How To Make Your Home Electric Vehicle Ready
Improving your electrical infrastructure can be overwhelming, but these tips cover the essentials to help guide you every step of the way.
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Buying an electric vehicle (EV) is an admirable decision to reduce your carbon footprint and help minimize air pollution. However, your house should be as ready as you are to transition. Follow these six tips to learn how to check and ensure your property’s EV readiness before driving one home.
1. Determine The Charger Type You Need
So far, there are three EV charger types — Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The Level 1 charger is the one you plug into an ordinary 120-volt outlet, so it’s already compatible with your home’s existing electrical wiring. You also don’t need to buy it separately because it comes with your car purchase.
Level 1 charging provides up to 5 miles of range per hour. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough to charge a plug-in hybrid EV with a small battery overnight.
The Level 2 charger requires a 240-volt outlet, so you must have heavy-duty wiring and provide it with a dedicated circuit. It adds up to 30 miles to your car’s driving range per hour of charge. This charging is fast and capable of topping up an average battery EV in as fast as three hours from empty to full. Upgrading to a Level 2 charger may be unnecessary if you drive short distances regularly or hardly use your car.
The Level 3 charger is the fastest. It converts the alternating current power from the grid into direct current, speeding up the charging process. Level 3 charging requires a 480-volt outlet, making it the gold standard of public EV charging. The problem is some Level 3 chargers are incompatible with zero-emission vehicles, which is why their Level 2 chargers are the most common.
2. Decide On Your Charging Station’s Location
Where do you plan to charge your EV? In your garage? Driveway? The side of your house? Curbside? The easiest way to answer this question is to locate your existing electrical outlets.
If you prefer the Level 1 charging, you’ll need to ensure your electric plugs have three prongs and are waterproof if the elements can reach them. The length of charger cables starts at 18 feet, but you can find products going over 20 feet if you need something longer.
Consider building a short pole in your yard if you can only park your EV on the street or have no outdoor electric plug. Run the electrical wire underground to your property’s edge and voila — you have a street charging station.
Alternatively, consider wireless charging. Going plugless can give you more flexibility when you have an awkward parking space. Wireless EV chargers are Level 2, so they’re fast and need a 240-volt outlet to power their base system. They aren’t as universal as corded ones yet, so find out whether plugless charging is an option based on your prospective green car.
3. Check Your Home’s Electrical Capacity
If you want at least Level 2 charging, a 100-amperage electrical panel may do. A low-capacity box can handle a Level 2 EV charger if your home draws little electricity from it. Ensure it has an empty circuit breaker, though; otherwise, you must upgrade to a 200-amp panel to have more slots for additional circuits.
Retrofitting a 200-amp to your home can be costly. However, it’s an essential expense to ready your home for the future. Moreover, ensure your charging station has a 240-volt outlet — converting 120-volt into 240-volt involves extensive rewiring.
4. Compare EV Chargers
EV chargers come at various price points. Some are no-frills, while others can do more than the basics such as wireless and smart charging. Some even offer bidirectional charging, transforming EVs into valuable energy storage resources. Scrutinize every product’s features to see which one suits your lifestyle.
A model with all the bells and whistles can fetch top dollar. Still, it may be worth the extra if you’re big on remote monitoring and control, electricity tracking, and other advanced capabilities.
5. Hire A Reputable Electrician
Electrical work is delicate. Without proper training, updating your outdated system and installing an earth ground fault device can result in electrocution or start a fire. Leave the job to a certified professional to ensure faultless work and pass any building inspection.
Request estimates from various electricians to test the market. The lowest bidders may be inexperienced, while seasoned ones reasonably charge more. Vet your candidates carefully to avoid overpaying for electrical work.
Dishonest electricians may offer to replace your 100-amp box with a 200-amp one — even if you have enough room for a breaker — and bundle the service with 240-volt outlet conversion. This proposal is a rip-off since the electrical panel upgrade will considerably inflate the job’s cost.
Furthermore, sketchy pros may recommend hardwiring your EV charger even if you can easily plug it into an outlet. Connecting your charging station to the panel is suitable when you need it outdoors. Otherwise, taking this route may be overkill and can increase your final bill because of its added complexity and more expensive permit.
Regarding contracts, read the fine print to determine who secures and pays for the necessary permit. Dishonorable journeyman electricians may say they can pull permits, while shady master electricians may claim to cover its fee and exclude it from the contract.
Reputable electricians are confident in providing verifiable copies of their state licenses, proof of insurance, sufficient coverage and references. They explain the logic behind their service offer and mean what they say, so their contract reflects your verbal agreement.
6. Consider Various Financing Options
Buying any car can be a significant expense, but purchasing an EV involves additional costs because you may have to update your home’s electrical infrastructure. Fortunately, auto-loan lenders have become more accommodating to aspiring EV owners.
EV financing has its own set of restrictions. However, you can find lenders willing to extend more credit and roll the Level 2 charger installation’s cost into the loan. Many can already factor any incentives you qualify for into the contract.
Considering the various concessions available when you take out an EV loan, talk to as many lenders as possible. Let them fight over you. Compare their offers and snag the most favorable deal on the table.
Home EV charging station installation has come a long way, so doing it now involves fewer uncertainties and more rewards. Improving your electrical infrastructure can be overwhelming, but these tips cover the essentials to help guide you every step of the way.
Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated, and has been writing in the home living industry for over five years. Her work has been featured on The National Association of Realtors, the American Society of Home Inspectors and other reputable publications.
