Car Charging Station

Your source for car charging stations, types, tax incentives, and tips.

Car Charging Station

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Charging Electric Vehicles


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Electric Vehicles are the automobiles that use electrical power stored in the battery as the main source of energy. The plug-in electric vehicles draw power from the charging stations and store the energy in the batteries of the car. These batteries need to be recharged frequently to keep the vehicle running. The electricity as a source of energy for the vehicles is the most preferred as it produces little to no green house effects and less pollution.


Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Different types of plug-in vehicles are in use such as the Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Extended Range Electric Vehicles, and so on. For one hour of charging, the vehicles add around 11 miles to 58 miles of driving range depending upon the model of the vehicle. Some of the examples include BMWi3, Fiat 500e, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Sonata Plugin Hybrid, Tesla Model S, and so on. All vehicle manufacturers have electric vehicles with latest updates every year. Certain vehicles can be converted to electric vehicles with additional customization. Regenerative braking is popular in hybrid vehicles for energy savings.



Electric vehicles are preferred for their energy savings and significantly lesser cost of running the vehicle. Additional discounts are available for vehicles that charge during the non-peak hours and time-of-use electricity rates. Most electric vehicle owners have charging at their residences, but the public or private charging stations are crucial when they travel.

Types of Charging Stations

Vehicle Car Charging Station

The Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) are categorized in to different levels based on the rate at which the vehicle can be charged. There are different chargers for different types of batteries.

  • The Level 1 charging has a J1772 charge port and has driving range of 2 to 5 mile for one hour of charging. It has a 120V AC port for charging. Most vehicles can charge through a Level 1 charging station.
  • The Level 2 charging uses a J1772 charge port and has driving range of 10 to 20 mile for one hour of charging. It offers charging through 240V or 204V port. This is the most common car charging station which is found in residences and private charging stations.
  • Super charging station uses a J1772 combo, CHAdeMO, or Tesla combo and has driving range of 50 to 70 miles for 20 minutes of charging.
  • Future high power charging stations with SAE J3068 and inductive charging stations are under development
  • Communities with more condos and apartments are planning for multi-unit charging stations.
  • Special charging stations are considered for fleet owners, workplace charging, or shopping center charging.


Infrastructure plays a crucial role in the car charging station success. A network of car charging stations can increase the overall efficiency of the system. In bigger cities, where parking is a major problem, car charging stations too pose a similar scarcity.

Tax Incentives for Car Charging Stations

Several tax incentives are available for drivers using electric vehicles for work. Car charging stations also receive additional State tax incentives depending on the state you live such as up to fifty percent of the installation cost for car charging stations. Federal tax incentives exist for car charging stations such as the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit. Utility incentives allow rebates by providers for installing workplace car charging stations. In addition, several tax benefits exist for converting to hybrid vehicles or purchasing electric vehicles and advanced vehicles.

Tesla

Several laws exist with respect to car charging stations. Fleet owners are required to have some or majority electric vehicles and must have charging stations installed to charge them. If you convert your vehicle to a hybrid electric vehicle, you must have necessary registration documents. Vehicles with low speed are required to have electric or hybrid energy sources on them.



Tips at the Car Charging Station

Cost is the first criteria for using a Car charging station. It is required to know per hour charges and any additional charges of a station before visiting. Here are some tips to consider at the car charging stations.


Charging Electric Vehicle
  • Know the type of charging station and whether it suits the charger on your vehicle
  • Read the reviews of a station and its equipment before using it
  • Check for any additional charges and time limits
  • Call a station before you go and find out the hours of operation
  • If you are planning a road trip, check the car charging stations along the route and make sure you take breaks for charging
  • For long trips, carrying an extension cord is a good idea
  • Use a super charging station for faster charging
  • Learn the driving range of your vehicle and recharge as soon as the vehicle is at its 20 percent of the battery
  • Make sure all your smart phone applications are working so they can show your next car charging station

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Car charging station etiquette must be followed at all times. Respecting other's time and proper use of the equipment at the station are crucial.

Find Car Charging Stations

Finding a car charging station is now possible with websites and smart phone applications. Alternate fueling center maps can be found on the government website as well. You can search for a location or a zip code and see all the stations and description in that area. PlugShare has applications for websites, iOS, and Andriod devices. Blink is another popular application for mobile phones. ChargePoint and GreenLots are popular as well. You can download their app on your mobile phone and locate a car charging station near you. The trip planner on these applications let you schedule or plan for charging the car while traveling in your route. If you own a charging station, you can add the details such as type of charging, sockets, fees applicable, time restrictions if any, and so on in these applications as well.

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