Our interest in electric cars began back in 2013. The technology back then for the common electric vehicle (EV) just wasn’t there. We test drove a Ford Focus EV out a dealership in Columbia, Missouri, (we’re from Missouri, remember) and were thoroughly underwhelmed. The biggest yikes-factor was the remarkably low range and incredibly lengthy charging time. Thankfully, electric cars have come a long way since then! While we have seen a steady increase in battery range, arguably the most impactful improvement has been the decreased charging times.
As more car manufacturers come out with their own version of an electric car, Tesla seems to be the company setting the pace. For a while, car makers were offering EV options that were all around underwhelming, at the sticker price of premium gas-powered cars. They would claim sales weren’t there for EVs, and thus further investment in battery development would stall out in favor of production of high-dollar, inefficient gas vehicles. When in fact, EV demand was there, but the product being supplied was just awful. Enter Elon Musk like a bull in a china shop, who began cranking out high performance, luxury EVs with battery technology that blew its competition out of the water. People were literally lining up to buy Teslas, paying thousands of dollars sight unseen, and sometimes waiting years for delivery. To this day, other car companies are still realizing their untapped potential. It’s true, Tesla does make amazing cars. But now days, there are plenty more affordable options out there that better suit a range of lifestyles.
Before our daughter was born in 2019, we bought a 2013 Nissan Leaf. Our Leaf has a max range of 80 miles in the summer, 60 in the winter. That’s pretty small compared to most modern EVs, but it is all we need in small, cut-off Juneau with 40-ish miles of roads. Plus, since its battery is out-preformed by its competitors, it was cheap. The biggest thing we were looking for in our EV was not high range, but its ability to charge quickly. All EVs are able to charge with AC current–the type of current that comes out of a standard outlet. However, it can be slow, taking anywhere from 2 to 12 or more hours to fully charge depending on the voltage, type of car, and ambient temperature. DC Fast Charge can charge much more quickly, but generally is more stressful to the battery, and is still not standard in all EVs. If buying an EV, triple check with your dealer, or whomever your are purchasing from, that your car has DC Fast Charging, and don’t just assume from pictures.
Types of EV Charging
Level 1 – 110 Volts
When people charge at home by plugging into a standard three-prong outlet, they are charging at Level 1. It’s easy and convenient, but slow. It’s perfect for coming home from work, plugging in, and waking up in the morning to a full charge. It also isn’t a huge draw on electric either. When we were exclusively charging at home, our electric bill saw only a minor increase.
Level 2 – 240 Volts
Most public charging stations are Level 2. These are the smaller looking stations, typically on a single post. At home, Level 2 can be accessed by plugging into a 240-Volt outlet (standard for a clothes dryer), or by installing a home charging station. Some electric companies will offer discounts on electricity used by home charging stations if you charge during non-peak hours. Charging at Level 2 can cut your charging time down to 2-6 hours, depending on the car and outside temperature.
Level 3 – DC Fast Charging
These are the big public charging stations that compare more to gas pumps in size. Most cars capable of DC Fast Charging advertise 80% charge in 30 minutes. It’s important to note that DC Fast Charging can be hard on the battery, so most cars have a safety function built in to slow charging down once it reaches 80-90%, so the battery isn’t damaged by overcharging. In our Nissan Leaf, it can gain 80% of its total battery in 30 minutes, but can take another 30 minutes to top off to the full 100%. I once asked an electrician what it would take to DC Fast Charge at home, and he said the amount of power it would draw from the grid would dim the lights in the neighborhood.
Regenerative Breaking
Most EVs are capable of regenerating some charge by recapturing the momentum lost by breaking or going downhill at a constant speed. This can make the car feel like you are breaking when not actively accelerating. It’s a pretty neat feature, but really only contributes a noticeable extra charge if you are driving through a particularly hilly area.
Best Charging Practices – The 80% rule
To protect the battery long-term, it is best not to charge to 100%, and to minimize charging frequency. For most cars (not Teslas), it is better for the battery to be drained to 10-20%, then charged in one charging session to 80%. How often and how full the battery is charged can affect the overall battery life. The Nissan Leaf has an indicator beside the charge level indicator that shows the remaining life of the battery in 12 segments. Once the segments are depleted, the battery would need to be replaced. My 2013 still has all 12 segments–though the jury is out on whether a previous owner had replaced the battery (our range is distinctly higher than it should be for its model year). Typical battery replacements are said to cost around $6,000, and battery life can be anywhere from 5-10 or more years. However, the only other regular car maintenance relates to tires and windshield wipers. Plus, most people are already on to new cars in the 5-10 years it takes for a battery to need replacement.
Tesla batteries operate completely differently. They are best maintained by charging frequently and often, without letting the battery level drop too low, and by never letting the car sit unused for long periods of time.
Mind you, charging patterns should reflect what is realistic for your situation. If you are taking your EV on a road trip, a week or so of charging to 100% to get that extra bit of range before having to stop for an hour or two is not going to significantly damage your battery. But when you return home, it’s best to set your charging limit to 80% to maximize battery life. Similarly, if you live in an apartment without access to Level 1, charging at Level 2 and Level 3 while out and about will also be fine so long as you’re properly draining the battery and minding the 80% rule.
Driving Efficiently = Less Charging
The biggest factor playing into how much time you will spend charging, aside from your choice of car, is your driving efficiency. Just because an EV has awesome 0-60 mph doesn’t mean you need to test it every time. Most EVs have a power indicator, that shows you how much power (or kwh) you are using or regenerating at any given time. Its best to spend as little power as you can at one time. This means easing up to speed, typically staying at or below 55-60 mph on the highway, and just generally not driving like a douche.
Expect lower range and slower charging when it’s cold outside.
Enough said. Cold is hard on batteries. Some cars have cold weather packages, but these are rare. It’s generally better to use seat heaters than forced cabin heating when possible (be careful to take into consideration children in child safety seats who would need the cabin heating).