Electric Vehicle FAQs
Here are some of the most popular questions we get asked.
EV Questions
What are smart panels (SPAN)?
A smart electrical panel intelligently manages the power your home consumes, the solar production and the function of a battery storage system. Additionally, a SPAN panel allows for more loads on a 200A panel, so you can add more EV chargers to your home.
What is level 1, 2 and 3 charging?
- Level 1 charging is using a typical 120V outlet to “trickle” charge your car.
- Level 2 charging is 240V similar to a large appliance and while most “L2” chargers are 30-40 amps, they can range between 16A and 80A. L2 charging is often found in both residential and public charging locations, like workplaces.
- Level 3 charging is also called “DC fast charging” typically uses 3-phase 480V power. Amperages can range from 100A to 350A and above and often the car itself is the limiting factor for the maximum kilowatts (volts x amps) that can charge the vehicle. Onboard charging capacities of 200kW+ are more and more common.
How quickly can a DC fast charger charge my car?
While this is changing each year, in early 2024 the fastest charging EVs can add 120 – 193 miles of range in 15 minutes (source).
Is there a limit to how fast I can charge my EV at home or at a workplace?
Yes. We need to do an analysis of the electrical capacity of the panel (aka “breaker box”) as well as the existing loads in that panel to determine the maximum amperage your electric system can provide.
Can I use a 240v outlet with a plug-in charger?
- Technically, yes, but we will not install this charging system due to concerns with outlet failure – the 240v outlet used for your dryer or oven was not designed for the sustained load of an EV. Additionally, the electrical code requires these kinds of outlets to be protected by GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) circuit breakers, and these breakers cause nuisance tripping with the built-in GFCI capabilities in most modern chargers.
- We only install hard-wired EV chargers.
How many miles of charge per hour will I get from my charger and car?
We can estimate the number of “miles of charge per hour” any charger can provide once we know two factors, the efficiency of the electric vehicle and the EV charging stations amperage (speed).
An efficient EV will average 4.0mi/kWh (miles per kilowatt hour). An average level 2, 240V (Volts) hardwired home charger might be rated at 32A (Amps) or 7.68kW. (240 Volts X 32 Amps = 7,680 Watts or 7.68kW.) Charging at 7.68kW with a vehicle that drives 4.0mi/kWh provides 30.72 miles of range per hour. A charger with higher amperage decreases charge time and increases the amount of miles of charge per hour. An EV charger with lower amperage increases charge times and decreases the amount of miles of charge per hour.
Most drivers rarely charge their EV’s from 0-100%. If an EV with 250 miles of range plugs in with 20% left on the battery (50 miles), it needs 200 miles to fully recharge. Using an average level 2, 240V charger providing 30.72 miles of range per hour, it would take 6.51 hours to fully charge.
How do I know where chargers are, and how much they cost?
The PlugShare app is the current go-to for all EV chargers, including the Tesla network. It is now WA state law that all public chargers need to have the rate per kilowatt-hour displayed on the charger.
Can the batteries be recycled?
EV batteries are recyclable and, in some cases, able to be refurbished. This is a nascent industry that is ramping up dramatically worldwide. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has a clause that automatically qualifies recycled EV battery materials as American-made, a designation that comes with a host of tax incentives. This is initiating rapid investment in both research and factories.
Washington state recently passed legislation that requires all battery-containing products to participate in a “stewardship plan” starting in 2027.
How often will these batteries need to be replaced?
Most manufacturers offer a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles and a minimum battery threshold of ~65-70%. This does vary from car to car. With good charging habits it is rare for a battery to drop below a certain threshold for 15-20 years.
What are charging best practices?
- It is best not to use level 3 fast charging on a daily basis.
- Stay within 20-80% “state of charge” (SOC), especially with nickel based battery chemistries. EVs easily allow for you to set the upper limit for your SOC. This is not required for batteries of LFP chemistry.
- When going on a road trip, charging to 100% will not markedly degrade the battery.
- Charging in very hot and very cold weather can advance degradation, so it is best to park in a sheltered area
