Can you charge an electric car without a charging station?

Introduction

There are two major concerns of any EV owner that are interlinked – range anxiety and charging locations. Range anxiety is a well-known aspect of zero-emission vehicle ownership, and very often, you are unsure of the exact range due to various circumstances like temperature, driving dynamics, or simple loss of battery charge. However, even though they are more and more common throughout Europe, charging stations are still not as frequent as gas stations. This causes concerns amongst the early adopters of the EV segment and undoubtedly raises another question – can I charge my vehicle without the charging station? The short answer is yes. But read through and find out where exactly you can do it. Today, we will cover some less-known charging locations and methods other than public chargers, malls, and charging stations.

Home Charging

Of course, the most logical location is the home charger, which is convenient but not the fastest way to charge your EV. You can plug your electric vehicle into a standard 120-volt household outlet using the car's charging cable. However, charging with a 120-volt outlet is very slow, often providing only 2-5 miles of range per hour of charging. This is suitable for overnight charging or if you don't need to drive far. The home charging is known as Level 1 due to the fact it is the slowest available. But, if you own a set of Voldt charging cables, you might experience better charging times at home. Our products are made of the best materials with the lowest resistance, which means they transfer the most energy in any condition.

240-Volt Outlet

Some commercial facilities have 240-volt outlets that can be used for charging EVs. This way is known as Level 2 charging; you will need a Level 2 adapter and charging cables. Luckily, we at Voldt have a range of Level 2 accessories for any electric vehicle currently on sale. This method charges much faster than a standard outlet, typically providing about 10-30 miles of range per hour. If you use Voldt equipment, the result could be even better since our gear is made of top-quality materials ensuring lossless energy transfer.

Portable Solar Panels

The idea behind this charging method is excellent, but its real-life usability is a bit disappointing. Yes, you can make electricity from solar panels, but it might not be enough to charge your car sufficiently. However, the tests showed that if you put enough solar panels and leave them a whole day to collect the energy, it can be turned into electricity to power your vehicle. On average, one solar panel can produce from 250 to 400 watts of electricity daily. If you have 10 of those, you can produce up to 40 kWh, which is about half of the capacity of the standard EV. Not much, but enough to get you going and take you to the nearest charging station.

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Petrol Or Diesel Generator

There is a good reason why recovery services use generators to help stranded drivers of electric vehicles when their battery charge drops to 0. The petrol or diesel-powered generators are compact in size, perfect for use in remote areas, and can deliver up to 10 kWh of power. They will not charge your vehicle instantly, but in a matter of hours, generators can provide enough power for you to continue your journey. The only downside is that they are not long-term solutions and are not environmentally friendly since they use fossil fuels.

Camping Sites and RV Parks

Many camping sites or RV parks have 240-volt outlets since camping trailers and recreational vehicles use that kind of charge. If you have access to those kinds of locations, they can be almost ideal sources of electricity since the standard 240-volt outlet can provide about 10-30 miles of range per hour. That is more than enough to get you going, and the only thing you need is proper adapters and charging cables. Of course, we at Voldt have what you need.

What You Need To Know Before Charging Your EV At Alternative Locations

First, you should know that none of those methods will provide you with full charge like the charging station with fast charging capabilities will do. Some techniques like solar panels or home charging will need a long time (hours) to charge any noticeable amount. On the other hand, generators will do that relatively quickly, but they are not around that often. Regardless of your chosen method, the charging cables and adapters will play a significant role. In moments when every watt of electricity is valuable, you don't want unreliable cables that get overheated and are not good at conducting electricity. You need top-notch, dependable products that will transfer every bit of electricity to your vehicle, remain cool, and be easy to use. That is why the Voldt charging cables and adapters are the best choice for any EV owner.