Have you decided to buy an electric vehicle to avoid paying the high gas prices at the pump? If so, you may want to invest in a home charging station for your electric vehicle. It's the easiest way to make sure that your vehicle always has enough power to get to your destination and back home each day. Here are a few things to consider before you have one installed.
Consider Upgrading Your Home Electrical Service
Charging your electric vehicle is going to require making some changes to your home's electrical panel if you want it to work properly. That's because 100 AMP service isn't going to provide enough power to charge your vehicle quickly. You will need to upgrade to 200 AMP service at your home, which is a bit of an investment. However, you will end up with a brand new electrical panel, more circuits, and fewer blown fuses as a result.
Know The Basics About Charging Levels
Electric vehicle charging stations have several levels of charging power. The most basic version is level 1 charging, which is going to use that 100 AMP electrical service for the slowest charging speed possible. If you have a long commute, it may be a struggle to get enough power to give your vehicle a full charge to get to and from work each day.
The next step up is level 2 charging, and it is what you will get by installing the more powerful electrical service panel in your home. It's recommended for anyone that drives their electric vehicle on a daily basis because it's capable of recharging the entire battery overnight.
Level 3 is not practical for a home charging station due to how much electricity it requires. This is what you typically see when you use a fast-charging station since it can recharge your battery in minutes rather than hours.
Consider The Location of The Charging Station
Don't make the mistake of installing the charging station in a place that is difficult to access. If you are installing a charging station before you purchase your vehicle, know where the charging port is located on EV vehicles. You will want to make sure that the charging station is nearby so that the cord can easily reach the charging port.
Reach out to a company that performs EV charging station installation for assistance with selecting and installing a charging station.
