Can an electric car battery be charged using a standard household outlet? How long does it take to charge a car battery at home? How can charging be accelerated? How much do home chargers for electric car batteries cost?
In many analyses of the development of automotive electrification, home or private chargers are crucial, especially in less developed markets. In the United States, the network of chargers is currently much more extensive than just a few years ago.
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However, it is significantly less developed compared to Western European countries, so many drivers still prefer the option of charging at home. When it comes to charging an electric car battery at home, two options are available – connecting the car directly to a household electrical outlet or faster charging by purchasing a home charger.
Charging via a Household Outlet is the Slowest
Every electric car is equipped with its integrated charger, allowing the battery to be charged by connecting it to a household outlet using a cable provided by the car manufacturer. However, this is the slowest method of charging. The maximum charging power obtainable from a household electrical outlet is 3.6 kW, and for some car models, it may be even less. Consequently, it’s impossible to fully charge the battery even if left charging overnight.
For instance, for an electric car with a 70 kWh battery, charging at a rate of three kW will take approximately 24 hours. Thus, overnight charging will only replenish about one-third of the battery, which may be sufficient for some daily needs but not in line with the car’s capabilities.
Home Chargers Provide Much Faster Charging
For models with smaller batteries, charging overnight at a household outlet may be acceptable. The range of smaller cars with a single battery charge is slightly over 150 miles, which covers most daily needs. This method may still be sensible for plug-in hybrid models, which have the option of battery charging and driving exclusively in electric mode.
Their batteries are significantly larger than those of purely electric cars, so overnight charging can replenish the battery enough to meet most daily needs.
Efficiency of Charging with a Home Charger
Those opting for larger or standard performance electric cars with larger batteries and planning to cover longer daily distances can purchase a home charger. A home charger can provide charging power of up to 22 kW, much faster than direct connection to a household outlet.
However, before purchasing and installing a home charger, it is necessary to check if your vehicle supports faster charging; otherwise, you will invest in equipment that you cannot utilize.
Additionally, before buying, ensure that your home or garage meets the technical requirements for installing the charger, meaning the electrical installations are suitable for a high-power device. The price of home chargers starts at over $1000, which may seem substantial but is reasonable compared to the prices of electric cars. Furthermore, investing in this device enables efficient battery charging at home.
Conclusion
The charging cost in this case is the same as when connected to a household outlet. Although these devices charge the battery much faster than household outlets, they use the same total amount of electricity.