An EV Charger is the device that keeps an electric car’s battery charged. Like any charger used to recharge a mobile phone or a laptop computer, an EV charger pulls electricity from the grid it’s hardwired to (or the home or business owner’s electrical system) and sends it into the charging port of an electric vehicle.
Most EVs come with charging cord sets that allow them to be plugged into standard 120-volt household outlets for what is known as Level 1 charging. This typically adds about 3-5 miles of range for every hour a vehicle is plugged in, which can be fine for daily driving or to top off a full battery on a weekend getaway.
Some EV owners also choose to install a residential EV charger in their garage or driveway. There are a number of options, including the PlugIn America Home Flex, which provides up to 40 amps of charging power and includes a 23-foot connector cable for two vehicles at once. Most EV charging stations include mobile apps that allow owners to monitor their vehicles’ charge status, keep statistics on energy usage and know fairly precisely how much it costs to charge their cars. Some also allow voice interface with the charger (“Alexa, charge my car”) and communication with local utilities to enable EV drivers to take advantage of demand response programs.
Other EV owners prefer to use public charging stations. There are a growing number of them across the country, with some even being part of a network that can be accessed through a mobile app to find and reserve available spots. EV Charger