Ultimate Guide to Electric Vehicles

If you’ve never had an electric vehicle before, getting ready for one may seem like a daunting and extensive process. From setting up an electric vehicle home charger to understanding the different types of electrified models, there is a lot to learn. That’s why Baron BMW has put together the ultimate guide to owning an electric car. Whether you’re interested in a BMW electric vehicle or curious about the preparation to switch from gas to electric, this guide will provide you with the information you need!

Below, we will talk about these topics:

• Benefits of electric vehicles
• How long does it take to charge an electric car?
• How to set up an electric vehicle home charger?

Benefits of Electric Vehicles

Many drivers favor the environmental benefits of the electric models. Electric cars eliminate the use of gas, leading to significant long-term savings and a significant reduction in your carbon footprint. Eliminating the combustion engine also simplifies your annual maintenance significantly, offering another opportunity to save money.

While many models have extended ranges, all-electric models are perfect for Shawnee and Leawood drivers who mainly make shorter trips around town.

Here are some of the key advantages to choosing an electric model:

• Low or zero tailpipe emissions
• Quieter ride with no engine noise
• No money spent on gas
• Fewer maintenance costs (no oil changes or engine upkeep)
• Potential EV incentives based on your location
• Flexible charging options, including home and public options

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

Being powered solely by a battery, electric vehicles produce zero CO2 emissions. Whether you’re using an electric vehicle home charger or one in public, you might wonder, “How long does it take to charge an electric car?” Depending on the vehicle you have near Grandview, MO and its battery size, the charging time may vary.

Domestic vs. Public Electric Car Charging Time

When charging your electric car at home, you have two charge port options: Level 1 and 2. Each has its own charge time, as detailed below:

• Level 1 charging often takes days to fully charge an electric car.
• Level 2 charging often takes several hours to fully charge an electric car. You can often get between 60-200 miles of range in just 20-30 minutes with Level 2 DC charging, though. For this reason, most people intermix daytime “top-off” charging with overnight charging.

On the other hand, you have public charging ports. Public ports pack more voltage than domestic ones. While charging at home, the chargers offer you 3.7 kW or 7 kW while public ports offer 22 kW charging, 43-50 kW rapid charging, and 150 kW rapid charging. Depending on the power that the port has, you can fully charge your vehicle in 1 hour, 4 hours, 6 hours, or 11 hours.

Electric Vehicle Charging Options

Many charging options are available to drivers. These options all have their benefits that can make your daily drives much easier. See what EV charging options are available to you below:

• Domestic Outlet Home Charging (Regular Outlet): A normal grounded (three-prong) 110V/120V charging outlet (Level 1 Charging) doesn’t offer a fast charging speed but it’s a good option for topping off some of the charges that you used when commuting to work that day. How long does Level 1 charging take? Usually around 24 hours or more for a full charge. In other words, expect it to take days, not hours, to charge with this method.

• Installed Brand-Approved Domestic Charging: Level 2 Charging is typically professionally installed. Level 2 charging uses rapid (usually 240V+) chargers most often made for your brand of car will have significantly faster charging rates than using a regular grounded household outlet. Think hours, not days. DC fast chargers (as opposed to AC ones) are also common. It’s not unheard of to obtain an 80% charge in half an hour or forty minutes with this type of charging method, but that extra 20% will take longer as there’s a diminishing rate of charging speed.

• Public Charging: You can charge on the go at parking garages, malls, hotels, and even apartment buildings. You’ll often find charging stations at big-name national stores like Walgreens and Kohl’s, and more charging stations are being added every day across the country. These charging stations vary in type and speed but often provide Level 2 charging speeds for greater convenience. Some public chargers even offer emissions-free renewable energy charging with solar panels or wind turbines!

How to Prepare Your Home for An Electric Vehicle

Did you just buy a brand-new BMW electric vehicle online? Or are you curious about the preparation process? Whichever stage you may be at, you will need to look into getting your electric vehicle home charger set up and ready before you drive your new car home. Here are the steps:

1. Choose the Level for Your Home Charger

It’s important to do your research on home chargers for electric cars. Remember, most in-home electric vehicle charging stations fall into Level 1 or Level 2.

2. Prepare Your Garage for An Electric Vehicle Charging Station

If you haven’t organized your garage in a few years, now is the time to do that! Be sure to get your garage ready for an electric vehicle before the delivery. You’ll want to clean out clutter first if your garage has been used as a storage space for a long time, as it will need to be ready for the electric vehicle home charger.

3. Find Your Power Panel & Assess Consumption

The power panel in your home distributes electricity throughout the entire house. It should be rated for a maximum amount of current flow measured in Amperes. Most new homes come with a 100 Amp power panel, but there should be an amperage rating printed on your main circuit breaker. Then you’ll want to get a handle on how much electrical energy you consistently use in your house by performing a self-assessment of your electricity use before you install an electric vehicle charging system. It’s important that you don’t overload your electric distribution panel.

4. Hire an Electrician

You’ll want to hire an electrician to discuss any concerns about your power consumption and adding EV charging. You can also have them install a dedicated 240-volt plug or add a hardwired circuit back to the power panel. This can cost several hundred dollars but could be up to $1,000 or $3,000 if the power panel is not sufficient as-is and requires upgrading.

5. Buy Your Charger & Get it Installed

If you haven’t already researched and purchased an EV charger at this point, it would be the time to do so and have it professionally installed by the electrician of your choice.

Want to Learn More? Want to Shop for BMW Electric Cars in Merriam? Baron BMW Can Help!

Do you have more questions about electrified models? Are you interested in learning more about BMW electric vehicles? Just contact our team, and we will be happy to tell you more! You can also stop by our showroom to experience our BMW electric cars in stock.