It’s no secret that the adoption of electric cars is on the rise in the US – 3.3 million EVs now travel regularly on our roads, compared to only 1.3 million in 2021.
But, although it’s not often discussed, electric car ownership costs more than the monthly repayments on the vehicle itself, when you factor in the cost of the EV charger and electricity.
So, how much does an EV charger cost and what is the true cost of switching to a fully electric car?
How much does an EV charger cost?
For a more comprehensive idea of the cost of switching to an electric car, we need to consider two main areas of investment:
The cost of the EVSE or EV charger
Even though all EVs can be charged with a domestic outlet with a level 1 EV Charger, if you want to ensure you’ll have a full range in the morning, you may need to invest in a level 2 outlet and an EV Charger unit or a hardwired one.
Level 1 charging
Level 1 charging uses a household 120-volt outlet and can take 55+ hours to charge up to 80% depending on the vehicle. Level 1 charging can still be suitable for PHEVs that have smaller batteries or as a backup for your fully electric vehicle.
Some cars can come with a level 1 charger but if it doesn’t, it can cost between $199-$350.
Level 2 charging
Level 2 charging will require installing a 240V outlet and purchasing an EV Charger or hardwiring a unit directly into the panel. That said, this one-time investment will get you full in 1-3 hours for most PHEVs and 8-10 hours for most EVs.
Prices for level 2 EV chargers , either portable or hardwired, can range somewhere between $250-$600 without accounting for the installation of the outlet or the hardwiring.
The assistance of a certified electrician in getting an outlet fitted or a unit hardwired into the panel can range between $700 to $2500+ depending on your current panel space, location, age of the panel itself, and several other factors.
Level 3 charging
Direct current, or DC) fast charging, is sometimes referred to as level 3 charging. This is only available in public charging stations and is not possible for residential charging.
The associated costs of installation
EV owners who rely on level 1 charging don’t need to install a specific outlet in their homes, but they can purchase the EV Charger unit if the car manufacturer doesn’t provide one.
Level 2 charging will need a 240V outlet. Some newer homes already come with a NEMA 14-50 outlet in the garage or have a NEMA 14-30 to use for the clothes dryer, both of which can be used for level 2 charging.
If you don’t have either, you’ll need to invest in getting a 240V outlet fitted if you desire to charge faster than level 1 and purchase NEMA 14-50 chargers or level 2 chargers.
To lessen this impact, applying for some state and utility incentives is possible, which could lower the cost and make it more accessible.
For EV cables and more, contact EV-Chargers.com
Although we predominantly sell EV chargers, our team prides itself on remaining on top of all things EV so we can offer our customers advice as needed.
So, whether you need a new EV charging cable or need some trusted advice about making the switch to an electric car, feel free to reach out today.
You can email us at [email protected] or browse our blog which is full of industry-leading insights into EVs, electric car technology, and the ins and outs of ownership.
