Practical approaches to recharging electric vehicles
Almost all electric vehicles sold today can be charged off a standard wall plug.
- 120V wall plug, 15 amp (indoor) or 20 amp (outdoor) = 40 to 60 miles on an 8 hour charge
- 240V clothes dryer or electric stove-type plug, 30 amp or 50 amp = 200 to 300 miles on an 8 hour charge
Plan ahead for electric vehicle charging at your home or office.
New construction
- Install adequate electrical capacity in circuit panels
- Install conduit through walls and foundations to reach parking areas
- Pull wiring now or add it later to send power to parked vehicles
Remodeling
- Add sufficient circuit panel capacity
- If drywall is removed, install conduit in walls to reach parking areas
- Insert wiring now or add it later to send power to parked vehicles
Re-paving
- Lay electrical conduit under sidewalks, driveways and parking lot pavement
- Electric wire can be pulled later and connected to the building to send power to parked vehicles
In this section
Electric vehicles are more efficient
Electric vehicles emit less greenhouse gases (GHG)
Practical approaches to recharging electric vehicles
Government policies to encourage electric vehicle recharging infrastructure
Electric vehicles on the market and in the future
Electric vehicle definitions
EV = Electric Vehicle: a vehicle powered only by electricity
BEV = Battery Electric Vehicle: another term sometimes used for an EV
HEV = Hybrid Electric Vehicle: powered by gasoline plus electricity, no plug (example: Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Honda Civic, Ford Escape)
NEV = Neighborhood Electric Vehicle: a 25 mph EV, meant for in-town use
PHEV = Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle: an HEV with an electric plug for recharging that reduces gasoline use
EREV = Extended Range Electric Vehicle: A PHEV with an on-board generator for longer trips