Many EV owners find significant savings when charging their car at home. Others can take advantage of Central Hudson’s Time of Use Rate which provides bill protection during its first year.
Electric vehicles (EVs) can be charged at discounted rates during off-peak hours, which helps protect our power grid. But not all chargers are created equal.
Level 1
Are You New to Electric Vehicles? You might be taken aback when learning just how long it takes a battery to charge at its lowest charging speed. Charging times vary depending on factors like charger and battery type used as well as ambient temperature and movement of the car itself.
Level 1 charging, the slowest option available, can typically be found at home and some workplaces. Utilizing an ordinary 120-volt household outlet, this form of power recharges approximately three to five miles of range every hour charged; enough range for daily commuting purposes in modern EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Level 1 charging stations can be easily integrated into regular electrical work at any building or parking lot and cost approximately the same as installing standard outdoor light fixtures. Many workplaces opt to add dedicated Level 1 stations known as EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) in parking spaces – often providing employees and visitors easy access.
Installing a workplace Level 1 station offers numerous advantages, including being an easy, secure way of charging an electric vehicle without risking theft or damage to personal cordsets, tripping hazards or fire hazards. Furthermore, businesses with frequent deliveries or pickups may take advantage of an EV charging station to preheat or precool their vehicles to save energy costs in the process.
Level 2 charging speeds increase significantly with the transition to Level 2, when an EV’s charger connects to a 240-volt or 208-volt circuit that delivers twice the voltage found in typical household outlets.
A Level 2 station can be installed in either residential or commercial locations for faster charging than a Level 1. Its connector resembles that used on public EV chargers, making it compatible with all types of electric vehicles. Some are free, while others charge a fee to use their service with either credit cards or account providers such as ChargePoint or Blink.
Level 2
Level 2 charging is the fastest and easiest way to restock an electric vehicle’s range, using a 240-volt outlet – similar to what household appliances like clothes dryers or kitchen ranges use. You can add a dedicated circuit or share one if it is nearby.
An hour of Level 2 charging typically adds 12-30 miles of range to a fully depleted electric vehicle battery, depending on its vehicle and charger current ratings. While this doesn’t give full charges to an EV battery, it is usually more than sufficient for daily use and many owners choose to install Level 2 chargers at home, workplace, shopping plazas and train stations for daily use.
Electric car adoption has grown faster than predicted by experts, and most buyers opt for Level 2 charging equipment for their homes. Some expenses associated with installing such equipment can be partially covered by local, state, or utility companies that provide financial incentives for charging equipment and installation as well as discounted residential electric rates during off-peak hours.
If you need to recharge your EV on the road, public Level 2 charging stations are widely available across cities and towns nationwide. These charging stations can be found in supermarkets, parking garages, hotels and other places – and can cost as little as $2.40 to $3.60 an hour in some states – making public Level 2 chargers an economical solution.
If you want to speed up the charge of your EV even further, public Level 3 chargers may be available at certain locations. Also known as DC fast-charging stations, these Level 3 chargers can quickly recharge an empty EV’s battery from zero capacity up to 80% in 30-60 minutes – either free of charge or via pay-as-you-go options such as ChargePoint or Blink (charges vary based on location/provider; some networks charge per minute or per kWh).
Level 3
No rocket science degree is needed to charge an electric vehicle, but understanding how different charging equipment and speeds work may be intimidating. Owners may encounter unfamiliar terms like SAE J1772, DC fast-charging and Level 1, 2 and 3 chargers which may also present barriers. Therefore it is essential that EV owners understand these differences between charging levels, what each means for their needs and which will best meet them.
Level 2 stations are the most commonly available public EV chargers and typically cost between $10-30 for full recharges while traveling. They utilize standard 240-volt AC systems and can typically fill an EV up to around 80% of its range within 30-60 minutes.
A Level 3 charging station, also referred to as a DC fast charger, is much quicker but more costly than Level 2. Charging rates depend on factors like station type and battery state/temperature as well as battery state and temperature; for instance, Tesla chargers with proprietary connectors tend to charge faster due to being capable of accepting higher charge rates from batteries on electric vehicles (EVs).
Many cities and states offer fast-charging networks such as EVgo and Electrify America that primarily exist in city-owned parking lots and garages, typically with stations distributed every hour or two; customers pay per-hour using either their smartphone app or tap card depending on which network offers this option.
At present, EVgo charges $0.29 a minute for DC Fast charging sessions which add about 50 miles of range to the Chevrolet Bolt; these prices are slightly more costly than what the EPA estimates it costs to fuel a gas-powered Volkswagen Golf equivalently for this distance.
Planned road trips require careful preparation and should typically incorporate Level 1 charging at home or public stations whenever possible. In extreme temperatures, however, it may be more cost-effective to utilize Level 2 stations rather than fast DC chargers for faster charging options.
Time-of-Use Rates
Designed to assist customers with electric vehicles reduce overall electricity costs, the EV Time of Use rate aims to encourage charging during off-peak hours and more accurately reflect electricity costs during various times of the day. Available to those who own and install a Level 2 charging station at home for at least a minimum period of one year and who opt-in, TOU rates offer customers more accurate cost assessments when electing to participate – more accurately reflecting costs throughout their day than typical Residential rates do; additional meters may need to be installed for use of this rate EV TOU rate services customers! To use the EV TOU rate service properly customers will require having two meters installed if using two meters will.
While savings will depend on state and individual vehicle use, a 2020 Consumer Reports study determined that EV owners typically spent 60% less than owners of gas-powered cars on fuel expenses. With an EV TOU plan in place, this savings potential can be further expanded through encouraging drivers to charge during off-peak hours as well as shifting energy usage during these same off-peak times.
Electric vehicle (EV) owners have demonstrated they are price-sensitive, often shifting consumption in order to take advantage of reduced electricity rates that lead to bill savings. A survey conducted by Enel X Way last year showed that over 72% of our EV customers who signed up for TOU rates reported being satisfied with their experience.
Some EV owners also take part in demand response programs that automatically adjust their charging speed when needed by the grid, offering lump sum incentives in return for agreeing to make slight modifications in their driving behavior. These programs may provide up to $100 in rewards per participant.
Central Hudson offers residential customers a Whole House TOU rate and electric vehicle customers an Electric Vehicle TOU rate, which can be combined with residential rates for optimal results. Within their first year of participation in either rate option, EV customers will enjoy “bill protection”, which compares energy use against standard rates; should your annual TOU usage fall below those standard rates, a rebate will be given as compensation for the difference in bills.
If you are considering switching to an EV TOU rate, contact our Customer Service team for more information. We can work together with you to identify if this solution will best serve your home or business needs.