On the technology website Tom’s Guide, John Velasco has recounted his experience testing electric vehicles. He talks about models like the Lexus TX550H+, which he admits he didn’t particularly like, but focuses on his latest experience with the Hyundai Ioniq 6 model. He explains that one of the main incentives for an electric vehicle should be a noticeable difference between the rising gasoline costs and the bill for electricity consumption. Furthermore, he refers to how much gasoline prices have increased, especially while he was testing the vehicle, which coincided with Memorial Day in the United States.
Regarding level 1 charging, he explains that it is quite slow, but for those people who do not have to travel long distances, it may be more than sufficient. In their case, they charged it at night to avoid peak billing hours and to see if it really represents a savings compared to gasoline. If a faster charge is desired, they advise installing a level 2 charger, although that may also require installing the appropriate hardware, in addition to needing a permit for such installation. They acknowledge that charging at stations is much faster for this model, but it also incurs a greater expense. Their advice is to use charging at a station when it is an emergency or when traveling long distances, but always opt for charging at home.
How to charge an electric car?
John Velasco explains on the technology website Tom’s Guide the points to consider regarding the charging of electric vehicles. His experience has led him to test different models, such as the Lexus TX550H+ for a week, which he could not evaluate the charging capacity because it did not come with a level 1 charger. And this is precisely what his intervention is based on, the importance of knowing that it is not strictly necessary to reserve a space in the house to install an electric vehicle charger, as many of them come with a level 1 charger. These chargers allow connection to a standard power outlet in any home.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
After testing the Lexus TX550H+ model, it was time for the Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan. This vehicle did come with a level 1 charger, and after three days of driving, it was time to charge it. Velasco explains that one of the main incentives when buying an electric vehicle is whether the charging will actually cost less than what we spend on gasoline. In fact, he referred to the rise in gasoline prices just when he tested this model, coinciding with Memorial Day in the United States.
Where should I charge it?
The charging options are limited: either at home or at a charging station. Velasco plugged the Hyundai Ioniq 6 into a 120V outlet when the battery level was at 36%, useful for 135 miles of driving. No more and no less than 14 hours and 33 minutes later, the charge percentage was at 42%. These numbers were surprising, as charging with a level 1 charger is significantly slow and needs more than a night to be efficient. However, Velasco explains that if the daily trips of the driver do not exceed 20 miles, level 1 charging is more than sufficient. However, it would not be the best option for those whose daily commutes are longer. It is worth noting that the charging took place at night, in order to avoid peak hours during the day, to see if it truly reflects savings on the bill compared to gasoline.
Load at the charging stations
If your needs require a faster charging time, there are several options. On one hand, you can invest in a level 2 charger, which entails an investment, in addition to the extra cost of installing the appropriate hardware and having to request a permit for such installation. The other option, and the most convenient, is to use charging stations like the Tesla Supercharger. There is no doubt that you will achieve a faster charge, but you will also pay much more than charging it at home in less time. For all these reasons, Velasco recommends using level 1 charging at home and reserving visits to charging stations for emergencies or when planning to make longer distance trips.
