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Investing in an all-electric vehicle can be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your monthly bills. However, to ensure that your electric vehicle is always ready to go, it’s important to invest in a home charging system. We’ll go into more detail below about what these systems are so that you can be better informed on the subject.
Different Charging Levels
One of the biggest benefits of electric vehicles is that they can be successfully charged with a basic wall outlet. However, that’s not always the most convenient. One of the first things that you’ll need to know about home EV charging is their various charging levels.
Level 1 uses a standard 120-volt wall outlet. This is the simplest way to charge your vehicle, as you don’t have to invest in adding a more powerful outlet to your home. However, it’s important to note that this type of charging will provide you with only 4 to 5 miles of driving distance per hour of charge.
Level 2 charging uses a 240-volt outlet, which is similar to a standard household appliance like a stove. This offers much faster charging speed, providing 20 to 25 miles per charging hour. Many electric vehicle owners who use their vehicles regularly prefer having a Level 2 EV charging station installed at their homes for optimal convenience.
Level 3 charging for your electric vehicle uses DC fast charging and is predominantly available at public charging stations because of its high energy demand. Level 3 charging uses 480 volts of power, which most homes simply can’t accommodate.
An Electrical Panel Assessment is Necessary
Before you can have a Level 2 charger installed at your home, it’s vital to have your electrical panel box inspected by one of our electricians. They’ll look to see if your existing panel box has enough power to supply a 240-volt charger. If your panel box has less than 200 amps of power, then it will need to be upgraded. This is very common for older homes that were built before the 1980s, as they came with only 60 to 100 amps of power.
If your home needs a power upgrade, there are three changes that need to take place. The first will be upgrading the panel box to a new one that accepts the new power load. The second will be installing a dedicated electrical circuit for the new EV charging outlet. The third will be upgrading your existing household wiring to handle the large energy load.
Choosing an EV Charging Station Location
When you decide that it’s time to invest in a home EV charging station, it’s important to choose a location that’s convenient for you. Just because you have a garage doesn’t mean that it’s the perfect location for your EV charger. This holds especially true if you don’t regularly pull your car into your garage because you use it for storing other things.
Consider a location that will be the most convenient for you to access. For example, if you park in the driveway behind your garage, then having a charger that reaches the driveway without having to open up your garage is likely going to be the ideal option for you. However, if you habitually pull your car into your garage, then having your charger in your garage is likely to work best for you. Avoid any location where you have to pull the charging wire around other vehicles or landscaping features.
What Factors Influence the Installation Price?
It’s important to note that the price of installing an EV charging station at your home may vary tremendously from other homes across the nation. Indeed, there are many different factors that can influence the overall installation price of your new charger. Some of the most notable include local permitting costs, necessary upgrades to your existing electrical system, and the distance the charger will be from your home’s electrical panel box.
Keep in mind that the federal, state, and even some local governments are offering incentives to homeowners who invest in household EV charging stations. This is done in an effort to encourage more homeowners to invest in more eco-friendly vehicle choices. You can get a list of potential incentives that you qualify for on ChargePoint’s website.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
In this day and age, many homeowners try to save money by doing household projects themselves. While this can work for some things, it’s not recommended for home EV chargers. In fact, most municipalities will require that a licensed electrician apply for permitting to have this device installed. When it comes to your home’s electrical system, especially the larger 240-volt wiring, it’s best to leave the job to an experienced professional.
Key Items to Consider When Selecting Your Home Charging Station
When you start looking at prospective household EV charging stations, there are a few key things that you’ll need to look for. One key feature is a charging cord that’s at least 20 feet long. This will give you the flexibility of charging multiple electric cars from one location. Even better, you can still charge your car if you run into a problem and can’t pull it into your garage like normal.
Another key feature to look for is a safety certification. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL) certification showcases that the device has been independently tested for its functionality and safety. While you can definitely purchase a cheaper unit without one of these certifications, you need to realize that it may not meet the same safety standard. With an EV charging station being a big up-front investment, it only makes sense to invest in the system that is most likely to last.
A Note on Smart EV Charging Stations
When investing in an EV charging station for your home, there are many different options to choose from. One of the newer ones is a smart EV charging station. This type of charger has Wi-Fi connectivity so that you can control it conveniently from an app on your smartphone or tablet.
This conveniently gives you control over the functioning of your EV charging station without you having to physically be there. You can optimize cheaper charging by preprogramming your vehicle to be charged during the off-peak overnight hours. You can see the progress of your vehicle’s charging and even be notified when your car’s charging is complete.
These smart EV chargers will take care of updating their firmware and software regularly so that your charging station is in tip-top condition. Some of these smart EV chargers are even compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, so you can use features like voice control with the charging station.
Reliable EV Charging Station Service
MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric offers reliable EV charging station service for the Kansas City, KS community. We can assist with all your heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing needs.
Call our team at MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric today to schedule your next electrical service consultation.
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