1. Decide on a Charging Type (AKA Charging Level)
When you prepare your home for an electric vehicle, it’s a good idea to take a look at your charging options. You actually have access to Level 1 charging through any grounded outlet, but most South Salt Lake drivers prefer to install a Level 2 electric vehicle home charger. Why?
- Level 1 EV charging often takes days to fully charge an electric car.
- Level 2 EV charging often takes just a few hours to fully charge an electric car.
2. Prepare Your Garage
If you decide to set up an electric vehicle charging station at home, we recommend giving your garage a good cleaning. Getting rid of clutter will help you make the best use of your space, while also allowing your electrician to work quickly and easily. It’s a win win!
3. Find Your Power Panel & Assess Consumption
Every home has a power panel that distributes electricity throughout the building. Most homes have a 100-amp power panel, but it can vary from household to household. You’ll need to find out your amperage rating, located on your circuit breaker, and compare that to the amount of power you currently use in an average day. This is important because you don’t want to overload the power panel when your electric vehicle is charging batteries. If you’re already close to the limit, you might need to upgrade your power panel.
4. Hire an Electrician
Next, hire an electrician. Be sure to bring up your research about your power panel and energy usage, and discuss options for your electric vehicle charging station. You might find that you only need a dedicated 240-volt plug or a hardwired circuit back to the power panel, which usually costs a few hundred dollars. If you need a power panel upgrade, your electric vehicle home charger costs might jump to $1,000 or $3,000.
5. Buy Your Charger & Have it Installed
Once you have a plan in action, its time to buy the charger and call your electrician for the installation process. Then you’re all set! Charge your vehicle overnight, and enjoy gas-free travels all day long.
Contact Salt Lake Valley Buick GMC to Learn More!Now that we’ve gone over the basics of how to prepare your home for an electric vehicle, are you ready to start shopping? Maybe you’re interested in an electrified model like the Hummer EV pickup, or maybe you’re just looking for a fuel-efficient model like the Terrain. No matter your needs, our team at Salt Lake Valley Buick GMC can help you narrow down your choices. Contact us today to learn more or start browsing our virtual model showroom.
