Installing Home Charger for your Wrangler 4XE

Owning an electric vehicle (EV) is beneficial because you don't have to stop at the gas station to fill up unless you're taking a longer trip. With a home charger, you can fill up your electric vehicle every night right at home. With the 2021 Jeep Wrangler, you can enjoy the perks of an electric vehicle. Here are some Wrangler charging tips to keep you informed.

EV Charging 101

It's important to understand that the charger isn't actually the thing on the wall that you plug your Jeep into. The charger is built into the Jeep.

You will have a box with lights, a long cord, and a connector plug that you install in your garage or hang on a wall. This apparatus is technically called the electric vehicle supply equipment or EVSE, but most people call it a car home charging station or an EV charger.

The EVSE controls the charging current and makes sure the batteries don't overheat. It's equipped to shut down the charger in case there is an electrical short, power surge, or other problem. You can consider it as a safety and communications device.

Your home equipment has two different levels of power that let you determine the speed of charging. Level 1 EV charging equipment delivers a slow level of charging power to your Jeep. It uses the standard household outlet current at 110 or 120 volts. Level 2 EV is a bit higher and charges at a power level of 220 to 240 volts.

When you get your Wrangler, it will come with a Level 1 EV charging cord as standard equipment. For obvious safety reasons, you should not use any extension cord with a Level 1 EV cord. The Level 1 EV charging cord sets are portable, meaning you can plug them into any wall outlet. The amount of charge you get per hour is 2 or 3 miles of driving range. So, you will need several hours to go much distance.

Level 2 charging has a speedier charging ability. The higher voltage and amperage ensure that you can get more miles per hour. However, you will need an upgrade in equipment and added wiring in the garage to handle the extra electrons and heat from the system.

Level 2 EVSE charging equipment will be an upgrade in cost, but you reap the benefits of a quicker charging unit. In fact, you save on your electricity because you won't be charging as long.

Stop by Orleans Dodge to check out a new electric Wrangler today.