Vehicle charging questions?

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1 Vehicle charging questions? We have answers.

2 You can charge at home or around Madison Hybrid and electric vehicles offer many advantages including reduced gasoline use, air emissions and operating expenses. They use an energy source you ve been using all your life, electricity. Use this guide to learn more about charging your car. Can I charge my vehicle at home? Yes, most people do their charging at home. You have the following options: Level 1 charging Use a standard 120-volt outlet and the adapter provided with the vehicle. Auto manufacturers do not recommend using an offthe-shelf cord set. This may void your warranty. Level 2 charging Install a home charging system connected to a 240-volt outlet. Level 2 charging is faster. You may need to make upgrades in your home to accommodate Level 2 charging. Check with an electrician to determine if your home is ready. How do I install a Level 2 charging system at my home? Auto manufacturers can provide information on home charging systems that are compatible with your vehicle and may have a list of qualified electrical installers. Make sure the electrician is licensed and insured and that you get any necessary permits. Visit to find brands of at-home charging equipment. If you live in an apartment or condominium complex, please talk with your landlord or property management company regarding options for charging systems. How much does a home charging system cost? Installation and equipment costs can range from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the type of equipment installed and electrical work needed. An electrical contractor can provide an accurate estimate. How much does it cost to charge my vehicle at home? The maximum cost to charge a vehicle equals the battery capacity multiplied by MGE s per kilowatthour (kwh) electricity rate. For example, the battery capacity of the Chevrolet Volt is 16 kwh and our electricity rate is 14.5 per kwh. The maximum charging cost is $2.32. Using a Level 1 or Level 2 charger only changes the amount of time it takes to charge the car, not the charging cost. Does it cost less to charge my vehicle at night? You may be able to program your car to charge during off-peak hours, primarily at night, when the demand for energy is lower. However, you must be enrolled in your electric utility s time-of-use rate plan to take advantage of lower off-peak prices. Off-peak hours vary by rate plan. Keep in mind that you also pay more for electricity used during on-peak hours. The more energy you shift to off-peak use (not just vehicle charging), the more money you save. For information on MGE s time-of-use rates, visit mge.com/tou or call our Home Energy Line at (608) Time-of-use rates Monday - Friday Higher Price (on-peak 1&3) Highest Price (on-peak 2) Weekends & Holidays Lowest Price (off-peak) Panel 1 Panel 2

3 How long does it take to charge? Vehicle Charging Time* Voltage Plug-in Hybrid Electric Battery Electric Cost of Charging Equipment Level 1 charging 120 volts 6-8 hours 21 hours $10 to $1,000 Level 2 charging 240 volts 3-4 hours 4-7 hours $2,000 to $5,000 *From fully depleted battery. For more information about home charging systems, ask your dealer. MGE can help you with questions about installation and electrical contractors. Panel 3

4 Are there public charging stations in the Madison area? MGE has a network of 26 charging stations through-out the Madison area. Each charging station offers Levels 1 and 2 charging. You can find specific stations and see if they are currently in use at www. chargepoint.net/find-stations. php. ChargePoint also offers a mobile app for your smart phone. How much does it cost to use a public station? Charging your vehicle at an MGE public station is free for now. There will be a cost in the future. MGE, as part of its Electric Vehicle Charging Research, is evaluating different cost options. How do I get access to MGE s public charging stations? To get access, either: Contact MGE s Home Energy Line at (608) to request a ChargePoint card, or Visit to sign up for an account and get a card. Are there charging stations that are accessible to drivers with disabilities? Yes, please see MGE s charging station map for ADA-compliant stations. Only vehicles with the proper disabled parking permits are allowed to park in the designated stalls. At mge.com/evcharging you ll find the address information for all of the EV charging stations in the MGE network. Panel 4

5 Electric vehicles and Green Power Our public charging stations are powered by green power. Would you like to make sure the electricity you use at home to charge your vehicle comes from the wind and sun? You can buy green power from MGE. Just visit mge.com/greenpower. We re ready to help We re here to help you with charging questions. If you plan to install Level 2 charging please contact us. We need to make sure our system is ready to serve your additional electricity needs. Just call our Home Energy Line at For more information about charging, visit mge.com/ev. Drive: change GS /01/2013 Panel 5