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How to charge your electric car at home

One of the biggest perks to owning an electric car is charging it in the comfort of your own home, rather than requiring stops at a gas station every week or so. That means that if you stay on top of charging, and don’t take super long trips, you’ll never really have to worry about when and where to “fill up.”

But there are a number of ways to charge up at home, and they’re not all for everyone. In fact, some options are far better than others — and getting the right charging gear for your needs is definitely worth doing.

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There are a few things to consider when buying charging equipment for your home. The first is deciding between a Level 1 charger and a Level 2 charger. You’ll also want to think about charging cable length, and any smart capabilities that allow you to monitor charging remotely.

Here’s everything you need to know about charging your electric car at home.

Use the Level 1 charger that came with your car

ChargePoint Home EV charger plugged into car.
ChargePoint

You don’t have to spend any time or money on equipment for charging your car if you don’t want to. That’s because all electric cars come with what’s called a Level 1 charger, which plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet in your home.

Level 1 chargers are good for topping off your electric car all the time, but they take a long time to fully charge your battery — typically eight to 10 hours or more, depending on how depleted it is. That makes quick charging stops pretty much impossible.

But, of course, most people don’t need to quickly charge their car when they’re at home. Instead, most will charge up overnight and be ready to go in the morning.

Installing Level 1 chargers is easier too: Just plug it into a standard 120-volt power outlet. Many of them can be mounted to a wall for quick access too — but you don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.

Looking for a new Level 1 charger? Here are some of the best ones out there:

Megear Level 1 Portable EV Charger

The Megear Level 1 Portable EV Charger is a great option for anyone who needs an easy way to charge their electric car at home. It’s small and light, so it can easily be moved around your house or garage and plugged into whatever outlet works best. It also features LED indicator lights that tell you when the charger is connected properly, and it supports a charging speed of up to 1.92kW, which is faster than many of the other portable EV chargers out there.

Lectron Level 1 Portable EV Charger

Another good option is the Lectron Level 1 Portable EV Charger, which is a great choice for anyone who wants something a bit more robust. It supports charging speeds of up to 1.7kW, which isn’t quite as fast as the Megear charger, but it’s still fast enough for most overnight charging. It also has a cable length of 25 feet.

Install a Level 2 charger

Electric car plug charging
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you do want to charge faster at home, then it may be worth investing in a Level 2 charger. Level 2 chargers are more powerful than Level 1 chargers, so they can refill your battery quicker — typically in three to six hours, depending on capacity.

Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt outlet to work properly. You’ll need an electrician to install the outlet for you — and it may even require major wiring upgrades if your home isn’t ready. Not only that, but Level 2 chargers tend to be more expensive than Level 1 chargers. You won’t get a Level 2 charger with your car, so you’ll have to buy one separately, and they typically cost at least $500.

Most people simply don’t need a Level 2 charger for their home, but if you want one, here are some of the best options out there:

Wallbox Pulsar Plus

The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is available in different capacities from 16 to 48 amps, with the largest delivering speeds of up to 11.5kW, which is many times faster than the charging speeds on most Level 1 chargers. It also has a sleek design that makes it look more like a modern piece of technology than an appliance.

Juicebox 40

Another great Level 2 charger is the Juicebox 40, which isn’t quite as fast as the Pulsar Plus, but still fast enough for most. You’ll get speeds of up to 10kW with this one, which should be plenty for most overnight charging needs, and a 25-foot cable. It also has a slim design that allows it to fit into tighter spaces — and an integrated LCD display that shows you your current charging stats.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.
costco ev charging us electricera fast station 1260x945

Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.

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Nissan joins ChargeScape, a way for EV owners to sell watts back to the grid
electrify america home charging station for electric cars

EV owners already enjoy the benefits of knowing their vehicle is charging up quietly while they sleep. Now they can dream about how much money they can make in the process.That’s the bet Nissan is making by joining ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda.ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects electric vehicles to power grids and utility companies. When connected with ChargeScape's platform, EV drivers can receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. ChargeScape says they will eventually also be able to sell the energy stored in their vehicle's battery back to the power grid.
A 2021 study by the University of Rochester found that EV owners could save up to $150 a year by using V2G technology. But the technology has evolved in recent years. V2G company Fermata Energy says that in some circumstances, a customer using its bi-directional charger was able to save $187.50 in 15 minutes by drawing energy from a Nissan LEAF to avoid costly demand charges.
Nissan intends to roll out the ChargeScape technology to its EV drivers across the U.S. and Canada. The company says the move is of particular significance given its U.S. sales of 650,000 Leaf models, one of the first EVs with the capability to export power back to the grid.ChargeScape, which launched in September, is equally owned by BMW, Ford, Honda, and now Nissan. But it expects other automakers to join the party.In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. The project comes at a time when EV sales and infrastructure growth are ramping up quickly, along with challenges for the electric grid. Simply put, more EVs on the road means more demand on utilities to provide the needed power.At the same time, more and more EV makers seek to incorporate automotive software that provide advanced driver aids and other connected features. With vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology quickly spreading, ChargeScape is entering a landscape where competitors such as ChargePoint, Electrify America, Fermata Energy, and BP Pulse are already vying for a piece of the action.
But there is one good reason for ChargeScape to move in now: Tesla, which otherwise dominates the field in the U.S., has so far backed off from embracing V2G technology, focusing instead on its Powerwall home-battery solution to store solar energy and provide backup power. However, CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.

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Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations
The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

EVs have really been taking off recently, and if you're considering buying an electric vehicle, or potentially already one, then you may want to grab yourself an electrical car charger for your home. Luckily, there are many options out there if you're looking to snag something, depending on your needs in terms of speed and and capacity of your current home electrical system. Either way, we've gone out and collected some of our favorite electric car charger deals for you and listed them below.
Aimiler Level 2 EV Charger -- $198 $300 34% off

If you need something a bit more powerful that also doesn't break the bank, then you may want to consider this 32-amp charger from Aimiler. It has a NEMA 14-50 plug, and a 25-foot cable, meaning it should be easy to get it where you need it, and the provided app gives you the option to delay the charging of your EV for when electricity is cheapest, which is a nice addition. If you don't want to use the app, it also has an LED touchscreen where you can control it and that tells you all the pertinent information, such as charge speed and remaining time.

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