EV Charging FAQ

There are a Number of Frequently Asked Questions that we would like to answer here, and these questions and answers are across the industry!

Why Companies Offer EV Charging?

• To support Current Driver Access Demand
• To attract NEW CUSTOMERS with desirable demographics (higher income, affluent, successful, progressive, educated, etc.)
• Increase your Market Share
• Retain Drivers that progress to Electric Vehicles
• Motivate Drivers to Stay in Store Longer (While getting a Charge)
• Enhanced public Image and showing they are Innovative, Environmentally Conscious, Community Oriented, are a great place to shop/work, etc.
• To Stay Competitive, and get ahead of Demand

How Many EV's Are There to use these?

• Sales of EV's are growing Rapidly, with USA Figures rising from 52,600 in 2012, to 100,000 in 2013.
  
• In Canada, over 70% of vehicle sales in the first nine months of 2013 came from three provinces: BC, Ontario, and Quebec.
  
• For plug-in vehicle sales, these same three provinces accounted for over 95% of sales in Canada!
  
• For 3 Quarters of EV Sales in 2013: BC Sold 456; ON Sold 852; and QC Sold 940 EV's, Mostly Centred around Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal
  
• All Electric Vehicles, and Plug-in Hybrids use EV Charging Stations, with varying demand levels.

What does it meant by Level 1? Level 2? Level 3? Quick Charging? DC Charging?

These are common terms describing the level of power available and the rate of power that can be accessed

• Level 1: is a power level of 120V AC, from a standard 15A (Fifteeen Amps) Breaker, and might vary from a standard Duplec Power Recepticle on the wall, to a Custom build Level 1 Charging Station.
  
  All Modern Electric Vehicles can access and use this Power source to Charge their vehicle, if they have the time!
  
• Level 2: supplies 240V at at least 30 Amps to an Electric Vehicle via it's Charging Connection.
  
  All Modern Electric Vehicles can access and use this Power source to Charge their vehicle, if they have the time (2X - 4X Faster than from Level 1 Charging)!
  
  
• Level 3: (DC Fast Charging or DC Quick Charging) Provides 480 Volts at 60 - 100 Amps, and takes under 1 hour to fully charge.
  
  Currently Supported in a Format design in Japan called CHAdeMO, and coming in a format and design called SAE CCS (Combo Charging System), or - a Modified Level 2 connector, with 2 extra Pins for high power DC Current (480 Volts, @ 60 Amps - 100 Amps).
  
  Much More Expensive than Level 2 Chargers of all types, Some require Special Circuits to install to supply them, best suited to routes serve by Freeway Commuters and intercity staging points and common stopping and servicing points on such freeways.

Where do Most EV Drivers Charge up today?

• Residential: 34%
• Public: 31%
• Private: 22%
• Workplace: 13%

What does it take to get a Charger Installed?

• Simply Contact your local Electrical Contractor and have them give you an estimate, as many are already doing installs of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, and have experience doing this.
  
• Local Contractor Examples, Links:
  http://gtawest.mrelectric.com/
  http://www.province-electric.com/
  
• Also - you can go to: www.chargemycar.ca for a simple 3-Step Program for your charger Selection, Purchase, Install, program.

What about just for my own Home Use?

• Your in Luck! Ontario has instituted (and other provinces may also have such programs) an Electric Vehicle Charger Incentive Program - to encourage People that buy an Electric Vehicle (and participate in the EV Incentive Program, already), to take advantage of a rebate program for Level 2 (208 - 240V) EV Charging Station Hardware and Installation totalling a maximum of 50% or $1,000.00: up to $500.00 off Hardware costs, and up to $500 off Installation Costs!
  
• Full Details on Ontario's Incentive Programs, MTO Online, Here.

In the USA, if all of the households that could potentially use an EV had one today, the nation would avoid 89 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide emissions and save 15 billion gallons of gasoline each year, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. That could yield a financial windfall of more than $50 billion a year for consumers. It seems to us that money could pay for a lot of charging outlets.