If your apartment complex does not provide EV charging, it is a little more challenging to own an electric car, but it is still doable. You may quickly start cruising by giving your car a boost of energy with a little bit of inventive thought.
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Find a supercharging station located near you
You’ll need to locate automobile charging stations in your neighborhood if your apartment doesn’t have an option for charging an electric vehicle. Download apps like PlugShare or OpenChargeMap, which allow you to enter your location and identify nearby supercharging stations, to accomplish this. This is a fantastic choice since there are probably multiple EV charging stations close to your place. While doing your grocery shopping, running errands, or working out at the gym, you may plug in your car to charge.
Charge at your office
You can charge your automobile at your workplace if you still commute to work and don’t just work remotely. Many businesses are setting up EV charging stations for their staff members, enabling them to drive to work, charge throughout the 9 to 5 workday, and exit with a fully charged vehicle.
Run a heavy-duty extension cord from your apartment to your car
If there are no available charging stations for electric cars in your apartment, you can establish a temporary charging station by connecting the car to your apartment using a heavy-duty extension connection. Because you might not have adequate voltage for a full charge, this isn’t the best solution. However, this can work if you’re in a pinch.
Look for apartments with EV charging
It’s a good idea to look for an apartment with EV charging stations built in if you already rent or own an electric vehicle and you’re looking for a new place to live. You may just plug your car in to charge at the designated parking area, saving you both time and energy.
Use a search finding tool to focus your search and locate the ideal apartment for you while looking for apartments with particular facilities. You can enter features like two bedrooms, an on-site gym, a pool, and apartment electric car charging to get a list of available rentals that are suited to your needs.
Why not make sure you have the features you need so you can charge your car at home?
Can a Nissan Leaf be plugged into a standard outlet?
The normal 120V charging cable, which may be put into a regular AC outlet for a Level 1 charge, must be purchased by new Nissan LEAF owners. While it isn’t quick, Level 1 charging enables you to extend the range of your Nissan LEAF wherever there is a conventional wall outlet.
If you live in a flat, how do you charge an EV?
Connecting to a public charger is possibly the simplest solution to the issue. To make the plug reach, you don’t need to park carelessly or run cables over sidewalks; just pull up to a spot and let the electricity to flow.
Is the Nissan Leaf compatible with a portable charger?
Although a Nissan Portable Charge Cable that works with 120 volt outlets is provided to all Nissan LEAF owners, there are other quick at-home charging options that may be purchased.
Level 1 and Level 2 Charging Options
Level 1: Portable Level 1 chargers are provided as standard equipment for electric vehicles. These chargers do not need to be installed, and they may be plugged into a regular household outlet. Really nice, no?
Level 2: Drivers have the option of purchasing and installing a Level 2 unit with more power for their residence. Utilize our Home Charging Advisor to browse Level 2 chargers and discover incentives. Check out our FAQs to learn more about home charging.
Tesla electric vehicles include a 120/240-volt plug-in Level 1/2 charger. These need a 240-volt outlet, which the majority of owners must have installed by a professional.
The majority of electric vehicle owners will eventually install 240-volt, Level 2 charging capabilities in their homes because they want the security and convenience of a quicker charge.
Can I charge my Nissan Leaf with an extension cord?
It should go without saying that if using a household outlet to charge an EV poses risks, using one or more extension cords will only increase the danger.
Charging your EV with an extension cord is dangerous
Compared to other common household appliances, EV charging demands a lot more power, and the majority of residential extension cords are just not made to handle that much power. They can raise the risk of electrical fires in addition to making you more likely to receive an electric shock.
Charge an EV by just plugging it in
- Pick the appropriate power provider. See if they provide special pricing for EV owners and look at off-peak periods and costs.
- Outside or inside, charge. As long as the equipment is made for usage in New Zealand and the conditions it will be utilized in, everything is fine, rain or shine.
- Off-peak charging is simple with smart home chargers. Smart wall-mounted devices can get a signal from your electricity provider so they can charge you at the lowest possible price.
Get more out of a single charge
- Before you leave, give your EV a full charge.
- Warm up the interior of the vehicle before you unplug it.
- Set the proper tire pressure.
- Smoothly maintain a constant speed.
- Take out any bulky bags or unnecessary extras, such roof racks.
- Be aware that driving an EV in cold weather will lower its range, especially if heaters and dehumidifiers are employed.
How to charge an EV safely
To safeguard your wiring and ensure everyone’s safety, it’s critical to use the appropriate tools in the appropriate manner.
- Never use modified or equipment that has had a New Zealand plug installed, such as equipment from another country. Never use charging equipment that is faulty or damaged. Have the manufacturer inspect it.
- Never use a cable to charge over a sidewalk.
