HOW DO ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS WORK?

The lineup of BMW electric vehicles keeps growing as more and more Darlington drivers make the switch away from gasoline. If you haven’t made the switch yet because you’re not sure how an electric car charging station works, or you’re worried about the electric car charging station costs, we can help! While you will have to develop some new fueling habits when you make the switch to an electric or PHEV BMW, electric charging is clean, easy, and convenient. So get ready to forget the pump with BMW of Florence with our electric car charging how-to guide.

There are three levels of electric car charging, whether you’re driving in Sumter, at home in Marion, or taking a long road trip. Here’s the basics about each charging level:

This is the slowest method of charging an electric car, so you’ll probably only use this method in a pinch. You can plug an EV’s charging cable into a standard 110V three-prong outlet to recharge your EV battery. While it can take over 24 hours to get a full battery charge this way, this is a good way to add a few miles of charge to get you to a faster charger.

You’ll get a much faster charge at a level 2 public charging station than you will from level 1. Home chargers like the BMW Wallbox also fall into this category. With charging speeds that can add 60-120 miles to your battery in 45 minutes, this is a great method for overnight charging.

The fastest way to charge your EV is with a level 3 DC fast charging station. Often found in store parking lots, parking garages, and other commercial locations, you can get 200-300 miles of charge in 30-45 minutes. Plug in when you park, have dinner at a neighboring restaurant, and return to a fully charged battery.

Some public electric car charging stations offer complimentary charging, but usually, you’ll have an electric car charging station cost to consider. Some charging stations feature credit card readers so you can pay for one charge at a time. Most charging networks also have monthly rate plans. Even with the price break that comes with a monthly plan, it’s still almost always less expensive to charge at home.

When you purchase a new all-electric BMW, you’ll receive a complimentary fast-charging plan with the Electrify America charging network. Contact us to get the details. Without complimentary charging, the electric car charging station cost for level 3 charging is around $30-$45 for a full charge. The electric car charging station cost for level 2 charging is generally $15-$25.

While the public EV charging infrastructure is still in its infancy, it’s growing fast. When you’re taking longer road trips and concerned about charger access, your My BMW App can plan your route with charging stations along the way.

We hope you’re feeling more confident about making the switch to an EV now that you know more about what to expect when your BMW needs a charge. When you’re ready to make the leap, shop the all-electric BMW inventory at BMW of Florence and choose your ride into the future!