Purchasing an electric vehicle means you're moving away from filling up with gas, and rather charging up your vehicle with electricity. But with that, comes some complications and you may be asking yourself:
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How accessible is EV charging on the road?
How much does EV charging cost?
How far can I go on a charge?
A few years ago, finding an electric vehicle charger on the road may have been hard to come by, but now with over 113,000 charging stations across the U.S., you won't be left stranded. But the cost is always a factor and people may want to know where the closest FREE electric vehicle charging stations might be. And yes, they exist, if you know where to look!
If you purchased an electric vehicle to save money at the pump, you may be left wondering how much this is going to cost you.
The average cost to charge a vehicle at a public EV station is around $0.30- $0.60 kWh. This means to fully charge an electric vehicle ranges from $11 to $50. But this overall cost can vary widely based on a number of factors.
The mileage of electric cars is measured in MPGe or miles per gallon equivalent where 1 gallon of gasoline = 33.7 kWh (kilowatt-hours). And since charging stations charge per kWh, you can do some simple math to determine how much it will cost to 'fill' your vehicle.
Let's use the Tesla Model 3 as an example. The Tesla Model 3 is rated to travel approximately 350 miles on one charge. 350MPGe is the equivalent of 10. mi/kWh. And since the Tesla Model 3 has a 57.5 kWh battery, to fully charge it will cost you anywhere from $17.25 to $34.50.
That was 57.5 multiplied by the average costs of charging stations. So to go 350 miles, you can pay as low as $17.25. And in a world where gas is toppling $4/gallon, that's some major savings.
There are 3 different types of EV chargers you'll find:
Level 1 charger- This is the standard 120-volt outlet that you find in your home. It's the slowest way to charge your vehicle, taking 8-12 hours to fully charge.
Level 2 charger- This is a 240-volt charger similar to what's used for your clothes dryer or oven. It can charge your vehicle 4-6 times faster than a level 1 charger.
Level 3 charger- Also called a DC fast charger, this is the most powerful option and can charge your vehicle up to 80% in 30 minutes.
Chances are, you'll mostly find level 2 and level 3 chargers out on the road. And the faster the charge, the more costly the EV charger may be. Most hotel chains or gas stations will feature a level 2 charger, so you can expect the mid-range costs for those.
If you find yourself frequently traveling long distances, you're going to want to consider investing in a level 3 charger for your home so you can quickly charge up before venturing out. Essentially, this will cut down on the time you spend waiting to charge up your vehicle and get back on the road.
Frequent drivers should also seek out at least level 2 chargers while on the road using apps like PlugShare and EVgo. There are also some companies that offer subscription-based fast charging which may be beneficial for those who frequently travel long distances.
The price of electricity varies depending on where you live, so traveling across state lines can also affect how much or how little you might pay at a public charging station. For example, the average cents per kWh or electric rate in Minnesota is 13.17, but our neighbors in North Dakota have a rate of just 9.64 cents/kWh.
Overall, it can be highly beneficial to do a few things:
Invest in a fast charger at home so you can always have a full battery (and save money).
Seek out free EV charging stations.
Electric vehicle chargers don't always charge a fee to use. There are a few situations where they might be free, including:
College campuses
Whole Foods or Target
Energy-focused businesses
Certain gas stations or visitor centers
Car dealerships
National parks
You can also get free charging on certain days of the year like Earth Day, and Tesla owners can often get free charging on holidays.
While it can cost money to charge your electric vehicle, there are ways to get around it. And as the technology improves, we can only expect the costs of charging an electric car to go down. Many EV owners can benefit from unlimited memberships through ChargePoint or Blink Charging with incentives such as points systems or tax rebates.
It's possible to find free charging stations in a few ways. The most common is through apps like PlugShare, ChargePoint, and Recargo. You can use these apps to find stations near you that may be free to the public or may require a membership fee.
Additionally, some workplaces offer employee EV charging as an incentive to go green. You might have good luck at hotel chains, certain gas stations, and big-box stores like Target and Walmart. These can also pop up on any of those apps where you can plan out your trip to swing by one of these stops.
To find a local EV charging station, any of the following apps are super useful for finding stations on the go:
Chargemap allows drivers to find nearby stations, set their route, and see costs. It's also collaborative so users can update info on charging stations such as ones that are out of order.
ChargePoint is the largest charging station database across the United States and is compatible with dozens of other applications. You can also pay for a charge just by holding the app up to the station.
ChargeHub finds just about every charging station in Canada and the United States in a live-updated map.
