So you bought your first EV – now what?

What do I need to know about long road trips?

• Find Chargers
• Improvements to Oregon’s West Coast Electric Highway
• Rivian is creating EV charging network in the wilderness
• Find Chargers with Google Maps
• “On Demand Charging is Here”
• Top Picks for Charging Away from Home

Home Charging

• Home EV Chargers
• Things to consider about installing a home charger.
• What might a home charger cost?
• I can’t park close to the socket. Can I use an extension cord?
  Not recommended, but you can – if you keep a few things in mind.
  * Keep the cord as short as possible, only as long as you need.
  * Use a heavy duty appliance extension cord. These are thicker and heat up less. They cost a little more ($20 for that one).
  * As you are charging, check on the temperature of the extension cord. If it is getting warm, you should stop. Often it is best to charge on a night when it is cooler.
  * Make sure you plug into a grounded outlet that has a reset button.
  * Charging rate is slow: You get about 4 miles of charge per hour.

Maintenance

• How can I maintain my EV?
• Tesla releases service manuals, diagnostic tools, and more – free!
• How can I maintain the health of my EV battery?
  * It’s best to stay between 20% and 80% charge.
  * Minimize the use of level 3 fast chargers.
  * Park your car in the shade in the summer.
  * For more details, check out this short article: 8 lessons about EV battery health from 6,300 electric cars