Your Comprehensive Guide to EV Charging

Are you considering an EV near Crestview? If so, take a moment to learn about how to charge your EV and what different types of charging ports there are. We’ll also cover how to calculate how much money you’ll save each month when it comes to electric charging vs. gas costs. Once you’re reading, apply for financing and contact Step One Kia Fort Walton Beach to test drive our selection of plug-in hybrids and full EVs! 

How to Use an EV Charging Station 

So, how do you charge your EV when you’re driving around Niceville? First, download a charging map app onto your phone like PlugShare. This app will help you find the nearest compatible charging stations. Most public charging stations belong to a network, in which case, you’ll need to become a member. Any charging station you encounter will provide you with the instructions to join the network. Once you’ve joined, all you need to do to use the charging station is: 

• Open the vehicle’s charging port.
• Remove the charger from the station.
• Plug it into your vehicle’s charging port. 
• Wait for your vehicle to charge up. 
• Then, pay for the electricity you’ve used via the touchscreen. Granted, many charging stations are free. 

As for your home-charging station, you’ll simply plug your vehicle into an adapter fitted for an outlet in the wall of your %%target-city_3%% garage. Now that we’ve covered the basic steps of charging an EV, let’s take a look at the different types of chargers. 

The Different Types of Charging Ports  

• Standard Domestic 120-Volt Charging Station: These charging devices often come standard with whatever electric vehicle you buy. They feature a cord and a charging adapter that you can plug into a 3-prong outlet in your garage. Bear in mind that these charging cords only replenish your battery at a rate of 4 miles of range an hour. They’re not meant for doing all of your charging. They are great, however, for passively building up a background charge while you’re at home! 

• Available Domestic and Public 240-VOLT/32-AMP Charging Station: If you upgrade to a Level 2 domestic charger, you’ll be able to charge up to 25 miles an hour, meaning that you could catch a full charge from home! The important thing to note, however, is that you’ll need to hire an electrician to create a special outlet for this charger, and have it wired up directly to your power panel. There’s also the possibility that you’ll need to upgrade your power panel. You’ll also find Level 2 chargers around town. In fact, many Level 2 chargers are currently free to use! 

• Public DC FAST Chargers: These chargers are currently only available for commercial use, and can replenish your battery at a rate of about 100 miles per 30 minutes. For some vehicles, you can even get a charge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes!

Calculating Costs of Electric Vehicle Charging   

To determine your EV charging costs each month, grab your electric bill. It should list how many kWh you’ve consumed this month. Then, look at the total of your bill. Divide that number by the kWh you’ve consumed. This answer will indicate how much you pay for each kWh you’ve used to charge your vehicle at home.

Of course, you won’t do all of your charging, so you’ll need to determine many miles you’ve driven each month. Most electric vehicles get 3-4 kWh per mile, so determine how many kWh your vehicle consumes per mile, and use that number to divide the total miles you drive each month on average. Then, multiply the answer by the amount you pay per kWh. This will give you a good estimate of how much it costs you to charge your vehicle each month, and trust us, it’s much less than you’d pay to fuel your vehicle with gas. 

Test Drive Electric Vehicles at Step One Kia Fort Walton Beach 

Now that you’ve read our guide about how to charge your vehicle, what types of charging stations there are, and how to calculate the cost of charging your vehicle, call Step One Kia Fort Walton Beach at %%phone_saless%%. We give you a tour of our inventory of EVs, and help you find the perfect model for your needs and budget! Don’t forget to explore our new vehicle specials, so you don’t miss out on opportunities to save!