By Patrick Soukup, Manager of Member Services and Marketing
The last month has been incredibly busy with Dakotafest and the State Fair. We had the Ford F-150 Lightning electric vehicle (EV) and Polaris Ranger Kinetic electric side-by-side on display at Dakotafest and answered member questions about each unit.
Central Electric is now tracking the cost per mile on the Ford Lightning. It has good data to pull from regarding usage, and we will share updated information each month.
When reviewing the data, remember the vehicle we are charging and driving is the Ford Lightning, which is a half-ton 4-wheel drive pickup. A smaller EV, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, may cost less per mile. We are also using the rate of 12 cents per kilowatt hour. These details need to be considered.
Charging data from the pickup is becoming very useful. We have found the rate or capacity of the Ford Level 2 charger is 18.5 kilowatts, which is about the same as running a 20-horsepower motor. Not all vehicles have this charging option, but it’s one of the reasons we purchased the Ford Lightning. We now have data to demonstrate the impact of this type of charger on our system.
So, let’s talk about the different EV charging options. Most EVs come with a standard charger. You can charge with a Level 1 option, which is just 120 volts, and it would take days to charge the batteries to full capacity. Everyone has this option in most of their garages or outside their homes.
The next option for charging is Level 2. This option will charge most EVs in roughly 8 to 10 hours. Members should have a specific outlet for a Level 2 charger: a 50-amp 230-volt 4-wire outlet. This is a common outlet for most electric ranges in our homes. This outlet is not common in most garages unless you are a mechanic or a farmer.
So, is your home ready for EV charging? You should not need another EV charger besides the one that comes standard with the EV. However, you will need an outlet to charge from, meaning a 120-volt outlet or the 50-amp 230-volt option.
With that in mind, please contact your electric cooperative and let us know of new energy demands that come with new equipment, such as an EV charger. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and let’s hope for a nice long Fall season.