Hey, fellow EV enthusiasts! I've been driving an electric car for over a decade now, and I want to share with you what I think is the most common misunderstanding about EV charging. A lot of people assume that EV owners have to stop and plug in their cars all the time, like they do with gas cars. But that's not true at all!
The beauty of owning an EV is that you can charge it at home, whenever you want. You don't have to worry about finding a gas station, paying for fuel, or polluting the environment. You just plug in your car at night, and wake up to a full battery in the morning. It's that simple!
Of course, sometimes you might need to charge on the road, especially if you're going on a long trip. But even then, you don't need those huge fast chargers that some places have installed. Those are really expensive and not very efficient. They also take up a lot of space and power that could be used for more slow chargers.
Slow chargers are perfect for places where you spend some time, like grocery stores, malls, restaurants, etc. You can park your car, plug it in, and go about your business. By the time you're done, your car will have enough juice to get you where you need to go. And you won't have to pay a fortune for it either.
I think this is something that more retailers should take advantage of. Imagine if you could charge your car while you shop, eat, or watch a movie. That would be so convenient and attractive for customers. I'm surprised that more places haven't done this yet.
I should add, I have a three-kilowatt solar system on my house. I installed the Solar Array and a three-kilowatt Electric Vehicle Service Charger myself. The combined cost was approximately $5,000.00. It took a lot of time though. I became certified by Enphase, through their Online Courses, obtained a Permit from my Township (Electrical and Building), then applied to the Local Utility for a Grid-Tied Generator. It was a lot of work for a Homeowner, but I had some help from Family. My Wife and I enjoyed a few months of Credits from Atlantic City Electric! Our Transportation needs are met by a fully electric Nissan Leaf and a Plug-in Hybrid Toyota Prius. We are very efficient with the Solar Array too!
One of the challenges that I know some EV owners face is living in large apartment complexes. They might not have access to outlets or charging stations where they park their cars. This is something that landlords and property managers should address, because it's a huge barrier for potential EV buyers. Maybe they could offer incentives or subsidies for installing chargers, or partner with local utilities or EV companies.
Anyway, these are just some of my thoughts on EV charging. I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion and misinformation out there. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading!
