EV Charging
Whether you already have an electric vehicle (EV) or you're planning to get one, there are many options for charging!
Types of chargers
Many factors determine the amount of time 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 a standard 120-volt outlet and the cord and adapter that come with your electric vehicle. 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, which means you can add 20-50 miles of range over a 10-hour nighlty charging session. That's plenty for the average commute!
- 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. They are commonly used for driving between cities or on longer road trips. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can expect to receive 60 to 80 miles of range in 20 minutes of charging.
Charging at home
Nearly 80% of EV 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. 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 needed to charge but 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
Time -of-Use rate or our
Charge Ahead program. With Time-of-Use, you will be charged less for your electricity usage during off-peak hours (9 p.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday). With Charge Ahead, you can earn rewards for allowing MGE to manage your EV charging for you.
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—with no up-front installation costs.
Charging at apartments and condos
Approximately 50% of Dane County residents rent, and 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 EVs. And more and more property owners and managers have considered installing EV charging stations to attract tenants to a new development.
MGE will be launching a Multifamily Managed Charging Program that will provide a Level 2 charger to multifamily customers for a monthly fee plus the cost of electricity. It will also provide customers with a way to recover charging costs from drivers.
Learn more about how to implement charging at your multifamily residence with our guide.
Public charging
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.
Learn more