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Electric Vehicle Charger Buyer's Guide
Why Drive an Electric Vehicle?
Choosing to drive a vehicle that does not use gasoline helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Burning a gallon of gasoline adds 19.6 pounds (8,887 grams) of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere (source: epa.gov). This means that for a vehicle that gets 31 miles per gallon, such as a 2024 Ford Escape, for every hundred miles driven 63.2 pounds of CO2 will be emitted. While CO2 will eventually be absorbed by the oceans, vegetation, and soil, it will be hundreds of years (at least) before the released CO2 will have been fully removed from the atmosphere (source: mit.edu)
With an electric vehicle, the emissions associated with electricity use varies based on how the electricity is generated, but in the United States in 2022 the national average was 0.86 pounds of CO2 per kWh generated (source: eia.gov). An electric vehicle such as a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox will use 31 kWh of electricity to travel 100 miles, which means that 26.7 pounds of CO2 would be emitted given current sources of electricity. This means that the EV will lead to a reduction of 36.5 pounds of CO2 emissions for each hundred miles driven than would have been emitted from a gas-powered vehicle with a 31 mpg rating. Given the number of miles driven in the U.S. each year (3.16 trillion miles in 2023, source: energy.gov), the clmate benefits associated with a shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles will be huge.
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Why Install an EV Charger?
Once you have an electric vehicle, the one of the first things to consider is how to charge the vehicle. One option is simply plugging the vehicle into a common 120 volt outlet, which will add about 3 miles of range per hour of charging. This may be fine for recharging plug-in hybrid vehicles, but it may not be practical for many EV owners. Another option would be to use public charging stations. There were 184,000 public EV charging stations in the United States at the end of 2023 (source: energy.gov), and growth continues to be robust. While public charging stations may be best choice for EV owners in apartments and condominiums, for those with access to a private driveway or garage, the benefits of installing a 240 volt Level 2 EV charger are compelling.
General Features
EV chargers for residential use are usually 240 volt Level 2 chargers, which will add about 30 miles of range for each hour of charging. The need for a 240 volt connection means that most people willl require the services of a licensed electrician to install it, but when selecting a Level 2 charger following are some key features to consider.
Differentiators
Following are key dfferentiators between some of the available brands.
Summary
Electric vehicles are central to decarbonization initiatives, but the user experience can be further enhanced through the convenience of at-home charging. Selecting an EV charger suitable for the location, the vehicle, and one that it ENERGY STAR® certified will help to maximize the benefits of EV ownership.
Disclaimer: The content presented on this page was prepared by the individual(s) listed below, and does not necessarily refect the views of the company or companies utilizing this site.
Contributor: Philip Scarbro
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