According to Consumer Reports, more than 70% of consumers showed interest in buying electric vehicles (EVs) in the future. The survey reported that the two biggest reasons holding these consumers back are:
- A lack of knowledge about EVs and
- A lack of available EV charging stations near them.
The EV transition has begun, with governments, Fortune 1000s, and the world's largest automakers making significant investments in electric vehicles. While this presents specific challenges, it also provides an excellent opportunity or dealers to bridge the gap for their customers. They not only showcase their new inventory and pre-owned vehicles, but also add greater value and boost revenue while helping reduce operating costs and carbon emissions. This article will discuss the benefits of offering EV charging stations to your customers and how to get an EV charging station for your dealership.
The three types of EV chargers
EVs require regular charging to be used effectively. As per the Department of Energy, EV chargers come in various styles that provide varying levels of power and convenience for different types of electric cars.
It's essential to understand the three different types of EV charging levels (Level 1, 2, and 3), their associated charge rates, and the typical use cases of each when considering electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Level 1
This uses the standard 120-volt EV charger available in most households. Any regular wall outlet can be used for charging EVs on Level 1 but only provides about 4 to 5 miles of range per hour and is the slowest charging method. Some people find that this is sufficient, as they do not drive very far every day and can leave the car plugged in for many hours to replenish the energy used that day. Plug-in hybrids have smaller battery packs than pure battery electric vehicles have and may be better candidates for Level 1 charging. It's also worth noting that Level 1 charging is mainly restricted to North, Central & South America and Europe as much of the world use a 220-volt electric supply for their plug-in electric vehicles.
Level 2
Our JuiceBox charging stations are Level 2 chargers, which essentially take in a voltage supply of over 200 volts and will charge a typical EV at a rate between 12 to 60 miles of range per hour, depending on how much power the charger can supply, and how much power the EV can accept. In the U.S., most homes use 240 volts for appliances like a washing machine and dryer, simply putting two 120-volt circuits together, and most commercial properties use 208-volt, three-phase power. Check out our "EV Charging Times" table to see how charging varies across electric car models.
Level 3
This is also referred to as a DC fast charger or supercharging and is available in a much higher voltage to charge some plug-in electric vehicles with as high as 800 volts. Unlike Level 1 and Level 2, which rely on alternating current, this level depends on direct current. This is the fastest way of charging EVs, but they are not used in individual residences and are typically found in commercial or public charging locations to charge about 3 to 20 miles per minute.
The cost of installation, the nature of the vehicles, and the frequency with which such EVs need charging should also be considered.
While setting up EV charging stations will incur extra costs for customers in the short run, there are several long-term benefits from using them.