Tips for Public EV Charging in Virginia
Find Your EV at Ourisman Automotive!
Are you interested in potentially purchasing an electric vehicle? Making the switch to electric power is a great choice for both the environment, and for your budget! There are tons of benefits to buying an electric vehicle, but for those who are new to the world of EVs, you might have some questions. Overall, the biggest difference between EVs and traditional cars is the way they get their power. While traditional cars need to be filled with gas, EVs and PHEVs need to be plugged into a charging station in order to charge their batteries. For many people, this might be a new experience. However, we here at Ourisman Automotive are here to explain just how easy it is to find public EV charging stations here in the state of Virginia! Not only that, but you can also install an EV charging station in your own home, to charge up your EV whenever you need. Read our tips for public EV charging in Virginia!
Where Can I Find Charging Stations?
If you've never had to use an EV charging station before, you might not have even noticed their presence on the road. However, once you start looking out for them, you'll find that there are many public EV charging stations here in Virginia! In the Alexandria area alone, you can find a total of 99 EV charging stations! Of those stations, the majority of them are Level II, while eight of the stations are Level III. The main difference here is that Level III stations offer a higher voltage, meaning you can charge your EV more quickly. However, be sure to always check your vehicle's compatibility with the charging cable before you plug in. We're lucky enough to be situated in a popular hub for EV chargers, and you'll continue to find even more as you travel to nearby areas such as Arlington, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. Having such a well-equipped infrastructure makes it easy for Virginia residents to charge their EVs and PHEVs on the go!
How Expensive is EV Charging?
One of the major benefits of driving an EV as opposed to a gas-powered car is that the cost of electricity is far more affordable than the cost of gas! According to Dominion Energy, charging your EV can be anywhere from three to five times cheaper than filling your gas tank! Not only that, but electricity prices are far more stable than gas prices. As you're probably well aware, gas prices are subject to drastic changes, sometimes rising by two to three dollars per gallon overnight! This can make it difficult to factor the cost of transportation into your budget. On the other hand, the price of electricity, which is measured in kilowatt-hours, will fluctuate a bit throughout the day, and based on where you live. However, the average cost will stay more or less the same, and will be cheaper overall compared to gas prices.
When Should I Charge My EV?
As we mentioned above, the price of electricity can change throughout the day, as well as at various times throughout the year. In general, these changes in rates won't make a huge difference, since you'll still be saving up to three to five times the amount you'd pay on gas. However, if you're looking to really optimize your spending, you can try to charge your EV at night, when electricity prices tend to be lower. To determine what time of year has the cheapest electricity rates in your area, simply look at past electric bills for your home. From there, divide the number of kilowatt-hours you used by the overall price of your bill to find the price per kilowatt-hour. If you compare these figures month-to-month, you'll likely notice patterns and be able to determine what time of year is the cheapest charging window. This might influence when you plan that big cross-country road trip, and help you save a little cash!
How Can I Get a Home Charging Station?
In addition to the wealth of public EV charging stations available to us throughout the Alexandria area, you can also opt to install your very own EV charging station in your home! For example, Jeep has partnered with QMerit to offer home installation services or charging stations that pair with the Wrangler 4xe, and Grand Cherokee 4xe. You can also check out our Parts Center, or speak with our service team to learn about Mopar charging stations, which give you the freedom to charge your vehicle whenever you're home. This way, you can charge your EV overnight, or multitask by leaving it plugged in while you work on other tasks around the house. This makes it easier than ever to make sure your EV stays charged up and ready to go!
Visit Ourisman Automotive for New EV Inventory!
Now that you've had a chance to learn a bit more about EV charging here in Virginia, it's time to get started on your search for your very own EV! Here at Ourisman Automotive, we're committed to helping drivers in and around Alexandria find the best cars for their lifestyles. Here at our dealership, we have a huge selection of vehicles for our customers to choose from, including EV and PHEV inventory. You can find great options like the Kia EV6 Wind, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and more! Check out our inventory online, and use the filters to find our EV and hybrid options. From all of us here at Ourisman Automotive of Alexandria, we look forward to working with you soon!