EV Charging Cable Protector for Garage Door – Buy or Print Your Own
Most of us choose to have the home EV charging station installed on the inside of the garage. But now and then, you need to charge a car parked outside near your garage, whether it’s your own car or a visiting friend’s EV. A garage door is very heavy, so repeatedly closing the garage door […]
Three Very Different Approaches to Home EV Charging Apps
I have personally tried and tested more than sixteen EV home charging stations (EVSEs). Two more are currently being tested, and there is at least another one waiting inside a box. So. Many. EV Chargers… I’ve learned a lot about what makes a product easy to use and live with, and helped brands with feedback […]
Why Home EV Charging is at 240V and Public Charging is 208V?
Level 2 EV charging is done at 240 volts in North America, using the same high voltage as power-hungry home appliances like air conditioners and laundry dryers. But as a seasoned EV driver, you may have noticed something odd, why does charging voltage hover around only 208 volts on public Level 2 charging stations? Yes, […]
Can you Wash an EV While Charging?
Charging an EV at home takes time. The car is going to be plugged in for hours at a time. Should you be washing an electric car while it is plugged in? Let’s look at the documentation. Can you give your EV a wash while it is plugged in and charging? When washing using the […]
Should you stop charging your EV during a thunderstorm?
Are you worried about your high-tech electronics at home during thunderstorms? A surge protector power bar can keep your electronics safe in the event of a voltage spike. But what about the EV charging in your garage? Do you need a surge protector, or should you unplug it from the grid during a storm? We […]
Why Home Renewable Energy + EV Charging are the Future
As the world strives toward a greener future and combats the challenges of climate change, one crucial area of focus is transitioning to renewable energy sources. With the rising popularity of electric vehicles, it’s becoming increasingly important for homeowners to ask how the energy they use is being generated. By aligning the power source for […]
Which way up should your NEMA 14-50 plug be?
The NEMA 14-50 is the most popular 240-volt, 50-amp outlet used for Level 2 EV charging at home. Most home charging station products come included with NEMA 14-50 input cable, allowing the user to install an outlet or hardwire the unit to the electrical circuit. If you are going with the plug-in route and getting […]
Why charging EVs at home is better for the Environment
It is well known that charging an EV at home, during off-peak hours is less expensive than charging at public charging stations. There is also an argument that charging at home overnight is less costly from an environmental impact perspective. Why? Our chart above demonstrates a very uneven grid energy consumption curve throughout a typical […]
What it’s like to own an EV and live in an apartment with No Charging
One of the primary benefits of EV ownership is charging at home and starting each morning with optimal battery state of charge and driving range. But for many people, including myself, charging is not possible where I park my Tesla Model Y for the night. Is that a deal breaker for owning an EV? It […]
Why Level 1 EV charging is even slower in cold months
Level 1 Best Case Scenario Level 1 charging on 120 volts in North America is done at 12 amps because standard wall outlets have 15 amp circuits, and 80% of the maximum load is allowed to be pulled continuously. At 12 amps, Level 1 EV charging provides approximately 1.4 kW of power in ideal conditions, […]