07/26/2023
Youāre thinking about buying an electric vehicle, but now thereās a more fundamental issue to deal with: What will it take, and how much will it cost, to set your home up for an EV?
Do I need to buy a charger before I get an electric vehicle?
Probably not. Almost all electric vehicles come with whatās called a Level 1 charger. These chargers plug directly into a standard outlet. Although they require minimal effort and money, they also charge a carās battery at a very slow rate. You might be able to add more miles of range with an overnight charge, but it will take more than a day to fully charge an empty battery. You also need to make sure that your homeās electrical system can handle the additional burden of charging a car on top of, say, running your air conditioning or using a microwave oven.
When you hear about installing an EV charger at a home, those conversations are mostly about Level 2 chargers. Because theyāre more powerful, consumers can quickly fill up their battery overnight and get dozens of miles of range added by plugging the car in for just one hour. Level 2 chargers require a dedicated line from your main panel, a much bigger different kind of plug and youāll need to call a licensed electrician to get one set up.
How do I know if my home can accommodate an electric vehicle?
First, the bad news: If you rely on street parking, your home probably canāt accommodate an EV. As long as youāve got a driveway, a garage or somewhere else to store your car, you can install an electric vehicle charger. However, some installations are more complicated than others.
In general, it is much easier and less expensive if your parking spot is close to your main electrical panel. The other potentially pricey dilemma for prospective EV owners is whether your homeās electrical system is equipped to handle the additional load of charging a car. A licensed electrician can help you answer that question.
How much does it cost to have an EV charger installed?
Installation costs vary widely, depending on a few factors and how complicated the job is.
If you have the main panel literally right next to where you want to park your car and youāre putting a charger in thatās just a few feet away, that type of installation by a licensed electrician might generally start at $500, but most installations end up costing more based on size and distance.
That total will balloon considerably if your old electrical panel and the amount of electricity that can be supplied to your house by the public utility needs upgrading.
An EV charging station is basically just a dedicated line of power, and in order to run a dedicated line, your panel has got to be able to support it.
If you need a full service upgrade, expect to pay an additional $3,500 to $4,000 on top of the cost of having the EV charger installed. Then, of course, thereās the cost of the charger itself. From there, the options are differentiated by size, charging speed, cord length and whether they connect to WiFi, among other features. Some have hoods or covers to protect them from snow, rain and ice. They can cost between a few hundred dollars and a few thousand dollars.
Is it worth it?
Donāt forget about your monthly electric bill, which is bound to increase. Still, once the upfront expenses of buying the car and installing the charger are behind you, the gas savings will quickly add up. Plus, electric vehicles have fewer maintenance costs than gas-powered ones because their batteries and motors need less attention, and you donāt have to worry about changing the oil.
Get more information about upgrading your service at: Panel-Upgrades.com
You Will Need to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel Every 40-50 Years. There Are Key Signs to Look Out For, That Will Tell You if Your Panel is Becoming Outdated.
