Tim Fitzpatrick’s article on EVs was interesting and largely accurate, but left the reader with one false impression. When discussing battery charging he states that a 110 volt outlet is “not a practical way to fully charge a car because it can take more than a day.” This is not my experience nor the experience of most American EV owners. The statement is true, but irrelevant.
Like most Salt Lake City commuters, we drive 40 to 50 miles each day. We plug into the 110 volt outlet in the garage each night, utilizing the off peak power rates. By 6:00 am the charger has replaced all of the energy used in the previous day. There is no need to “fully charge a car.” When we go on a long trip and want to start out at 90% of battery capacity, there are level two chargers available nearby commercially. Since this is necessary only once or twice a year, it hardly warrants installation of an expensive level two charger in the garage, and I do not recommend it to friends.
Michael Allgood, Sandy