch to a natural gas dryer, particularly if you are in the mood for a new dryer. They cost only a little more, but they cost a fair bit less to run, and as such they save money in the long run. They also cost the same day and night. You do need to get a natural gas line at your laundry room. Adding that can cost real money or be cheap depending on how far it has to come. Perhaps you can even sell your electric dryer to somebody on Craigslist.
If you do this, you remove 30 amps of load from your house, and now you can add a 30 amp line for your car without needing a service upgrade. Your electrician can also in some cases just run a line from where your electric dryer plug is to where your car is. This is more than enough power for your needs, and even though a new gas dryer is not free, it can be the cheapest option of all.
You can also buy a device called a Dryer Buddy for about $350 which lets you plug your car and dryer into the same plug, if your car parks close to your dryer. This device simply sees when the dryer is on, and shuts off car charging when it is. This is also a relatively cheap solution. Unless you run your dryer after midnight you wont even notice sharing the plug.
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How Does Ev Charging Work
You plug things in to charge every day – your cell phone, your computer, a tablet. EV charging is similar to that. You plug in an EV so it can charge the battery in order for the cars motor to run. EVs are powered by large battery packs that store DC energy.
High-speed chargers, which are found in public spaces – and not in homes – provide DC power. This is the most direct and fastest way to charge a battery: DC electricity flows from the charging station directly into the battery.
However, things are a bit different when it comes to charging an EV in a home. At your home, as with most places in general, you only have access to AC power. For this reason, all EVs are equipped with an on-board charger that converts the AC power that comes from the charger to DC power, so the energy can be stored in the battery. The conversion from AC to DC power adds some time to the charging process.
The size of the onboard charger also dictates how fast an EV will charge. All Teslas in 2022 have an 11.5 kW onboard charger, except the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD), which has a 7.7 kW onboard charger. That means that the Model 3 RWD will accept AC electricity charging at a lower rate than all other Teslas.
Option #: Charge Two Teslas On One Outlet
Continuing on the topic of using a 240V electricity outlet, if the outlet is in use because you already have an electric car and have a Level 2 charging station plugged into it, you can use the 240V NeoCharge Smart Splitter to put another charging station on the same outlet. Then you can choose to charge both of your EVs at the same time at half power.
Importantly, theres no Tesla home charger installation cost with this option! The cost of a Tesla charger installation is not cheap. Additionally, if you get a charger installed, you may need to upgrade your electric panel capacity, which can add a couple thousand more dollars to the cost. If you can pop a Smart Splitter into an existing outlet and avoid both charger installation costs and a potential electricity panel upgrade, then you can potentially save a lot of money.
Cost: The NeoCharge Smart Splitter costs $449.
The NeoCharge Smart Splitter in a 240V dryer outlet, this device allows Tesla owners to charge two Teslas simultaneously without expensive installations or panel upgrades. Image courtesy NeoCharge.
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How Much To Install Tesla Supercharger At Home
You cannot have a Tesla Supercharger installed at home because the Tesla Supercharger is designed to cater to the public at commercial spaces.
Additionally, the Tesla Supercharger is a direct current Level 3 charger that can give Tesla cars 300 miles of range within an hour of charging.
Technically, houses today do not have the electrical capacity to meet a Tesla Superchargers requirements.
We Install Home Charging Stations
At Powertec Electric, were certified charging station installers. We sell EV chargers installed in an attached garage for an average cost of $1999. They range from $700-$1000 to purchase, with an additional fee for labour and installation.
Depending on which model of electric vehicle you purchase, you might have some flexibility with the charging station you choose. A few popular models of EV chargers that we install include:
- ChargePoint: These EV chargers are Energy Star certified, making them highly efficient and eco-friendly. Monitor your battery levels via the app. On your smartphone, you can check the power status of your car at any time.
- Tesla: Tesla vehicles are designed to be used with their brand of charging equipment if you want to use a different type of charger, youll need an adaptor. With a Tesla charger, your car battery will be charged faster than with another charger.
- Porsche: These chargers are optimal for all electric Porsche vehicles. Using the Porsche Connect app, you can control and monitor the charging process.
Our licenced electricians can install an EV charging station in your home. If you dont already have a 240 volt outlet for your Level 2 car charger, well set one up for you.
The true cost of a home EV charger will vary based on your specific needs. Looking for a quote? At Powertec Electric, we can install the optimal setup for your electric vehicle. To learn more, contact us today.
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Tesla Home Charger Installation Estimates
Tesla offers three home charging options with varied installation costs ranging from $0 to over $1500 minus the hardware. The first option is to use the 120V outlet in your garage alongside the mobile connector that ships with your vehicle. This is based on the assumption that most garages already have 120V outlets built into them thus, there are no expected installation costs.
Unfortunately, this charger setup is quite slow and only adds 2-3 miles of range per hour of charging. Consequently, if you charge your car for eight hours through the night, the most you can get is 24 miles of added range.
Alternatively, you can use the 240V NEMA 14-50 outlet. The installation for this outlet incorporates a 50-amp circuit breaker which allows the use of major appliances such as dryers. Most American households will have at least two such outlets in the home, with one being in the kitchen. However, youll rarely find a 240V NEMA 14-50 outlet built into the garage, so youll likely need to purchase and install one. This may also require some wiring modifications in your garage to match the power requirements of a 240V outlet.
