Is it good to own an electric car without a charging station at home?

“I live in an apartment without the possibility of installing a charging station at home, but I would like to get one Hyundai IONIQ 5. Is it possible to rely solely on the public payment network? How much more expensive is public charging than charging at home? Is it economically feasible to restart public facilities, or would it be better if I buy a hybrid car? -Richard

Answer

Hi Richard,

You are right, it is quite possible to own an electric car without having the possibility to charge it at home. It is definitely more difficult, but not impossible. It all depends on your situation.

First, you should know that you can charge your car using a 120 volt household outlet. Several parking lots in apartment buildings have them, and your car comes with such an automatic charging station. Even if recharging is slow, about 5 or 6 kilometers of autonomy are added per hour of recharging, it will probably be enough for your needs. Be aware, however, that during the winter, this type of recharging is almost useless, since the battery needs heating which consumes energy.

Another possibility is a public payment network. There are level 3 stations, also called DCFC (direct current charging station) or fast charging stations, which allow you to charge the Hyundai IONIQ 5 in less than an hour, or even faster depending on the station. These are mostly used by travelers, due to their speed, but can be used by anyone who needs a recharge. Keep in mind that over the long term, these stations have a tendency to accelerate the deterioration of battery capacity, especially if they are used frequently, as you would expect.

Another public charging station available is level 2, which is becoming more and more common in shopping center parking lots, in front of restaurants or on the side of the road in the city center. These are similar to those installed at home, in that you can leave your car plugged in for several hours, while the battery is fully charged. If you don’t drive a lot, you can charge every three or four days, or even more, reducing the hassle of having to drive your car a short or large distance from your home every day to charge. In your situation, this is probably the most logical terminal to use. Several mobile apps allow you to find them, and even use a neighbor’s who would make it available for rent.

Finally, several companies now have level 2 pay stations located in the parking lot, available to employees. If this is not the case for the company you work for, be aware that government subsidies are available for employers to install stations. It can be an attractive way to charge your car, if your employer is open to the idea of ​​installing a charging station.

Setting the price

Residential terminal installation costs between $1,200 and $3,000 depending on the type of terminal chosen, but also the electrical installation that must be connected. From this amount, we must subtract $600 in financial support for electric car owners who install a charging station at home.

It goes without saying that not installing a terminal in your home saves you this much. On the other hand, you should know that the use of public facilities is generally not free. In most cases, charging at a level 2 terminal costs $1 per hour, starting when it’s plugged in and stopping when it’s disconnected. In some cases, depending on the organization or company setting it up, these channels are free, more expensive or at a fixed rate, up to $10 per billing cycle. In short, there are several possible billing scenarios, depending on the terminal operator. Same thing for level 3 stations whose hourly rate is higher, but whose payout is faster.

To get an idea, let’s take the example of a level 2 charging station that charges $1 per hour, which can provide about 6.5 to 7 kilowatts of power per hour. To fill the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s long-range battery, if completely empty, it will take about 10 hours, so about $10, at normal price. In comparison, charging a home for the same level of energy would cost around $7. So it’s not the charging price that can put you off (in this advantageous situation), considering the supposedly small difference between home and public charging, but also the savings caused by not installing a charging station at home.

Results

Since I don’t know the specifics of the stations near your home or your travel habits, it is difficult for me to draw a line to know if your project is valid, or if it is better to prefer a hybrid car. . I advise you to consider all the aspects mentioned in this text, and also try to measure your level of motivation; it’s definitely more restrictive to have to recharge somewhere other than at home. With this reflection in mind, you will see how feasible your project is.