more than

90%

of EV charging is at home. Charging at home is more convenient, and fast chargers are used only during long trips and quick top offs.

For Long Drives

What to Pack

  • Pack your Standard 110V charger as a backup
  • Also pack a charger adaptor, that can help you take advantage of other types of chargers on the road. Drive Electric NL can help you determine if you will need adapters for your trip and we even have some to rent out.

Planning Your Trip

  • In planning your trip, ensure you are familiar with the specific charger compatibility requirements for your vehicle. There are different types of chargers available.
  • Signup for ChargePoint app1, that provides convenient access to charging station locations, up-to-date availability information, and effortless payment options.
  • Use A Better Route Planner2 (ABRP), a mobile app for superior electric vehicle travel with a better route, optimizes charging stops, identifies charger availability, and ensures an efficient and seamless journey.
  • Plugshare3 app can be used to research hotels, B&Bs that offer free charging for guests for overnight stays.

During Your Trip

  • If you are close to your destination, go for partial charging, if needed, to save time.
  • As your Trip changes use the apps to modify and to get a better route.
  • As a backup plan, it’s also a good idea to make sure you have researched an alternate location for charging.

About Fast Charging

NL Fast Charging Network

Fast Charging – The Charger is offboard the vehicle and supplies DC power directly to the battery.

When should I use DC fast charging (Level 3)?

  • Shortage of time
  • For travel further than your range in a single day.

DC Fast Charging can get many EV batteries charged to 80 percent in under 30 minutes. DC fast charging is handy for charging quickly but is typically about 2-3 times more expensive than charging at home.

As the new Ultrafast chargers are rolled out, it’s important to understand factors that will affect your charging speed. While the ultrafast chargers can deliver up to 350 KW, EVs will request a lower charge rate depending on the charge level and temperature of the battery, and how fast your EV can accept DC fast charging.

1 https://www.chargepoint.com/en-ca/drivers/mobile
2 https://abetterrouteplanner.com/
3 https://company.plugshare.com/plugshare.html

Charging at Home

95% of EV charging is done at home, almost always overnight or while a car is parked during the workday. Having your own charger makes life simpler.

Learn more