A Quick Guide to EV Charging

There’s a lot of gab in the automotive world about EVs. Looking at current trends, electric motors are the definitive future of the car industry, with some automakers pledging to go all-electric as soon as 2030. Yet, for all the talk, it seems to be hard to find some concrete knowledge on how to charge the dang thing.

Volts? Kilowatt hours? What do either of these things mean, and how do they translate to your car? Do you need a special EV electrician or an electric car charger installer? Should you buy an electric vehicle at all?

Some do it different than others, but one constant remains: if you want an EV, you’ve gotta find a consistent way to charge it. For the foreseeable future, that necessitates having one where you live.

Here are your options, both at home and on the road.

Levels of EV Chargers

Before we get into which one to install in your home, let’s lay down some basics: there are currently 3 levels of EV charger:

Level 1

Basically, this is your typical wall outlet at home. It employs a 110-120 volt alternating current (AC) charge. It works just fine for your phone or your laptop, and it’ll work for your car, too, but only if you’re patient. EV batteries take quite a bit of juice to reach a full charge. So, while this is by far the cheapest option, it’s not the most time-friendly—in fact, it can take upwards of a full day to take an EV battery from empty to full.

These types of chargers are generally included in the purchase of an EV. As J.D Power notes, level 1 chargers are best for PHEVs, or plug-in hybrids, which use a combo of electric power and the traditional gas engine, so you’re not totally dependent on battery power.

If you don’t do much motoring, and you have a spot where you can consistently plug your vehicle in overnight, it’ll get the job done. But, if you plan on taking a road trip, or live in an apartment complex without a charging apparatus, you might need to up your game a bit.

Level 2

These chargers usually put out 240 volts, so about double what a level 1 can do—the voltage indicates how much electrical power can be produced. The outlet that a clothes dryer plugs into is the most common example of this.

These are often regarded as the best at-home solution for charging an EV. Because of the increased power, level 2 chargers are able to amp your car up in a fraction of the time—Forbes reports that they can charge a car 3 to 10 times faster than a level 1 charger.

This type of charger is also currently the most common at public charging stations, with over 80% as of 2020, though that’s rapidly changing.

Level 3

These are rarely seen at home—because of the energy demand, level 3 chargers are generally meant for commercial use. Think of these as the functional equivalent of a gas station for an electric vehicle. These eschew the normal AC charge of an at-home outlet for direct current (DC). Because of this, level 3 chargers are also known widely as DCFC (DC fast-charge). These enable you to get the job done much faster, depending on the make and model—for instance, The BMW i4 eDrive40 is estimated to get 108 miles per 10 minutes of charging.

This level is largely considered to be the future of EV charging, and the infrastructure is quickly catching up to the car industry, you’ll start to see more and more of them. In fact, BMW has partnered with EVgo, the largest network of fast-charging stations in the US. This provides ample opportunity to quickly pump some life into your battery, especially in urban areas.

This map is a good starter for finding charging stations in Greater Miami, and around the country, but be wary, because not all chargers are made the same. For some more specific info on BMW charging stations in southern Florida, check out this map.

What’s the Best EV Charger for Home?

The verdict on best home option right now is level 2.

Unfortunately, the power grid in your neighborhood probably just can’t handle a DCFS charger for your garage; but the good news is that having the home field advantage gives you a leg up. Level 2 stations are more than adequate to charge your car overnight, or even just for an afternoon if you want to go out on the town. So, with a little planning, you’ll be good to go.

As we’ve mentioned, you probably already have a level 2 (240 volt) port in your house. Most people don’t have one installed in their garage, though, so unless you want to run a cable from your laundry room to the car, you’ll have to have the proper gear installed. And that will require an EV charger electrician and/or installation expert.

How much does it cost to install an EV charger at home? The cost of installing one in your garage depends on multiple factors, but the freedom of being able to plug your EV in when you get home and wake up the next day with a full battery can’t be overlooked. Luckily, BMW has partnered with Qmerit to provide level 2 charger installation, and the price estimate is free.

Any More Questions?

Let us help you out.

Installing an EV charging station at home may seem pricey, but the good news is that many EVs and PHEVs are eligible for big tax credits. Stop by or give our BMW dealership near Aventura a call at (786) 577-5220, and our staff will be more than happy to talk about how you can get the maximum $7,500 credit on the BMW i3, as well as some state-level EV tax rebates in Florida.

Braman BMW Miami is located at 2060 Biscayne Blvd and serves EV shoppers throughout South Florida. Browse our selection of hybrid, PHEV and electric cars for sale in Miami, or click here to pre-order the BMW iX or i4.