Electric vehicles (EVs) are excellent choices for anyone who wants to invest in an alternative fuel source. They run on battery power, helping you to reduce your daily fossil fuel use and costs. Along with cutting your fuel costs, EVs can help you save thousands of dollars in maintenance savings during your vehicle’s life. If you have an electric vehicle, you’ll need a good EV charger to help keep it running. Let’s take a look at EV chargers to help you pick the best one for the job

Understanding the Basics of EV Charging

EV charging is essential for keeping your vehicle moving. Electric vehicles need the power gained from charging to run correctly, just like your phone. It’s important to get the right charger for your needs so you can use your EV whenever you need to. Essentially, an EV charger takes electricity from a source like your home and replenishes your car’s battery with that electricity. Once the battery has enough charge, you can drive the car. Different chargers let you charge faster, while others offer smart charging features to help you save money.

EV Charger Types

Electric vehicles have different charger types to support the charging speeds and capabilities of each vehicle. Each of the three charger types works slightly differently, allowing you to get a charger that fits your needs. Knowing more about these three charger types can help you understand how your EV charges:

• Level 1: This is the most basic charging level. It uses 120 volts, the standard amount from a household outlet. Level 1 chargers are convenient for charging overnight at home, but they take several hours to fully charge your vehicle.
• Level 2: Level 2 chargers use a 240-volt outlet, which delivers a faster charging experience. They’re great choices for home or public charging stations since they’re faster than Level 1 chargers.
• DC fast chargers: Also called Level 3 chargers, direct current (DC) chargers are the fastest EV charging options. Since they use DC instead of alternating current (AC), they can charge your EV extremely quickly. You’ll usually see these in public charging stations or near highways.

Smart Charging Features to Look For

Smart charging features are a helpful way to boost your EV charger’s convenience. They can also help keep your costs down, maximizing your investment. If you’re in the market for a new EV charger, here are some features to look out for:

• Scheduling: Smart EV chargers let you schedule charging sessions. During off-peak hours, when electricity may be cheaper since there’s less demand. You can set your charger to charger during off-peak hours like overnight, weekends, holidays and midday. With this feature, you’ll save on electricity costs and reduce strain on the grid during peak use hours. Get an EV charger with scheduling for convenient charging at a lower rate.
• Monitoring: Smart chargers can also provide you with real-time charging monitoring. This feature lets you track charging status, energy use and battery health. Knowing this information can help you charge more effectively and let you know when your battery health is declining so you can prepare for a replacement.
• Remote control: This feature maximizes your charging convenience. Use remote control functions to stop, start and adjust your charging sessions from anywhere. Phone apps can connect to your charging station, letting you manage your charging without needing to be at home. With this, you can adjust your charging schedules when the unexpected happens.
• Compatibility: Look for smart chargers that are compatible with home energy management systems. With integrated chargers, you can easily coordinate all your energy use and prioritize EV charging when needed.

Government Incentives and Rebates for Home EV Charging Stations

You can seek out government incentives and rebates to help make your EV charger more affordable. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has brought back the federal EV charger tax credit. If you install an EV charger, you might be eligible to get 30% of that cost back, up to $1,000. This credit helps you get back money for your investment in an electric vehicle.

While that’s the only current federal tax credit for EV chargers, you can look at your state’s programs to see if you can get additional assistance for purchasing an EV or installing an EV charger. Pennsylvania offers rebates for purchasing an electric vehicle, helping decrease the cost for your household. Explore your state’s opportunities to see if you can get more incentives for your EV charger, making it more cost-effective.

EV Charging Installation and Maintenance

It’s important to get your EV charger installation and maintenance just right. With the right installation and care, you can keep your EV charger working properly and safely, protecting your home and family. You’ll go through several steps with EV installation, but the most critical step is getting a qualified professional. You always want professional electrician services for the installation of your EV charger. Electrical installations must follow specific rules and regulations to protect you from harm. With a professional installation, you can be sure your EV charger is safe and effective.

Once you’ve gotten your professional installation, you’ll need to maintain your EV charger. Maintenance is the backbone of EV charger life spans. It helps you catch problems early, prevent safety issues and avoid expensive repairs. If you want to keep your charger working well for years, follow these maintenance steps:

1. Visually inspect: Regularly check over your EV charger to find any potential problems. Inspect your charger for corrosion, damage or wear and look at mounting hardware, connectors and cables. If you spot any problems, contact a professional for assistance.
2. Clean: You’ll need to clean your EV charger regularly to help prevent debris, dirt and moisture from building up. If there’s too much moisture and debris, you’ll see charging interference. Keep all the cables, connectors and components clean for effective and safe charging.
3. Install software updates: If your charging station needs software updates, stay on top of them. Ensure your software stays up-to-date to improve security and function.
4. Use professionals: Use a professional company for maintenance and service on your EV charger. These services help you keep your system safe and working well. Professionals can spot problems early, correct them and perform essential maintenance to keep your system working for its full life span.

Choose Zimmerman for Your Electrical Needs

If you’re looking for unmatched electrical services backed by reliability, expertise and a commitment to customer service, choose Zimmerman Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. As a trusted family-owned business with decades of experience, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality service with every job. Our team of service professionals are ready to handle all your electrical needs. Our dedication to customer satisfaction means we work hard to get the job done right.

Enjoy our minimum one-year guarantee on purchased and installed equipment. Whether you need electrical repairs, upgrades or installation, we’ve got you covered. Contact us online today for expert service!