Having your own EV charger is quite an investment, so you want to ensure that it serves you for longer. Your EV chargers impact the life of your car battery; thus, it’s just right you care for it as much as you do with your EV batteries. How do you do this?
EV charger maintenance should come easy if you know your type of charger and have access to professional assistance. Companies like La Habra Electrical Service offer expert services that include EV charger installation, repair, and maintenance you can hire. Maintenance services from authorized companies will be a great help.
You want to also do your part in taking care of your EV charger. As a responsible owner, you must know your charger’s basics. What level and type is it? What outlet does it need? How often should I service it? These are just some questions you might need to ask yourself.
It would be great if you could acquire maintenance tips. Below, we have enumerated some issues you may encounter with your EV battery. We also listed helpful tips on how you can increase the lifespan of your EV charger.
EV Battery Ran Out in the Middle of Nowhere? Here’s What To Do!
Electric cars continue to rise in their popularity because of their offered convenience. They run through batteries sparing owners from buying gas. What’s more, EVs aim to help the environment by reducing pollution.
If you own an electric car, you must be basking yourself in the added convenience. However, one of your fears might be its battery life. What if your battery dies out in the middle of nowhere? Well, there are only three things you can choose to do.
- Call for roadside assistance. Whatever type of care you may own, roadside assistance is a great help. Because you can’t bring yourself a charger and leave your car, roadside assistance is your best bet at getting help.
How do you call one?
Purchasing a car must already give you this idea. You should contact reliable roadside assistance in case your vehicle breaks down. When you call, tell them you own an EV, and they will bring the needed equipment, such as a two-truck, a flatbed, and a charger.
Don’t know what a flatbed is?
A flatbed is a long area or structure connected to a truck used to carry heavy machinery, scrap metal, building materials, and vehicles for shipping and transport. A flatbed is the only chance you can have at towing your EV. If you use a rope, it could impact the systems and functioning of your car.
If road assistance doesn’t have a portable charger or only their chargers for immediate charging, they can send your car to the nearest charging spot. If you have a charger at home, they can bring it straight to your house.
- Get someone to tow your car. If worse comes to worst and you opt to risk the mechanism in your vehicle, then you can call a friend to tow your car the traditional way. However, experts do not recommend this for your EV.
If you don’t have access to roadside assistance, you can call a towing company. Just make sure you contact one with the needed equipment to tow an electric car. Some towing companies prepared to pull EVs equip themselves with zero-degree beds to holster electric and hybrid vehicles without messing up with their systems
As you know, electric cars are lower to the ground than regular vehicles, and they can be difficult to tow because of low ground clearance. Ensure that you hire a company experienced in towing electric cars.
- Look for a mobile charger. The only way you can get yourself a mobile charger in the middle of nowhere is to hire a company. Towing companies equipped with EV towing trucks will have portable chargers where you can charge up just enough that you can get back on the road to find a charging station.
If you don’t have your own charger at home, this is a suitable option. Towing companies can briefly charge your car so you can travel and find a charging spot. You can also ask them to bring your vehicle to the nearest charging stations if that’s what you prefer.
Ultimately, you can never escape this EV car situation without calling for rescue. An essential matter to remember here is always to have the contact numbers of road assistance and towing companies at hand.
5 Tips To Maintain Your EV Chargers
Charging your car is hugely convenient if you have an at-home EV charger. You can power your vehicle up anytime you want. Sometimes, you might try to test the limits of your battery until it drains up, knowing you have easy access to a charger.
However, you never only rely on your home charger without doing your part. EV chargers determine the life of your battery, so it’s a must that you maintain them. You must be cautious of how frequently you use it, affecting its efficiency.
Here are tips you can follow to ensure the longevity of your Ev charger.
- Use recommended outlets. Purchasing your Ev charger, you must already know its basics. Your car’s charger has standard requirements one needs to follow for its proper operation. You want to make sure your outlet is compatible and that your charger is in safe and favorable condition using your electrical service.
If you don’t have the slightest idea of how to set up and provide the needed components for your home charger, you can hire an installation service. This service will also give you sufficient information on the requirements of your charger type.
- Notice malfunction indicators. Part of caring for your charger is noticing signs of malfunction. Does your charger have visible external damage? Does it have low voltage? Does it charge slowly? Ask yourself these questions as you try your hand at inspecting your EV charger.
Whatever type of charger you have, they work on corresponding voltage levels. For example, an L1 charger will work at 120V. It should take a supply of 1.4 kW. As for L2 chargers, they operate at 240V, giving 6.2 to 7.6 kW. Finally, L3 chargers use DC fast charging power, supplying between 50-350 kW.
If your charger runs slow, it could be due to low voltage. Another factor that can impact its charging speed is the weather. You also want to look into any physical damage that may have affected its function. In any case, it’s best to hire a service to repair your charger.
- Protect chargers from external factors. The weather is one factor contributing to your EV charger’s low efficiency. You may have located your charging station considering favorable conditions, but you can never tell the severity of weather changes nowadays, still affecting your charger.
Other external factors can also hinder the efficient function of your charger. What you can do is ensure that your charger’s location is free from anything that can damage the equipment. If you have a garage, it would be the best place to house your charging station.
- Pay attention to scheduled services. If you have paid to schedule your EV charger for regular maintenance, you must pay close attention to its frequency. How often should you service your EV charger? While there is no single definite answer to this, you should consider your charger type and consult your service provider.
- Hire a professional. Know when to call a professional. You should pat yourself for making such a great effort to keep your Ev charger in good shape. However, you should also be able to tell when you need the help of a professional.
Professional maintenance services will know how to deal with whatever charger type. Make sure to hire an authorized company to get reliable results for your equipment. One trusted electrical company is La Habra Electrical Service, which provides different EV charger services.
We hope you find our tips helpful. For more useful advice on how to lengthen your EV charger’s life, check out more of our blogs. If you currently need service, please don’t hesitate to call La Habra Electrical Service.