Using a three prong outlet

Electric cars can be charged using a regular 3-prong outlet at home! If you plug them in when you’re home for the evening and let them charge, your car will be ready to go in the morning.  

80% of Coloradans drive less than 30 miles per day. If that’s you, charging overnight with a regular outlet will meet your daily driving needs.  

If you don’t have a way to charge at home, read on for additional tips.

Installing an EV charger at home

If you drive more than 30 miles most days, you may want to consider installing a more powerful electric car charger at home. These are called “Level 2” chargers. Common chargers include: Juicebox 48, ChargePoint Home Flex, and ClipperCreek LCS-30P.  

You’ll need to hire an electrician to install the charger. You should get 2-3 quotes from local electricians. Click here to find qualified electricians near you.  

Charging without an outdoor outlet at home

If you live in a home without easy access to an electrical outlet, there is a growing network of public charging (see next section).

If you live in an apartment/condo complex, or similarly managed area, we also highly recommend contacting your property owner and/or Homeowners Association (HOA) to ask that they consider adding charging capability on-site.  You can connect property owners and HOA boards to Drive Electric Colorado for free coaching and financial resources to help property owners install EV chargers for residents.

Most new electric cars can run over 200 miles on a single charge, meaning you can run errands, commute to work or school, or drive to your favorite trailhead for a hike. And here’s another bonus: since you can plug in and charge at home, there’s no need for an additional trip to the gas station.  

Whether you’re considering switching to an EV for cleaner air, a quieter and more exciting driving experience, or simply because of all the new financial incentives, you can check out this resource from PlugStar to find the electric car that’s right for you.  

Incentives are available for both new and used EVs! These include point-of-sale discounts, rebates, tax incentives, and car trade-in programs. Colorado Public Radio (CPR) recently released an article summarizing the discount programs available to Coloradans. PlugStar also has a tool to help you navigate available tax credits. 

Saving money with EVs doesn’t stop once you’ve made the purchase. Electricity is cheaper than gas for each mile driven, and you’ll never have to pay for or schedule an oil change again!