With EVgo, electric vehicle owners can get real-time results, monitor their charging session, reserve chargers, and collect rewards just for charging their car.
If you're someone who goes on a lot of road trips or travels for work, EVHotels is a critical app to have. Easily locate nearby hotels with EV chargers.
EVmatch can filter by charging speed, availability, and price. Users can even reserve a charger when in a rush.
EraCharge Product Page
Plugshare offers filters such as station availability, charger type, brand, speed, and etc.
Most of these apps will allow users to simply search or filter by cost' aka FREE. In fact, according to PlugShare, there are over 400 free charging stations in the U.S. right now. They have a specific map just for those free stations' talk about convenience!
In addition to using free EV charging stations, there are a few other ways you can save money when it comes to driving an electric car.
One is to invest in your own home charger. This allows you to always have a full battery without having to leave the house.
Use your electric vehicle federal tax rebate towards your EV charging fees. You could go years without paying out of pocket for your EV charging.
Only find free chargers while out on the road.
Charge your vehicle every night during non-peak hours.
Drive slower. Electric vehicles may use far less energy to power your vehicle on city roads vs. high speeds on the highway. So take the scenic route on your road trip!
If you live in an apartment or condo, the easiest way to always have a full battery is to get a parking spot close to the parking lot chargers. But if you own your home, installing an EV charger in your garage can be a big investment upfront, but the savings long-term are a no-brainer.
Some cities offer rebates for installing an EV charger at home. Check with your city officials about any opportunities available in your area.
Finding free electric car charging stations isn't a hard task ' in fact, there are apps and websites out there that will do it for you.
It's a good idea to use one of these tools ahead of time to track down your closest free EV chargers, or ones that you can expect to pass on your next road trip.
It's important to remember that free chargers are often slower and are usually in high-demand, so you might want to pick some back-up charging locations if you can't locate a free one.
How to charge your electric car without a home charger
On average, you're more likely to find fast and slow chargers that are free to use compared to rapid chargers. While rapid chargers are more convenient, you might be willing to go for a slower charge if that means you'll be saving money.
You'll often find free chargers at attractions that are trying to entice customers. Places like museums, zoos, theatres and leisure centres, for example, may have charging points that are free to use while you visit. Some pubs, restaurants and cafes are also getting on board with free EV charging ' check online in your area to see the best options.
Charging your EV on the go
Supermarkets and shopping centres are usually a good option too, so you can get a top-up while you shop.
Hotels and bed and breakfasts are also likely to offer free charging ' just check before you make a booking so you can save money on charging while you stay.
One of the best options for hunting down a free charge point is to browse car parks. They're likely to offer free EV charging, and you might even be lucky enough to find one at your workplace.
The cheapest way to charge your electric vehicle would be to rely completely on free charging points, but this might not be the most convenient. You'll often find that only slow or fast chargers are free of charge, and you might not fancy hanging around in public for long enough to get a full charge on a regular basis.
Alternatively, a home charger paired with shopping around for the best electricity tariff is a good bet. You can even find out the off-peak times in your area and plan your charging within them to get some discount. You might also consider a specific EV tariff, or even solar panels for some real money-saving energy.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK?
The cost of charging your electric car will depend on a lot of factors, including the model, where you choose to charge it, and how often you'll need to be charging.
If you'll be using your car for the school run or daily commute, plus the other errands that come with day-to-day life, you'll probably find that one charge will do you just fine for the week. This will cost around £15 for a full charge, but this will vary depending on your electricity tariff and model.
As cost-of-living prices rise across the UK, it's likely that the price of charging your EV will go up. Using our money-saving tips for getting a boost will definitely help you keep within your budget.
There are plenty of free charging points across the UK, but always double-check before setting off on your travels.
Supermarkets are often a good bet for free EV charging, but this might change as electric motoring becomes more popular.
Never assume that a car charging point is free to use and always check this before you get started.
Aldi stores in the UK often have electric car charging points to use while you shop.
Some Aldi stores have been known to offer free electric car charging, but you'll need to double-check before plugging in and boosting up.
Not all Aldi stores have charging points that are free to use.
Many Tesco stores across the UK have EV charging points.
While Tesco chargers were previously free to use, they've since implemented a fee for those wanting to plug in.
Some Asda stores in the UK have electric car charging points for customers to use, but these are on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Unfortunately, you can't currently charge your EV for free at Asda stores.
Sainsbury's launched its ultra-rapid charging network across the UK at the start of . These chargers are not free to use but do accept contactless payment.
When the service launched in January , flat rate charging was priced at 75p per kWh.
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