Today, you’ve got to know how to charge your EV and what the best charging ranges are. This can be a little daunting for some drivers.

Charging an electric car isn’t as easy or as straightforward as pulling up to a gas pump. There’s a lot more technology and things to consider when you need to plug in to recharge your EV batteries.

What happens if you charge your EV to 100% every time you charge? Should you use DC Fast-Charging exclusively? Can you still use a regular 120-volt outlet to charge your electric car? Where are the nearby electric charging stations?

Prior Proper Planning Prevents Problems

Even before you buy your new electric vehicle, you should know where the public charging stations in your area are located. Whether you’re heading out for a road trip that will take you away from home for several days or you’re taking a different path than normal, it’s important to know where the charging stations are so that you don’t end up stranded.

There’s An App For That

Thankfully, most charging networks provide apps to customers, and many electric vehicles have charging station locations programmed into the GPS system. Still, you need to have a charging plan before heading out in an EV. Electric vehicle charging stations aren’t as plentiful as gas stations for ICE vehicles yet.

Overcharging Your Battery – Reduces EV Battery Lifespan

Electric car batteries aren’t like smartphone batteries. They don’t need to be charged to 100% every time, and charging them past 80% can reduce the lifespan of the battery. Although 80% is the sweet spot for EV charging, most owners will plug in the EV overnight to ensure the battery hits 100% while charging.

Fast Charging, Slow Charging, Which Cable?

Electric cars come with various charging cables, each designed for a specific purpose. Using the wrong cable can slow down your charging time and damage your car’s battery. This could be a costly mistake, especially if you repeat it several times over. Make sure you have the right charging cable for your vehicle.

In most areas, the overnight time is considered the off-peak hours, which is also when electricity is cheapest. This is why many homeowners will run a clothes dryer at night because they can save some money. An electric vehicle uses the same amount of power to charge as an electric clothes dryer, which makes overnight charging a smart financial decision.

Less Frequent Maintenance Doesn’t Mean No Maintenance

Although EVs require less frequent maintenance, there’s still a schedule to follow, which is necessary when you drive any vehicle. This schedule is meant to help you keep your car running smoothly and avoid costly repairs. The battery pack is typically under warranty for eight years, but that coverage ends if you don’t keep up the vehicle’s maintenance.

Frequently Charging Your EV To 100% – The Optimum Level Is Less

Automakers list the driving range of a vehicle when it has a full battery, but they don’t add that you don’t need to charge it to full every time. If you’re planning a road trip, you’ll want to start with a battery at 100%, but this isn’t optimal for daily overnight charging.

Short Commutes Require Less Charging

If you want to optimize EV battery life, you’ll need to understand what your daily and weekly driving habits are. If you know that you won’t drive more than 40 or 50 miles in a given day, it’s not necessary to charge the batteries to 100% or to plug the car in every day. EV batteries will last longer when recharged less frequently, but if you’ve got a long journey coming up, by all means, charge the EV to 100%.

You Can’t Go To The Nearest Station For A Gallon Of Electricity

What used to be a pretty common sight is a person walking along the road toward the next gas station with a gas can in their hand. These drivers thought they could make it to the station, but that wasn’t the case. Unlike this inconvenience, you can’t just walk to the nearest EV charger and pick up a gallon of electricity. It’s important to watch your battery level and keep it in the sweet spot between 20 and 80% charge at all times.

Rapid Charging Reduces Battery Life

Some drivers swear by rapid charging or are still in the mindset that they must go to a station to refuel their vehicle. Current electric vehicles are made to be recharged most effectively at home using a 240-volt charging port. Although some people can’t avoid using rapid charging exclusively, if you have an at-home charger, plan to use it for almost all of your EV charging needs.