Recent Questions

9 votes
NEMA 14-50 vs 6-50 for my new EV outlet — which one and why?
We just moved into a new build outside Austin (Manor) back in June, and the garage was stubbed for a 240V circuit but nothing ever got landed — the builder l...
meerakay meerakay_2
14
answers
12 votes
Every gas station near me seems to be adding DC fast chargers now — curious whether that business case genuinely holds up
I'm on the road most of the day for delivery and rideshare gigs, so I clock a lot of miles past gas stations, and lately I keep noticing the same thing: a Sh...
hazypilot hazypilot_2
13
answers
7 votes
Landlord said no to formalizing my charging setup — what got a landlord's first no turned around for other renters?
Three years in the same building outside Rochester, upstairs unit, assigned spot in the side lot about sixty feet from the electrical room. When I first aske...
misty_waffle misty_waffle_2
12
answers
9 votes
Two cars, one garage outlet — is there any safe way to charge both PHEVs at once on 120V?
My Bolt has been on the same outdoor L1 setup for about three years now, no complaints, I've got my routine down. My spouse just picked up a Prius Prime last...
duskbutton duskbutton_2
14
answers
5 votes
Do I actually need a Level 2 charger at home?
Just got my first EV and I’m still figuring out charging. I only drive around 30–40 miles most days. Would plugging into a regular 120V outlet overnight be e...
solar_range_3881 solar_range_3881_2
4
answers
4 votes
NEMA 14-50 vs 6-50 for the Ioniq 5 — is skipping the neutral actually smart or just cheap
Ioniq 5 shows up in three weeks and I'm finally scheduling the electrical work for my Boston condo's parking spot (I have a dedicated garage stall, thankfull...
granthamj granthamj_2
13
answers
7 votes
First EV, first home charging setup, and I don't know where to start
Picked up my first EV two weeks ago (a used Bolt, new to me) and I'm now the proud owner of a driveway extension cord setup that is very obviously not going ...
copperfog copperfog_2
13
answers
4 votes
Been on Level 1 in a Seattle apartment since spring — wondering if I'm about to hit a wall I haven't seen yet
Renting on Capitol Hill in Seattle, no garage, but I got lucky — the building's off-street lot has a regular 120V outlet close enough to my usual spot that I...
wrenlee_k wrenlee_k_2
13
answers
7 votes
Does charging in an unheated garage through winter actually hurt the battery long term?
Hi My garage is attached but completely unheated — it sat around -8C most of last winter and the car lives in there overnight. I charge to 80% on a Level 2 u...
111solar_rush_o13210f 111solar_rush_o13210f_2
answers
10 votes
Anyone regret going with a NEMA 14-50 instead of hardwiring?
Electrician quoted me almost double for a hardwired setup vs just running a NEMA 14-50 outlet and using the mobile connector that came with the car. Charges ...
gravelfox88 gravelfox88_2
answers
10 votes
Does charging an EV to 100% every night actually hurt the battery if I don’t drive much?
I’m still pretty new to EV ownership and I keep seeing conflicting advice about daily charging. Most days I only use around 15–25% of my battery, so technica...
111solar_rush_o13210f 111solar_rush_o13210f_2
answers
9 votes
Airbnb host said "yes to EV charging" — I show up and it's a 120V garage outlet. Am I still OK?
We booked a place outside Terlingua for three nights so we could actually enjoy Big Bend instead of driving in and out from Alpine every day — my husband, ou...
meerakay meerakay_2
16
answers
12 votes
Bought a "smart splitter" for two EVs on one 240V — is this a real product category or a rip-off?
Lightning's been our daily driver for almost a year now and my wife just picked up an EV6 last month, so all of a sudden we're a two-EV household with one 24...
dutch_b74 dutch_b74_2
12
answers
8 votes
Portable as road-trip backup — does anyone else keep one permanently in the frunk?
My wife thinks I'm nuts. I keep a 10-pound portable Level 2 charger and a NEMA 14-50 adapter in the frunk at all times, even on trips where we're basically d...
hutchrides hutchrides_2
14
answers
15 votes
Can I still charge in a subsurface garage if my fire marshal banned Level 2 hardware?
So I manage commercial properties for a living but apparently that doesn't help me understand my own building's rules. Property management just sent a notice...
paperiguana paperiguana_2
17
answers
8 votes
First public DC fast charger next week — what do I actually need to set up before I even leave the driveway?
ok so I've had the car a few months and the home charger has been fine, I get it now. but next week is the first trip where I actually need a fast charger on...
lunarcrate lunarcrate_2
15
answers
12 votes
Charger keeps tripping the GFCI on damp mornings only — is that the outlet or the EVSE?
Started a few weeks ago and only happens when it's humid or right after rain. Plugged into a NEMA 14-50 in the garage, cord and plug look fine, no visible co...
111solar_rush_o13210f 111solar_rush_o13210f_2
answers
8 votes
My electrician quoted a subpanel + NEMA 14-50 — do I still need a wall-mounted charger on top?
Getting the panel work done regardless — main panel's maxed out and a subpanel's happening either way for other stuff in the garage, not just the car. Electr...
duskbutton duskbutton_2
16
answers
9 votes
Renting in inner Melbourne, no assigned car space — is 5m long enough for the street pole charger near my building, or do I need 7m?
Six months into owning this car and I still don't have anywhere to plug in at home — no assigned space, and the building's got zero interest in doing anythin...
kelso_j kelso_j_2
6
answers
6 votes
Picked up a near-new Atto 2 for $32K — what granny charger + cable combo should I actually run?
Picked this up secondhand through a dealer up here in Newcastle, low kays, still basically smells new inside. $32K all up, which felt like a proper deal for ...
gregolas gregolas_2
7
answers
8 votes
Portable charging cord vs. wall-mounted station — when does portable actually win in 2026?
Renting in Seattle, no assigned parking, Model 3 currently living on public DC fast charging and whatever L2 I can find nearby. Been tracking cost per mile i...
wrenlee_k wrenlee_k_2
21
answers
13 votes
My in-laws' lakeside cabins keep getting asked about EV charging — Level 2 chargers, or just list it as bring-your-own-cord on PlugShare?
My husband's aunt and uncle run a small lakeside property outside Austin, eight cabins, mostly weekend and week-long bookings. They've started getting bookin...
meerakay meerakay_2
20
answers
3 votes
Second-floor apartment — thinking of dropping a cord out the window to the parking lot. Insane?
Studio, second floor, my Mach-E parks in the spot directly below my window in the lot, which honestly feels like it was made for this. I'd need about 40 feet...
misty_waffle misty_waffle_2
11
answers
11 votes
BYD Atto 3 and a Model 3 off the same single-phase circuit, only 10A GPOs in the garage — heading for an RCD trip?
My partner's Model 3 has been our only EV until last month, charging fine off a granny charger on one of the two 10A GPOs in our garage. Now I've picked up a...
bazza_w bazza_w_2
9
answers