Electrical Car Charging Station Installations in Olympia, WA

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular, especially with all their interesting new features. One thing holding consumers back, however, is the lack of convenient, operational charging stations. Charging stations can be difficult to find, have long lines, or have several ones that don’t function properly. 

One easy solution to this problem is installing an electric car charging station at home. A home charging station allows you to charge your car overnight so that in the morning, you have enough charge to get wherever you need to go. 

Black Hills is the company you can trust for professional EV charging station installations in Olympia and Thurston County, Washington. 

Our EV Charging Station Installation Services

The first step in an EV charging station installation is evaluating your property, car specifications, budget, and electrical system to determine the best location and power requirements for your car. 

We’ll discuss the different tiers of charging stations and how long your car needs to reach a certain level of charge. We’ll also help you determine the best location for your charging station. 

Your electrical system will need to have the power capacity to handle a heavy power draw. If you are too close to your maximum power draw, we can look at what it would cost to upgrade your electrical panel. 

Tiers of EV Charging Stations

There are three main levels of EV charging stations. 

• Level 1 EV Charger: A Level 1 charger provides between 1kW and 1.8kW of power through a standard 120-volt AC outlet (your standard three-prong outlet in your home). One hour of charging will give you approximately two to four miles of range, depending on your car’s efficiency. A Level 1 charger is the slowest charging level, though it will give you enough range to drive around 20 miles or so each day. 
• Level 2 EV Charger: The next level operates at 240 volts and typically has three to four times the amperage of Level 1. As a result, most Level 2 chargers can charge six to eight times faster than a Level 1, which equates to 12 to 32 miles of driving range for each hour your car charges. The actual charging rate of a Level 2 charge will depend on what your car can handle. Level 2 is often the correct choice for most EV owners. 
• Level 3 EV Charger: The fastest charge, a Level 3 or DC Fast-Charger, is particularly useful for charging quickly when you don’t have much time to let your car charge. Depending on your car’s capabilities, a Level 3 can add 100 to 250 miles of range in a mere 30 to 45 minutes of charging time. Many cars require special plugins or adaptors to use a DC Fast-Charger. 

The actual charge rate times of EVs often depend on the state of the battery. To prevent overheating, it may take as much time to charge from 80 to 100 percent as it does to charge from ten to 80 percent. 

Did you know that there are a number of federal and local financial incentives for installing an efficient EV charging station, usually in the form of tax credits? We can direct you to some resources that can help defray the installation cost. 

We’ll help you choose the right charging tier for your home and vehicle so that you’re always charged up and ready to meet the day ahead!

Professional Installation

After our consultation, we’ll obtain the necessary permits to install an electric vehicle charging station. Our certified electricians know all the local codes and best electrical practices, and will expertly install your EV charging station. We use high-quality materials and equipment for long-lasting solutions. 

After installation, we’ll provide you with clear operational instructions on how to safely use your charging station. 

Choose Black Hills for professional, expert EV charging installations in Olympia, Thurston County, and the surrounding areas. We also offer flexible financing options so that you can spread the installation cost out over several months.