EV Charging in Palm Desert, California
Should I buy a charger before I get an electric vehicle?
Probably not. Almost all electric vehicles come with what’s called a level 1 charger. These chargers plug directly into a standard wall outlet. But while they require minimal effort and money, they will charge a car’s battery at a very slow rate. You might be able to add dozens of miles of range with an overnight charge, but it will take more than a day to fully charge an empty battery. You also need to make sure that your home’s electrical system can handle the additional burden of charging a car on top of, say, doing laundry or using a microwave oven.
When you hear about installing an EV charger at a home, those conversations are mostly about level 2 chargers. Because they’re more powerful, consumers can fill up their battery overnight, and get dozens of miles of range added by plugging the car in for an hour. Level 2 chargers require a different kind of plug (think of the outlet that your washer and dryer use) and you’ll need to call an electrician to get one set up.