Guide to EV Charging Stations in VA

Here in the state of Virginia, we're very fortunate to have a wide availability of EV charging stations available to the public! EV charging stations are becoming more and more widespread each year, and you can always be sure to find a multitude of chargers clustered around major cities, and populated areas. This means for those living in and around Richmond, you're in luck! You'll find a total of 128 stations in the Richmond area, most of which are loosely gathered around US-250. This makes it easy to hop off the highway, and find a place to charge up along your journey! Of the charging stations available in Richmond, 96 of them are Level II stations, and the remaining 32 are Level III, which have a higher voltage, and provide faster charging for compatible vehicles.

If you've never driven an EV before, you might be wondering what it looks like to charge your vehicle at a public charging station. You'll find that it's actually quite similar to filling your car with gas! In fact, the charging ports of most EVs are designed to look and function exactly like a typical gas-powered car. To charge your EV, simply locate your nearest charging station, and pull up to an empty spot. Then, you'll insert the cable into your charging port, just like you would when filling your car with gas. However, make sure to listen for a click to ensure the cable is fully plugged in. Your car will communicate with the charging station to let it know the initial SOC, or state of charge, which then tells the charger how much electricity to deliver to the vehicle. Your car will charge slowly at first, then reach peak speed up until about 80%. Then, it will begin to slow down again until the battery is full. Just like a gas station, you can pay for your charge right there at the port with a credit or debit card.

As we all probably know, driving an EV is a great way for us all to reduce our carbon footprint, and strive for a greener planet. However, aside from the environmental benefits, EVs also offer a major financial benefit! According to Dominion Energy, paying for gas can be anywhere from three to five times more expensive than charging an EV! Your electric charge is measured in kilowatt-hours, and the US Energy Information Administration estimates that the average household in the United States pays about 15 cents per kWh. You'll be surprised how much you'll save every time you charge up your car, and those savings will really add up over time! Plus, electric rates can fluctuate throughout the day, so you can also opt to charge your EV overnight, which might optimize your spending even more.

Are you ready to make the switch from gas to electric power? If so, Pearson Auto Group is here to help you every step of the way! At our dealerships in Richmond, Virginia, you can find vehicles of all makes and models, with tons of EV and PHEV options. For example, there's the Hyundai Ioniq, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe, the Toyota Rav4 PHEV, and many more! Our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff will e more than happy to help you find the perfect EV for your lifestyle, and they can set you up with a test drive of all your favorite models. Plus, you can get started by researching new inventory right here on our website. From all of us here at Pearson Auto Group, we look forward to working with you soon!