Electric vehicles are being chosen by people all across the globe because of their efficiency and eco-friendly nature. But the performance of an electric car is directly dependent on how well it is charged. Almost everyone charges their electric vehicles at home, and many people are now investing in fast charging.
No one wants to be late for work or spend hours until the car is charged to go out. The expenses of charging an electric vehicle depend on the rates of the utility company and the charging station you are using. In this article, we will explore the reasons why EV charging can come out to be expensive for some.
Plug-In At Home
Electric vehicles can be easily plugged in at home, but for that, an entire setup needs to be organized accordingly. The charging needs adequate equipment even though there is no cost of installation. One also has to follow the safety regulations. If your driving schedule is fixed, you can easily choose to charge the car overnight.
In such a case, the cost of fast charging is reduced because it will not be needed. If you are willing to charge overnight, you can also choose utility incentives that will help decrease the cost of getting the charging equipment. The pricing of the equipment varies depending on the company you are buying it from, along with other factors.
Even though the costs are relatively high compared to gasoline, it is only the initial investment that would be difficult for some. Once installed, all you will have to pay for is the electricity bill, depending on how much you are using your car. An EV charger supplier will quote prices for different types of charging techniques. Depending on your car’s frequency of use and your charging habits, you can choose any of them.
Kilowatt Hours Per 100 Miles
You cannot blindly pick the first electric vehicle you set your eyes on because certain metrics need to be looked at. As compared to the miles per gallon mileage of regular vehicles, for electric vehicles, it is seen through kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. This can be found in the owner’s manual and is directly related to the fuel economy, telling you how much you will have to spend on charging the car.
The easiest way to figure out how much you will be paying from your pocket is to multiply your car’s kilowatt-hours per 100 miles figure with the utility rate for electricity. If you are charging your vehicle completely, it will give you an idea of how much you will pay for the car to drive 100 miles. If you are using a battery, make sure it is always stored in a cool area. To ensure that the surroundings are dry, you can also use molecular sieves. You can easily contact a zeolite supplier for the same.
Costs Of Charging
If you are thinking of charging your car at a nearby station for free, do not count on it for continuous help. It will more likely be busy with other people who got there before you. Additionally, it will not be helpful if you are running on a tight schedule. By the end of the day, the only manner of charging on which you can rely is when you do it at home.
If we compare the electricity charges to that of gasoline, it does not show that much fluctuation. The only difference, however, is within the state borders. One area might be offering cheap electricity while others may have it a little costly. You can save up on the costs of charging your EV by installing a separate meter for it, which will have lower rates. However, the cost of the meter is around a thousand dollars which will add to the initial investment.
The home charging setup is also relatively costly and can easily range to more than a thousand dollars, including the equipment and the installation costs. The price of the equipment varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Much like the care you take in choosing an industrial valve supplier, you will also need to carefully choose the manufacturer for charging equipment.
The Takeaway
EV charging is so expensive compared to gasoline because the utility rates and the initial investment is often too much for new owners to bear. Even installing a separate meter is expensive enough for many people not to consider it. One will have to make conscious choices about their charging needs with electric vehicles.