The outlet costs $45, and Tesla estimates the installation will cost $750-$1500, resulting in a significant improvement in charging metrics. In fact, youll get 20-30 miles per hour of charging, depending on the car model. For the Tesla Model S, this means 29 miles per hour, and for the Tesla Model X, 25 miles per hour.
Tesla Home Charger Cost Breakdown
The current charger itself costs $495 at the time of writing. As mentioned, a straightforward installation will cost $1,500 at most. This includes the cost of wiring, installing a new circuit breaker for the charger, the charger itself, and labor.
The largest cost will probably come from upgrading your homes main electrical panel and power service if you need to upgrade them. Most homes have a 100 amp service. However, its recommended that you upgrade to a 200 amp service for the main panel if you dont already have it.
This is especially true if you have other heavy electrical appliances in your home, such as a fridge, microwave, and air conditioning. You will easily go over the limit of your homes power service if you use these appliances and install a home charger.
According to Home Advisor, upgrading to a 200 amp panel will cost somewhere between $750 $2,000. Meanwhile, a 400 amp panel costs between $1,500 $4,000. Youll need to check with a professional electrician for a more accurate estimate since every home is different.
However, as a rough estimate, youll need to prepare at least around $2,500 to upgrade your homes panel and install the Tesla home charger.
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Electric Car Vs Gas Cost
Let’s compare apples-to-apples using the Volvo XC40, which comes with a choice between an internal combustion engine and an electric drive system.
According to the EPA, a 2022 Volvo XC40 with all-wheel drive consumes four gallons of gas for every 100 miles traveled. Based on the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. on February 2, 2022, it costs $13.52 to drive this SUV 100 miles. This is for gasoline costs only and does not include oil changes and other maintenance and repair expenses common to internal combustion engines.
Volvo offers an electric version of the XC40. The EPA says it uses 43 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles traveled. At an average U.S. electricity rate of 14.11 cents per kWh, it costs $6.07 to drive this SUV 100 miles. This is for electricity costs only and does not include the amortized charging station and charging station installation costs. It also does not take into consideration that the electric XC40 costs $16,600 more than an equivalent gas-powered XC40 .
Cost Of Installing An Ev Charger At Home
by Powertec Electric | Jan 5, 2022 | Uncategorized |
Shopping for a new car? Nows the time to switch to an electric vehicle.
More and more Canadians are scrapping their gas-guzzling cars for electric ones. EVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and allow you to save money on rising gas prices. Even better, there are excellent rebates available for EV purchases in Canada.
Once youve chosen the electric vehicle that you want, the next step is installing your home EV charging station. You can plug your electric car into your home charging station whenever you need to fill the battery. Not only is it more convenient, but youll be saving money with each recharge.
Heres the great thing about installing an EV charger: you only pay for it once. With a gas-powered vehicle, you pay for gas each time you need to stop and fill up on fuel. Electricity is a lot less expensive than gas .
So, how much will your home EV charger cost you? When youre calculating the cost of your EV charging station, you need to consider:
- The level of charger
- The current electrical capacity of your home
- The type of charger
- The labour involved in the installation
Were going to break down the cost of installing electric vehicle supply equipment in your home:
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Option #: Tesla Level 1 Home Charging
It seems appropriate to put the most basic Level 1 charging option at #1. This involves just plugging your car into a normal 120V outlet the same type you use to plug in your TV, computer, or lamp. There is no need to install anything with this option, so the setup cost is $0. You just plug your home Tesla charger into a wall outlet and then plug in your car when you want to charge.
This is commonly called trickle charging because youre essentially just trickling electricity into the car at a very slow rate about 3 to 4 miles per hour. For some owners, this is all they need. Others need to charge up more quickly between drives and decide to go with a Tesla-compatible Level 2 charger installation or at least use a 240V dryer outlet to charge faster than on a 120V outlet.
The differences in speed between Level 1 and Level 2 charging for four different Tesla models. Image courtesy NeoCharge.
I personally use a normal Level 1 electricity outlet for my Tesla Model 3 SR+, but I also seem to drive a bit less than the average American, I work from home , and I have free public Level 2 chargers and even a Tesla Supercharging station nearby so its easy for me to get an extra, faster charge from time to time when I could use one. Charging needs depend on an individuals circumstances, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise! That said, data Ive seen on the topic indicate that most Tesla drivers who have home charging use something stronger than Level 1 trickle charging.
Tca Electric: Experts In Tesla Home Charger Installation
Here at TCA, weve been installing home EV chargers for years. Whether its a Tesla charger or any other model, were constantly striving to keep ourselves up to date on the latest devices hitting the market. Weve already begun installing Teslas latest home charger, the Gen 3 Wall Connector, and were standing by to help get you the latest in charging technology. We understand the value of increased adoption of electric cars, both for the incredible cost savings and for saving the planet. And we know that when you purchase your Tesla, the last thing youll want is any delays or mistakes when it comes to getting your home charger online. TCA is your go-to EV charging expertso contact us today!
1625 Columbia Street, North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7J 1A5
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