![]() There are certainly some useful elements to having a smart charger. In fact, having both a smart charger and using your EV's charge management systems can lead to confusion, if the two schedules clash. It's commonplace for EVs to have a companion app, as well as to support charging schedules. They're useful features - especially if your electricity provider offers an EV-specific plan, which can make it significantly cheaper if you only charge during off-peak times - but often they're already supported by the vehicle itself. Much of the research there right now is anecdotal, admittedly, but with EV sales rising - and most automakers planning to go all-electric in the next decade - a home charger is probably only going to get more alluring. Pre-existing support for a Level 2 EV charger could well improve the appeal of your home when it comes to selling it, with more and more homeowners likely to prioritize properties where the hard work of installation is already done. While that might be a lot to stomach on top of the cost of an electric vehicle itself, there's a potential silver lining beyond just the convenience of speedy charging at home. If your panel needs upgrading, though, is inconveniently placed, or you have a detached garage, then you could end up spending several thousands of dollars. If you already have a 200 amp panel, and it's relatively near to where you want your EV charger to be positioned, it could cost $500-800 in electricians fees, though local rates will vary. The complexity (and cost) of that process will depend on exactly what your home needs. Typically that can range from 3.6 kW to 19.2 kW, though it's worth noting that not every electric vehicle supports those higher kilowatt figures - 9.6 kW is fairly commonplace in current EVs. Different Level 2 chargers put out different amounts of power, measured in kilowatts (kW). ![]() If you've got an electric dryer in your garage, you might already have a compatible outlet, though that's still no guarantee that you'll get the fastest charging speeds that your EV and your charger officially support. Some need to be hardwired others plug into a 240V outlet, typically a NEMA 14-30, 14-50, 10-30, 10-50, or 6-50. While Level 1 chargers have the benefit of plugging into easily-found outlets, most EV owners will want a Level 2 charger at home. ![]() Level 3 is a reference to DC fast chargers commonly used at public stations they're capable of delivering exceptionally fast recharge times, but they're not intended for domestic use as they require seriously potent electrical wiring (and come with seriously high price tags, too). In contrast, a Level 2 charger could add 50+ miles of range per hour connected. ![]() A Level 1 charger can usually provide around four to five miles of range per hour that the EV is plugged in. ![]()
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