Charing on the Road
A number of charging options are already available on the road, and more will become available as market demand for PEVs grows and the charging infrastructure is developed.
Not all charging stations are alike or compatible with your EV’s charging specifications. PWP recommends that you check your vehicle specifications for charging station compatibility before plugging in.
Public Charging Stations in Pasadena
Southern California Charging Stations (Maintained by SoCalEV.org)
Nationwide Charging Stations (Maintained by PEV owners and enthusiasts. PWP cannot verify its accuracy.)
Charging At Home
Plug-In PEV Home Charging Devices -- Plug-in electric vehicles can be charged at your home in either a 120 volt outlet or a 240 volt outlet, depending on which charging device(s) your PEV uses.
120v "LEVEL 1" Charge: A 120 volt “trickle charge cable” comes standard with most electric vehicles. It looks like a typical three-pronged electric cord and plugs directly into a regular household outlet. To avoid circuit overload from other electrical equipment, you should charge your vehicle at a dedicated outlet (more in next section).
As the name implies, the trickle charge cable charges slowly, taking 12-16 hours to fully charge a PEV. For that reason, PEV manufacturers usually recommend upgrading to a 240 volt “home charging station” and using the trickle charge cable only for emergency or “opportunity” charging.
240v "LEVEL 2" Charge: For faster charging (4-8 hours for a full charge), you will need to install a “home charging station” that is hard-wired or plugs into a 240v dedicated outlet. A 240v outlet is the kind you would use for larger appliances like a clothes dryer. To avoid circuit overload from other electrical equipment, you should charge your vehicle in a dedicated outlet (more in next section).
Your PEV vehicle manufacturer/dealer will usually offer the optional charging station and/or installation for an additional charge. Alternatively you can purchase a charging station from a third party and hire a licensed electrician to permanently install the charging equipment and a 240v dedicated circuit.
Dedicated Circuit for PEV Charging -- Whether you charge your PEV in a 120v outlet or a 240v outlet, it’s important that the outlet is on a “dedicated circuit.” A PEV charger draws a lot of electricity from the circuit, so the circuit should not be shared with other electronics or appliances. Overloading a circuit with multiple electronic devices will cause the circuit breaker to trip or open.
You can use a multimeter to test if your outlet is on a dedicated circuit, but PWP recommends scheduling a full evaluation of your home’s electrical system by a licensed electrician before charging your PEV. An electrician will be able to tell you if the outlet is on a dedicated circuit and, if not, what is required to install one.
He or she will also assess your whole house electric service capacity to determine if you need a service panel upgrade to charge your PEV (more in next section).
Service Panel Upgrade -- Every house is wired with a specific electric service capacity, or load capacity, which is the total amount of electricity (amps) a house can draw at one time from utility service lines. Homes with fewer or more efficient appliances and homes that conserve electricity may be wired for a smaller load capacity. Homes that use more electrical equipment (kitchen and laundry appliances, entertainment centers, air conditioning, computers, pool pumps, small electronics, etc.) need to be wired for a greater load capacity.
Generally speaking, smaller or older houses may have a 100 amp capacity, renovated or new homes may have a 200 amp capacity; and large homes may have 400 amp capacity.
It is crucial to know the exact load capacity of your home. The additional load from PEV charging may exceed your home’s load capacity. Overloading your whole house circuit will cause a power outage in your home.
A licensed electrician can assess your home’s load capacity and whether charging your PEV will require a service panel upgrade to handle the additional load. If your house does require more capacity, you or your electrician will need to contact PWP to request an electric service upgrade. Call PWP's Utility Service Planning Unit at (626) 744-4495.
NOTE: If you upgrade your service panel and live within a City Council-designated undergrounding district, you will be required to convert your existing overhead electric service to an underground service. PWP’s Utility Service Planning unit will advise you if this situation applies.
Charge Right: At Night! -- Electricity use peaks in the late afternoon/early evening, putting stress on the local and statewide electricity grid. Since the rolling blackouts in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, people have become more conscientious about using energy-intensive appliances during "off-peak" hours (late evening, night and early morning), which helps prevent grid overload and power outages.
PWP encourages PEV owners to charge their vehicles overnight, when there is less demand on the grid. Charging at night will help PWP to better manage power delivery and keep utility costs down. For a limited time, PEV owners in Pasadena have the option to switch to experimental time-of-use electric rates for PEV owners, which offer lower rates during off peak hours.