EV Charging Guide: Learn About All Your Charging Options and How Much They Cost
With gas prices on the rise once again, more drivers are switching to electric vehicles in 2021 than ever before. However, some drivers still have some questions about range, cost, and reliability.
This compact guide should help answer those questions.
Tired of watching dollar signs pile up at the gas station? What if there was a cheaper, cleaner, and more convenient way to get your card back on the road? That’s what electric vehicle (EV) drivers sign up for when they trade in their internal combustion engines (ICE) cars for an electric car.
By now, everybody knows you can save a ton of money when you ditch gasoline for electricity. For those of you that don’t, an average California driver can save around $1,500 on gasoline each year. That’s an extra $15,000 in your bank account over the course of ten years.
So let’s break down what we know:
Electric vehicles are A) better for the environment and B) more affordable than ever. But is charging an electric car as easy and convenient as filling up at a gas station? We think so, and here’s why:
EV Chargers are faster, more efficient and more affordable than ever before, and the global charging network continues to expand every day.
Currently there are over 45,000 charging stations across the US with plans to install 500,000 more over the next 9 years. Along with those national expansion plans, Loop’s EV Charging Network is planning to install 20,000 new chargers in the next year alone.
This increased accessibility, along with ever-increasing battery capacity, is quickly making the “EV range” debate a non-issue.
Is charging an electric car as easy as filling up at a gas station?
Yes! (And it might even be easier.)
– At gas stations you can either pay with cash or card, choose your fuel quality, and start pumping.
– With Loop (or virtually any other charging network) you pay on your app and start charging. The only difference is you’re using a charging cable instead of a fuel pump.
EV drivers also have a few different charging options to fit their personal day-to-day schedule: a level 1 charger (slow), a level 2 charger (faster), and a level 3 charger (fastest).
The bottom line: no matter what option you use to get back on the road, it’s easy and affordable. Let’s take a closer look at these three different levels…
Level 1 EV Chargers
As the name suggests, a level 1 charger is the slowest of the three charging options. But depending on your day-to-day use, it could also be the most convenient.
Level 1 chargers are designed to be used at home or stored in an EV for emergencies. They require no installation, and they’re typically included with the purchase of a new electric car. Level 1 chargers are as straightforward as it gets; they plug in to any standard outlet and can add around 4-7 miles of range per hour.
So while it may be slow, level 1 chargers offer the unbeatable convenience of charging at home or anywhere there’s a normal outlet.
Charge Rate: 30-50 Miles of Range in 8 Hours
Pros: Convenient, No Installation Required, Typically Included with Purchase
Cons: Extremely Slow Charging Rate
Cost: ~$8.60 for 150 Miles* (Traditional Gas Price: $18.66 for 150 Miles)
Loop Level 1 Chargers: Currently, Loop does not manufacture level 1 chargers.
Level 2 EV Chargers
As of today, the most common charger in the national EV charging network is the level 2 charger. They’re considerably faster than Level 1 chargers, but due to the more advanced hardware and software they require some installation.
Level 2 chargers can really be found anywhere, but you’ll typically see them at residences, apartment complexes, shopping centers, and small business offices. Level 2 chargers can add around 20-30 miles of range per hour, making them the ideal solution for any retail or commercial property where drivers typically stay for a few hours.
Charge Rate: 20-30 Miles of Range per Hour (Full Charge in 7-10 Hours)
Pros: Can Be Used At-Home or For Commercial Purposes, Efficient Software, Most Affordable Charging Costs
Cons: At-Home Installation Can Be Expensive
Cost: $6.06-$7.99 for 150 Miles* (Traditional Gas Price: $18.66 for 150 Miles)
Loop Level 2 Chargers: EV-Flex, EV-Flex Lite, EV-Fleet (Up to 2.5x Faster Charge Than Standard Level 2 Chargers)
Level 3 DC Fast Chargers
These 480-volt chargers are called fast chargers for a reason.
Loop’s Level 3 charger, EV Fast, can add up to 100 miles of range in just 30 minutes. That’s enough to fully charge most EVs in under 90 minutes. You’ll find virtually all Level 3 chargers at various high-traffic areas around the country (i.e. shopping centers, public parking lots, corporate offices, and along most major travel corridors).
With so many drivers till worried about the range of any given electric car, the expansion of level 3 fast chargers is essential in creating a national charging network.
Charge Rate: ~100 Miles of Range per Hour (Full Charge in Under 3.5 Hours)
Pros: Excellent Charging Rate, Found in High Traffic Areas
Cons: Harder to Find In Rural Areas, Slightly More Expensive
Cost: $11.70-$15.68 for 150 Miles* (Traditional Gas Price: $18.66 for 150 Miles)
Loop Level 3 Chargers: EV-Fast
*All costs are calculated using current gas and electricity prices in California. Personal savings may vary.
Go Ahead, Drive Electric
Today, every EV driver has access to affordable, convenient, and reliable charging no matter what their schedule looks like.
But this revolution is just beginning: with more than 40 new electric cars, trucks, and vans due to arrive by 2035, EV drivers are certain to see even more charging options pop up all across America.
Buckle Up, #TheFutureIsElectric.
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What are your biggest concerns about buying an electric vehicle? Range, reliability, battery life? Discuss below!
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