Home charging

Those just transitioning to an electric car, like the 2019 Kia Niro EV, face some potentially daunting decisions well beyond the vehicle itself—not just how they’re going to charge up the vehicle in their own garage or driveway, but how they’re going to charge it quickly enough...

Six months after Ford issued a recall over a fire risk and its charge cords, some drivers of Ford plug-in vehicles still don’t have the peace of mind of a new charge cord. The recall, issued last August, affected or the 120V AC “convenience charge cord” that Ford supplies with...

Connected home chargers can bring a higher level of convenience to the electric-car ownership experience, allowing more flexibility with remote access, charge scheduling, power-output adjustment, and even data displays. But according to the cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, they can also bring a...

Electric-car critics have said that more EVs on the road could stress already overburdened electric power grids past the breaking point. Now, a study released this week by a California nonprofit suggests that may not be true. San Francisco-based think tank Next 10 published reports this week that...

Drivers who buy an electric car that plugs into the power grid to recharge the battery often start to consider the source of their energy. A 2012 analysis from California, in the earliest days of modern electric cars, indicated as many as four in 10 electric-car drivers were already using or...

The number of plug-in electric cars on North American roads grows every year, and with them come new buyers. Each new electric-car driver will have a few things to learn, so we've rounded up some tips on how, where, and when how to charge up that new plug-in vehicle. Whether you're already an...

AeroVironment charging stations will be sold through Chevrolet dealers for the Bolt EV.

New Orleans has a hot-and-cold relationship with environmentally friendly technology. Last week, however, the two were definitely on good terms as the city council voted unanimously to make life easier for current and future electric car owners. Crescent City crises Given the New Orleans' tenuous...

The PBS show demonstrates installing an electric-car charging station.

Gas prices are falling: Michigan has signs advertising regular at $1.99 per gallon. It's now below $3 a gallon even in California, which continues to be the focal point for electric-car adoption. Now an electric utility CEO has joined with an environmental advocate to urge that Californians stay...

Nissan will test its Leaf-To-Home station at certain dealers in Japan over the next few months.

Envision Solar's EV ARC is a self-contained solar charging and energy-storage system.

Swiss bank UBS predicts home solar will be widely adopted in the next decade.

When plug-in electric cars came on the market less than four years ago, the first 240-Volt home charging stations carried four-figure price tags. Now a handful of models cost less than $500--and a fairly high-amperage model is being offered by Home Depot this month for $499 after a special offer...

A new California law would require landlords to let tenants install charging stations.

Unless you're a Tesla owner with access to free Supercharger fast charging stations, there's no better place to charge your electric car than at home. Pick the right electricity tariff, and charging can cost pennies on the dollar next to even the most efficient combustion-engined vehicle. BMW hopes...

The Honda Smart Home represents about 2000 square feet of energy efficient living

BMW's first full-scale production electric car isn't a vehicle done by half measures. It's uniquely styled, features high-tech carbon fiber reinforced plastic construction and the minimalist interior is awash with sustainable materials. BMW thinks its customers might want to continue that...

With most electric-car charging today taking place in the garages of private homes, installing a home charging station can pose a hurdle to potential buyers. Now Palo Alto, California--the city in the center of Silicon Valley--is moving to make it easier for homeowners who want to switch to an...

Plugging in your electric car to recharge the battery is simple if you have your own garage, carport, or driveway. If you park on the street, it's a little harder; there just aren't that many curbside charging stations yet. So electric-car owners can get very, very resourceful. We said it more than...