How to Charge

Switching from a fuel pump to a charging station is an exciting transition! This page discusses everything you need to know about electric vehicle charging, including charging time, costs and fees, connector types, and various charging levels. You'll also find an EV charging station locator for your research and convenience.

Charging Time

Refueling an EV is similar to how we charge our cell phones. Most EV drivers plug their vehicle in at home overnight. Some use workplace charging while their cars are parked for hours at a time. A good practice is to live between 20 and 80% charged. As charging slows as the battery is filled, consider topping off for what you need vs staying till completely full.

Charging is similar to filling a movie theater, you get there early picking a seat is quick, as the theater fills it gets harder to find a space to sit. (Pro tip: There are incentives to install EVSE at your home). Also, with many fast-charging stations coming online, it’s more convenient than ever to charge on the go.

Factors that Affect Charging Speed

Vehicle type may affect charging time

Vehicle

Vehicle manufacturers have different battery chemistries and designs that impact how quickly each vehicle can charge.
System may affect charging time

System

There is a wide range of charging speeds based on the charging equipment. Some have a maximum 50kW capacity while newer stations can charge at 350kW stations.
Outside temperature may affect charging time

Outside Temperature

Some vehicles have thermal management systems that can “pre-condition” the battery by either heating or cooling it to improve charging speed.

Why Does Charging Slow Down? And Things that Affect Charging Speed

  • Temperature | Outside air temperature either being too hot or too cold will impact charging rate.
  • Battery Charge | Batteries charge faster the more empty they are. As the battery recharges, the charging rate will slow down as a safety precaution.
  • Charging Stations Being Used at the Same Time | Often charging stations are run on concurrent wiring, so if other vehicles are charging at the same time it will slow down the charging.
  • Battery Degradation | Like cellular charging, as the vehicle ages, the battery can lose capacity that impacts charging speed.

  • Battery Capacity | Not all batteries are created equal. There is variety between manufacturers and models that impact charging speed and capacity.

RANGE

As with traditional driving, increased highway speeds will decrease range.

Costs & Fees

On average, Floridians spend $.14 per kWh for residential electricity, which is significantly lower than the cost of gas. Savings to fill up on electricity depend on the make and model of the vehicle. For a sedan, the cost savings is over $25 per fill up and over $30 for a truck.

Connector Types

Level 1 and 2 Charging

J1772
This connector is used for Level 1 and 2 charging. A SAE J1772 connector on a portable charging cordset comes standard in all EVs EVs except Tesla. Most community charging uses this connector and Tesla vehicles come with an adapter to use this connector.

More Information

AFDC. U.S Department of Energy.  https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-stations. May 10, 2024. 

DC Fast Charging

DCFC
J3400/Tesla/NACS
Tesla was one of the first EVs to market with fast charging and they have their own proprietary connector. This is also known as the North American Charging Standard and several manufacturers have announced adopting the J3400 connector by 2025.
Designed as an “open industry standard,” the CCS connector (also known as SAE J1772 combo) lets drivers use the same charge port with AC Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging equipment. The only difference is that the DC fast charging connector has two additional bottom pins. Most EV models on the market can charge using the CCS connector.
Manufacturers like Nissan and Mitsubishi tend to use the CHAdeMO standard but it is being phased out.

Charging Levels

Home
Most home charging occurs in the evening when there may be lower cost of electricity through time of use rates. Level 1 charging is typically used when there is only a 120 V outlet available, such as while charging at home, but can easily provide charging for most of a driver’s needs. Some EV drivers opt to install a Level 2 charging unit at their home if they have 240 V service available, because Level 2 equipment can completely recharge a typical EV battery overnight.
Most community charging is done on Level 2 equipment and is also commonly used for workplace charging. Community charging provides an important role for drivers that don’t have access to home charging. It is also critical for EV drivers who are staying overnight at hotels.
Direct-current (DC) fast charging equipment enables rapid charging along heavy traffic corridors at installed stations. According to the Department of Energy, as of 2022, more than 20% of public EV charging ports in the United States were DC fast chargers. It can recharge the battery up to 80% capacity in 20 minutes -1 hour depending on the vehicle and charging system. The cost to charge at DC fast charging equipment ranges from $.32-over $.50 per kWh depending on time of day and location.

Charging Station Locator

Loading alternative fueling station locator...
  • Looking for more tools? Here are some additional charging station
    locator tools: