EV Charging
As technology advances and more people are purchasing electric vehicles (EV), more options for charging are available. While most people charge at home, businesses are also installing chargers for customers and employees.
There are many factors that determine amount of time that it takes to charge your EV. The existing charge level on the battery and the power the charger can deliver as well as the battery size and temperature all have an impact in how long it takes your EV to charge.
- Level 1 (L1) charging requires nothing more than an available 120-volt outlet and the cord and adapter that come with your electric car. According to the U.S. Department of Energy you can expect to receive between 2 to 5 miles of range per hour of charging on a Level 1 charger.
- Level 2 (L2) charging requires a 240-volt outlet, commonly used by household appliances such as an oven or electric dryer and a home charging system. In general, Level 2 charging systems can charge an EV battery up to six times faster than a Level 1 charger. According to the U.S. Department of Energy you can expect to receive between 10 to 20 miles of range per hour for a Level 2 charger.
- DC Fast charging, for CHAdeMo and CCS-equipped vehicles, are more commonly found in public areas and along interstates and highways. According to the U.S. Department of Energy you can expect to receive 60 to 80 miles of range in 20 minutes of charging.
Nearly 80% of electric vehicle charging occurs at home. It's easy to plug in to a standard outlet every time you pull into your garage, however installing a Level 2 charging station allows you to charge faster and manage your vehicle's battery life from an app or web site.
The cost to charge your car at home depends on many factors including battery capacity or size and your electricity rate. Using a Level 1 or 2 charging system changes the length of time for charging, not the cost.
Charging your vehicle during off-peak hours, primarily at night, when less electricity is used, can help you save money if you enroll in MGE's Shift & Save rate. With Shift & Save, you will be charged more for your electricity usage during high use, on-peak hours (10 a.m. to 9 p.m. excluding holidays and weekends) and much less during all other times. The more electricity you use off-peak (not just vehicle charging), the more money you can save. Call our Home Energy Line at (608) 252-7117 to learn more.
Level 2 home charging systems can cost around $600 plus the cost of installation. MGE's Charge@Home program provides and installs a Level 2 charger to residential MGE electric customers for a monthly fee plus the cost of electricity used with no up-front installation costs.
Approximately 50% of Dane County residents rent, so we expect the interest in adding charging stations to apartments and condos to grow. Chances are pretty good that residents have asked about installing charging stations for their electric vehicles (EVs). And more and more property owners and managers have considered installing EV charging stations to attract tenants to a new development.
MGE is available to discuss charging station options and can help navigate the decision-making process to ensure a successful installation. If you have questions or would like to schedule a meeting, contact an MGE business account manager for more information.
Check out Rentable, a website designated to help you find available apartments, which includes EV charging stations in their list of searchable amenities. You also can find information on multifamily EV charging on the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuel Data Center website.
MGE has installed a network of public charging stations, powered by 100% renewable wind energy, throughout our electric service area. Our Level 1 and Level 2 stations are $2 per hour while the DC Fast Charge station is $5 per hour.
To use the MGE public stations, you will need to set up a ChargePoint account or a Greenlots account.
In addition to MGE's public charging stations, there are almost 60 charging stations in the Madison-area and nearly 200 statewide. Visit plugshare.com for a list of all charging stations.
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