Electric Car Charging Stations

When you shop for a new car in Bloomington or Stillwater, one of the significant choices you will need to make is the power source for your new wheels. Are you a fan of big beefy motors that sound powerful and deliver a confident purr even when idling at a light? Or are you ready to take a step towards fewer emissions and give electric vehicles a try? Before you sign on the dotted line, so to speak, the licensed electricians at Lumberjack Electric want you to understand what is involved in charging an electric vehicle and how we can help you make it a seamless and stress-free process.

Three Options To Power Your New EV

Because every driver has different needs and the charging needs of EVs vary greatly, there are three choices for electric car charging stations to ensure you have all the power you need. And the licensed electricians at Lumberjack Electric are happy to discuss your options and help you decide which of the three levels of EV charge will best meet your needs.

Level 1

The Level 1 charger is the most basic and operated off your home’s traditional dedicated electrical outlet and the three-prong plug. These chargers are included in the purchase or lease of your electric vehicle and will meet the needs of drivers who do not drive long distances or only drive once or twice a week. They are also ideal for a plug-in electric hybrid. When using a Level 1 charger, you can estimate roughly four to six miles of range for each hour of charging. That translates to over 35 hours of charging to fully recharge a vehicle with a range of 200 miles.

Level 2

The Level 2 EV charger uses a 240-volt circuit, like the one you have for your electric clothes dryer. Unfortunately, in many cases, homeowners do not have an extra 240-volt outlet in the garage to power the Level 2 charger. So the pros at Lumberjack Electric will include the installation of the new outlet in a location that will make charging your new EV effortless. To compare the added power of the Level 2 charger, you could fully charge a vehicle with a 200-mile range in roughly 10 hours and completely charge a PHEV in less than four hours.

Level 3

The purpose of the Level 3 charger is more focused on commercial applications but can be added to your home or commercial property. These units use DC fast charging to provide a full charge for most EVs in under an hour. You could have seen Level 3 chargers at a grocery store, gas station, or rest area used for public charging. The downside is that these chargers are very costly. However, if you rely on your vehicle to be ready to drive at any time of the day or night, or your household has multiple EVs, the Level 3 charger professionally installed by the pros at Lumberjack Electric is sure to meet your needs.

Call the EV charger experts at Lumberjack Electric at 612-236-9052 to request a price quote for your EV charger installation.