Can you plug an electric car into a normal socket?
You can charge using a regular domestic 3 pin socket, but a dedicated home EV charger is the better option by far. Dedicated EV home chargers typically deliver around 7kW of power.
The time it takes to charge an electric car can be as little as 30 minutes or more than 12 hours. This depends on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging point. A typical electric car (60kWh battery) takes just under 8 hours to charge from empty-to-full with a 7kW charging point.
All mass-produced electric vehicles today include a 110-volt-compatible (Level 1) charging unit which is able to be plugged into any standard 110v household outlet. The downside of EV charging with a 110v outlet is that it takes a while.
“In fact, Kia and other automakers specifically say not to use an extension cord in the owner's manual. An electric car pulls more power than a typical home appliance, and using a typical extension cord when charging can harm your home and car.”
To use the Electrify America chargers, plug in and follow instructions on touchscreen to begin charging session by inserting credit or debit card. Pricing ranges from 25 cents to 99 cents, depending on the vehicle's power level, with a $1 session fee.
“Today, most EV batteries have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years within the car – and a second life beyond.” It's also worth noting that EV battery technology is still evolving, so as tech develops we expect batteries' lifespan to increase – as well as becoming cheaper, smaller and even lighter.
Electric Vehicle Charging Costs
While electricity costs vary greatly, the average cost of electricity in California is about 16.58¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh). At this price point, charging a 40–kWh battery with a 150–mile range would cost about 4.42¢ per mile (or about $6.63 to fully charge).
A dryer outlet offers 240 volts of power and will charge an electric vehicle faster than a regular 120-volt appliance outlet. But you will probably need to buy a special charger or adaptor to plug in to your dryer outlet.
Every new EV is sold with a Level 1 charging station. It can be plugged into a standard household 110-volt grounded wall outlet and usually requires no upgrade to your utility panel. A Level 1 charging station will deliver about 5 miles per hour of charge.
Domestic Outlet/Home Charging (Level 1): A standard three-prong outlet with 110V/120V doesn't charge an electric vehicle at great speeds, but it's good for plugging your car in overnight so that it's charged in the morning. With level one charging, you can usually expect about 24 hours for a full charge to be complete.
Should I charge my electric car every night?
Most electric car owners charge their cars at home overnight. In fact, people with regular driving habits need not charge the battery fully every night. And automakers provide electric car batteries that hold their charge for long, allowing you to skip plug-ins for a few nights.
Granny Charging – A granny charger, as the name suggests, is the slowest and eldest form of electric vehicle charging. Effectively another form of slow charging, Granny charging simply takes power from a typical 13amp 3 pin socket in the home and charges at the rate of 2.3kWh.
Unlike most owners of conventional gas cars, EV owners can “refill” at home—just pull into your garage and plug it in. Owners can use a standard outlet, which takes a while, or install a wall charger for a much quicker charge. All electric vehicles come with a 110-volt-compatible, or Level 1, home connector kit.
Can I charge an electric car from a 13 amp socket? Yes, it is possible to use a 13 amp socket, but it will be much slower than if you use an EV charging point. It's generally unadvised you to use a normal plug socket, but it is possible as a temporary measure if there are no other charging points available.
Three-pin plug
It's perfectly possible to charge your electric car using a conventional 3-pin plug with an EVSE1 cable (also called a granny cable) and domestic socket, although this method of charging can be very slow. A domestic 2.4kW socket can take over 24hrs to charge your EV battery.
Can I use a normal 120 volt outlet to charge? You can use a NEMA 5-15 adapter for a 120 volt outlet. This provides approximately two to four miles of range per hour of charge depending on the car. For the best home charging experience, we recommend installing a Wall Connector.
Another thing people do on a shoestring budget is plug their EV into a dryer, water heater, or oven outlet. With 30–50 amps and 240 volts, this allows for Level 2 charging, adding around 25 miles per hour and a full charge overnight.
Slow chargepoints are often the cheapest to use and are suitable when vehicles are parked for several hours, such as during working hours or overnight.
Most EVs can take in about 32 amps, adding around 25 miles of Range Per Hour of charging, so a 32-amp charging station is a good choice for many vehicles. You may also want to increase your speed or get ready for your next vehicle with a faster 50-amp charger that can add about 37 miles of range in an hour.
A 3-pin plug charges at 2.3kW, adding up to 8 miles of range per hour, or 4 miles in half an hour.
How long does it take to charge an electric car with a 3-pin plug?
Using a 3-pin socket is a very time-consuming way to charge your EV. It can take up to, or sometimes, over, 18 hours for a full charge using a 3-pin plug charger (Depending on your vehicle and the size of the battery). A 7kW dedicated home charger on the other hand, is over three times faster than a three-pin plug!