Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations
Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations
Posted on December 7, 2021
As more electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are added to model lineups, vehicle owners need to stay abreast of the latest technology in electric vehicles and in the charging stations needed to power them.
FordPass Charging Network
Ford customers have simple and easy access to charging stations throughout North American thanks to the FordPass charging network. On your Ford EV or PHEV, FordPass Connect makes it easy to find and check charger availability at stations near you. This trip-planning tool is available in Ford vehicles and on the FordPass smartphone app; as you drive, it considers your vehicle's current state of charge and identifies nearby charging points to make every trip easy and enjoyable.
Types of EV Charging Stations in Winnipeg
There are three basic types of EV charging stations. Levels 1 and 2 charging stations are approved for residential use. Level 3 stations are usually reserved for commercial settings, and it is broken down into DC Fast Charging and (Tesla) Supercharging. DC Fast Charging is what you will find at charging stations during your road trips.
Level 1 Charging Station
A Level 1 charging station is the simplest of the three types and does not require any special charger or plug. Your new Ford EV or PHEV comes with a charging cable, which is basically a Level 1 charger. This charger uses standard house electrical current, 110-120 volt AC, and uses a common three-prong plug that fits a standard grounded wall-socket.
You can easily charge your vehicle at home via a Level 1 charger; however, the downside is that it takes a long time to charge this way--usually an hour to provide four miles of battery range. For this reason, a Level 1 is recommended for PHEVs that can easily recharge the battery overnight. A full EV with 200 miles of range would take over 50 hours to fully recharge the car.
Level 2 Charging Station
Level 2 charging stations use 240-volt circuits such as the type used for electric dryers. This higher voltage means quicker charging time, taking just a quarter of the time to charge an EV battery compared to a Level 1 station.
While drivers could technically charge their EV on their 240-volt outlet used for their dryer, that involves a lot of hassle. Instead, it is advisable that you hire a professional electrician to run a 240-volt circuit to your garage. Once the power is accessible in the garage, drivers can "hard-wire" the charging station into that circuit, or they can opt for a portable Level 2 charger which can be transported with them during road trips. For EV drivers, a Level 2 charging station is a necessity to recharge the battery in a somewhat timely manner.
Electric Vehicles in Winnipeg
Owning an electric vehicle in Winnipeg might require a bit of upfront work, such as installing a Level 2 charging station, but the savings at the gas pump and for the environment far outweigh the momentary inconvenience.