- Using gadgets to connect the charging cord to the power source is not recommended (such as multi-boxes, double plugs or travel plugs).
- Never make use of extension cords.
- If an adaptor has been approved for use by the makers of the cable and the vehicle, you can use it to connect the charging cable to the automobile.
A free manual on selecting and using an effective, smart home charger was created by Standards New Zealand under contract with the EECA.
If I don’t have a driveway, how can I charge my electric car?
The best option for people who have driveways is to charge their cars overnight at home, so that they are ready to leave in the morning. But what about the millions of individuals who live in homes where there is no access to a home charging station for their cars? We examine some of the emerging options for folks without access to off-street parking.
Can an electric vehicle be wirelessly charged?
For many of the EVs now on the road, Plugless is the only business that provides wireless charging. More than a quarter million EV owners in the US alone now have access to wireless charging thanks to the Plugless system, a premium attachment that is available on four EVs and accounts for roughly half of the North American EV market.
Can I park my electric car inside a building?
The good news is that electric vehicles are always improving. In real-world driving situations, cars like the Kia e-Niro can go up to 285 miles on a single charge. And since the range of electric vehicles is only going to grow, individuals without a driveway or a charging station will soon be in a better position.
Additionally, the government is making greater efforts than ever to get drivers to switch:
- With 17 rapid charging stations in city centers and on ring roads, it intends to deploy electric car charge points on motorways and A roads in England at a minimum of every 20 miles.
- It has developed a plan that offers 200 million to businesses who manufacture charging points.
With so much infrastructure, EV drivers can locate their nearest charging station, park, and start charging with ease. There are also many other possibilities:
- Work and payment Thanks to government subsidies once more, employers are now giving charge points in their parking lots. At least one electric car charging station should be available at half of the businesses with parking lots by 2022.
- Shop and bill
- Tesco and VW have announced the addition of EV charging stations, some of which will be free to use, in Tesco parking lots.
- Educate yourself on the specifics
- examine the manufacturer’s specifications for electric vehicles. In the near future, many electric vehicles will be able to travel up to 300 miles, which might mean that even if you live in a flat or terraced house without a driveway or a charging station, you won’t need to charge your car more frequently than once every seven to ten days.
- Charge and commute
- If you commute but need to park your car at the station, plug it in, and then go to work with confidence that your car will be charged when you get there.
- Consult your council.
- The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has government funding available to assist councils in installing electric car charging stations for apartments and terraced homes; the council is only required to cover 25% of the cost.
Anywhere you live—flat or terrace, with or without a driveway—it is entirely possible to switch to electricity. There are various ways to charge your electric car if you don’t have access to a charging station at home thanks to the extensive public and workplace charging infrastructure.
Do I need to recharge my Nissan Leaf daily?
You don’t need to charge your electric car every night unless you frequently commute across great distances. In the same way that it is not required to keep your EV battery charged, it is unlikely that any driver of a standard gas-powered car fills their tank every day.
For a Nissan Leaf, what kind of charger do I need?
Type 2 and CHAdeMO are the two charging standards that the Nissan Leaf’s inlets support. When charging at home or at public slow and fast AC stations, the Type 2 inlet is utilized. High power is transported via the CHAdeMO input during quick DC charging via a CHAdeMO connector. The inlets for the Nissan Leaf are concealed beneath a flap in the area that would typically house a car’s grille.
Depending on the network and type of charge unit, the Nissan Leaf can be charged from public outlets slowly, quickly, or quickly. Fast charging often requires a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable, and slow charging typically calls for a 3-pin-to-Type 2. Both cables are typically included with the car. The necessary CHAdeMO connector is connected to the charging device in order to facilitate quick charging.
How much does a Nissan Leaf charging station cost?
Depending on the charging option and whether your car is a Plus model, charging the Nissan Leaf will take a varying amount of time.
There are three ways to charge a Nissan Leaf:
- Level 1 120 volt AC charger: Included with the Nissan Leaf, this is the standard home charger.
- Level 2 240 volt charge: Additional $1,690 cost; electrician installation required. The suggested choice is this one.
- Only found at public EV charging stations, level 3 DC fast chargers are the quickest charging method.
The 40 kWh regular battery takes around 8 hours to fully charge, while the 62 kWh extended battery for the Plus variants takes roughly 11.5 hours. If you spend an additional $1,690 for the 240V charger and quick charge connection, that equates to an average charging pace of 22 miles per hour.
It can take up to 20 hours to fully charge a Leaf using the regular 120V charger from a dead battery.
Generally speaking, getting a Level 2 charging station for your home is strongly advised. If you work or study close to a public charging station that isn’t difficult to get to, that might be an exception.