Electric Vehicles - Benefits & Facts

 
 
EV- Benefits and Facts

Benefits

If you talk to an early adopter or do some research, you’ll find there are many benefits of owning an electric vehicle. Some of the benefits include:

  • Cheaper “fuel”: Electricity is cheaper than gas and we offer some of lowest electric prices in the nation. Compare your electric cost to the amount you spend on gas each month.

  • Low Maintenance: EVs have fewer moving parts than gas-powered cars. You won’t need oil changes or tune-ups when you don't have a combustion engine under your hood. Less maintenance and no trips to the gas station – that’s real savings plus time added back into your day.

  • Convenient: Plug-in vehicles can be charged at home. A 240 V AC plug be installed (by a licensed electrician) in your garage. Charge your car in a matter of hours – we strongly encourage charging overnight while you sleep to avoid peak energy demand times. A standard 120 V AC plug can be used as a secondary option, though charging time will take longer.

  • Energy Independent: Plug-in vehicles use power produced locally or regionally.

  • Clean and Green: Renewable energy from wind and solar farms will help charge your vehicle. That’s good for the environment. Fewer gas vehicles on the road means less emissions that contribute to air quality issues. 

Facts: How do you charge?

 

 

Level 1

Plug in to a traditional 120 V AC plug. It's a good idea to have an electrician verify that your breaker is sufficient to provide the amount of amps needed to charge your vehicle without causing problems for your house. Charging time is 6-14 hours, depending on the car.

 

 

Level 2

Provide charging through a 240 V AC plug and dedicated circuit. Schedule a licensed electrician to do the work. A level 2 charger will cut charging time in half, estimated at 3-6 hours for most cars.

 

 

Level 3

An Electrify America DC fast charger station, powered by CPS Energy, is installed at the Walmart Supercenter located at 4331 Thousand Oaks. 

The Electrify America station features six 150 kilowatt (kW) chargers and two 350kW chargers.  CCS and a CHAdeMO charger are available.  The brand of EV you drive will determine which plug you can use.  Check your vehicle manufacturer's website or your owner's manual to find out more about charging. 

Check out Consumer Guide to EV Charging from Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to learn more.

 

Best Time to Charge

We strongly encourage and recommend charging your EV overnight to avoid the peak energy demand hours of 4 - 9 p.m. That window is typically when local and statewide demand for power is at its highest.  Preventing additional demand on the grid ensures statewide power reliability.

Overnight is also typically the best hours for wind power generation to be at its highest, making your low or emissions-free vehicle its absolute cleanest. We are one of the largest wind energy buyers in the nation and are proud to provide you with clean, emissions-free power.

View a map showing charging stations and real time availability of their charging ports at ChargePoint.