Consider a Home Charging Station for Your New EV

EVs (Electric Vehicles) will be arriving at Rairdon’s Honda of Burien before you know it, and when they do, the best companion for your new Honda EV will be a Level 2 home charging station. While it’s true that all EVs can plug into a conventional 110-120-volt home socket (Level 1), at a charging rate of less than 4 miles per hour (EV charging brings a whole new context to the term “miles per hour”), a full-charge on an EV through a conventional wall socket can take a day or two.  While that may be sufficient for a shorter commute. For your new Honda EV, we recommend a Level 2 home charger which provides a charge speed of approximately 36 miles per hour.  That is easily sufficient to fully charge your EV overnight.

Level 2 Home Charging

If you own a home or have an assigned residential parking space with electrical access, a Level 2 home charging station can make recharging more convenient by fully charging most EVs in about 8 hours or less. Using the charger is easier than inserting a gas pump nozzle, allowing you to simply return home from work, plug in the charger, and have a fully-charged battery the next day before you set out for work again. For those whose electricity rates drop after a certain time of day, you will be able to set a timer in the car or through your HondaLink app to begin charging once the rates are reduced. While many EVs also have fast Level 3 or DC-direct charging ability, this is limited to commercial chargers and is recommended primarily for recharging on long distance trips.

Installing a Level 2 Home Charging Station

There are many Level 2 charging stations on the market. Whether they are wall-mounted or free-standing, they all use a 220 – 240-volt wall outlet such as used for electric clothes dryers or deep freezers. It is recommended that you hire a certified electrician to add this outlet and install your Level 2 charger near where you park your car.

Both Level 1 & 2 plugs and your car’s socket are well insulated for charging in rainy or snowy weather, giving you the option of charging your EV outside. However, lower temperatures can slow charging times, so charging in your garage does have the advantage of keeping charge times more consistent in our Washington winters.

While charging your EV at home involves the one-time purchase of the charger plus the cost of having it installed, you will find the added convenience well worth it. Upon moving locations, you can take your charger with you to reinstall at your new residence. Our Rairdon’s Honda of Burien service professionals are available to help you choose the vehicle charging selection which best suits your needs, along with providing recommendations for local installers.