EV Tidbits and F.A.Q.'s

A.  Most don't know, since the main use of an EV is to commute a known distance, most people never run out of electrons as long as their EV has a rated range higher than the normal commute.  Bolt EV's have an all electric range from 238 miles, Leaf's from 150 miles, Teslas from 237 miles.  All depends on battery capacity and how the car is driven. For a good overview, click  here.

 It is a rare occurrence to see a dead EV on the road for many reasons, no one will try driving to Florida without a planned route mapping where to stop to recharge.  Occasionally you will find manufacturers testing the Miami - Atlanta route carrying a full EVSE unit in their trunk to charge at RV parks on their route (I met such a team charging at work here). Each vehicle will have a different range in miles and such depends on the conditions, topography, speed and if it's only going downhill with the wind on its tail.

Q. How long does it takes to charge? 

A. The charging landscape is one of those areas where it's changing rapidly.  More and more EV's can charge from  0-80% in 20 to 30 minutes using a public DC Fast Charger (DCFC).  In Atlanta, we have a pretty good network of  Tesla superchargers and DCFC for Leafs, BMWs, and Kias.  The majority of the charging is done at home overnight. Owners can use a Level 2 (240 VAC) EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) to fully charge an empty battery in 5 hours to 12 hours or a Level 1 (110 VAC) EVSE in 18+ hours.                                        

The amount of recharge depends how far you've depleted the battery. Since nobody runs out of juice (see prior question), there is very little need to replace all electrons at once. What you need to be aware is the type of charging you require and the power being delivered to your car by the EVSE based on circuit capacity.  That's the next question.

Q. What is an EVSE and how to determine how long to charge?

A. An EVSE is the equipment to connect the power source to the charger in the car. EVSE stands for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and you can find a lot about them here. How long will you charge take depends on the amperage of your EVSE and the charger in your car. Early Leaf's had a 3.3KW charger and with 240 volt 40 Amp EVSE you can charge at a rate of 12 miles per hour. Newer models with a 6.6KW charger can do almost twice as that. Teslas with a 80 Amp EVSE can charge a lot faster. Check here.

Q. How fast does the EV go?

A. Depends on the car and if you are in a public road or a private race track. Leaf's are electronically  restricted to 94 mph, Wheego's to 65 mph, Tesla performance model to 155 mph, Volts to 101 mph. 

Q. What incentives are there ?

A.Federal tax credit of $7,500 for purchase. Some leasing companies will apply that tax credit as money put down for the lease. Georgia no longer has a tax incentive. However, there no cost to use the HOT (high Occupancy Toll) lanes and no restrictions on the HOV lanes when properly applied for. Many utilities have implemented time-of-use rates that are very pro-electic vehicle, such as Georgia Power rate of about $0.014 per KWH for charging between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. every night all year long. As always YMMV based on your personal situation. Check here for overview.

Q. How do I find a place to charge when about town?

A. Use a smart phone app or check Plugshare / Recargo websites. 

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