How to charge electric cars

Electric cars commonly have a socket on their exterior body. Some electric car models are built with the socket hidden under the flap located in the grill of the radiator, and then there are also some models where it is located under the fuel filler cap. The power cable for most electric cars is plugged directly into a standard power socket - the type found in all households. An external socket can also be installed on the outside wall of your home, if you do not have a garage. An outdoor socket installation is generally a no fuss affair, with little work, time or expense necessary to complete the job. Electric car models with a high-current power charger are easily capable of being charged directly from a standard household outlet. This is more convenient since you can charge your car even when you are not at home. The act of plugging your car into a socket like any other household appliance may feel strange at first, but owners quickly get used to it.

There are some electric car owners who use a dedicated high-current power socket for speed charging their cars. It is composed of a high current industrial outlet that is fitted into a wall. Some owners prefer a full external charging station, such as a power bollard – a thick, low post that has an electrical outlet built into it.  

The first few times you take your electric car for a ride can be fun and very exciting. It is safe to say that this feeling will not stop anytime soon. An electric car is always fun to drive. If you use your electric car almost solely for city driving, you will find that you get your best performance here. The acceleration from a full stop is very quick, making your daily runs a highly enjoyable experience. Along with the excitement is the feeling of having to frequently check to make sure that you have adequate range. You will also tend to calculate the distance of every trip you make just to make sure that it is within range. You may also feel the need at first to plug in your car at every destination, even when you are well within your range. This is called “range fixation” and is a normal experience for all first time owners of electric cars. Not to worry though, because this fixation will eventually wear off as you realize your car’s capabilities.  Another normal occurrence for most owners is forgetting to charge their car. This usually happens at an inconvenient time. If you are just taking a short drive, you can simply charge your car at your destination. A charge of 20 to 30 minutes should give you just enough range to make your return trip. There is often no dangerous consequence in forgetting to charge your car, but it is a quick lesson in not forgetting to charge again.

Owners of second-hand electric cars may discover that the older models can be quite slow when driving uphill.