Are you looking to upgrade your home with an electric vehicle charging station? Charging your EV at home is convenient and can help you save even more money. Nonetheless, there are some important things you need to consider before installing the station to ensure you get the most out of your at-home charging station.
Level 1 vs. Level 2 Charging
If you’re considering purchasing an EV, one consideration is that there are three different charging levels. For Level 1 charging, you normally don’t require any additional equipment since you can just plug the vehicle’s charging cord directly into any standard 120-volt outlet. The drawback to Level 1 charging is that it can be painfully slow. This might not be an issue if you don’t drive many miles and keep your vehicle charging overnight every day. However, if your battery is fairly low, you will likely need to charge the vehicle for more than a full day to get a full charge.
Level 2 charging uses 240-volt power and requires a charging station. While this installation is an added expense, it provides the benefit of allowing your battery to fully charge in as little as four to eight hours. That means you won’t have to deal with the hassle of using public charging stations often.
Level 3 DC charging is the fastest option, but it’s not possible to install a Level 3 station at your home. These charging stations require far more power than your electrical system can supply. The other main issue with Level 3 charging is that it causes the vehicle’s battery to heat up significantly, which can end up damaging the battery over time. This can lead to decreased range or cause the battery to die much sooner. This is why experts recommend only using a Level 3 station when absolutely necessary, such as when you’re on a road trip or if the battery doesn’t have enough range left to get you home. Using a Level 3 station occasionally is fine, but most experts say you shouldn’t do it more than a few times a month.
Upfront Cost and Return on Investment
Installing a Level 2 charging station normally costs between $1,500 and $3,000 on average. In some situations, the installation may cost quite a bit more, such as if your electrical panel isn’t sufficiently powerful and you need to upgrade to a larger panel. Nonetheless, the station will likely end up paying for itself over time as a result of it being much cheaper to charge your vehicle at home than it is to always use public charging stations. Paying to install a charging station at your house is also well worth it for the added convenience it provides. That’s because all the time you would’ve spent waiting at public charging stations can then be put to much better use.
Electrical Loads
If you’re considering installing a Level 2 charging station, the first thing you need to do is have a professional electrician inspect your electrical system and perform an electrical load calculation. A load calculation involves determining the amount of power your appliances and everything else in your home use. Once the electrician has this information, they’ll use a special formula to calculate the average maximum load your electrical system will have at any given time.
A load calculation is necessary to enable the electrician to determine whether your electrical service has sufficient amperage to handle the additional load of the charging station. If you currently only have a 100-amp electrical service panel, you’ll most likely need to replace it with at least a 150-amp panel to have sufficient power to charge your vehicle without causing any issues. Depending on how many other 240-volt appliances and circuits your home already has, even a 150-amp panel may not be sufficient and you could need at least a 200-amp panel.
Electrical and building codes require any 240-volt appliance or device to be wired on a dedicated circuit, and this requirement applies to Level 2 charging stations. That means there also needs to be two open spaces in the electrical panel so that the electrician can add a double-pole circuit breaker for the charging station’s circuit. If there isn’t any available space, the electrician may be able to free up the necessary spots by combining two existing circuits into one. Another option, in some cases, is to install a sub-panel for the new circuit.
Permit Requirements
You will almost always need to obtain an electrical permit before you can legally install a Level 2 charging station. That’s because most places require an electrical permit when making any changes to an existing electrical system or performing any other major work. The only time you wouldn’t need a permit is if you already have an existing, unused 240-volt circuit in the location you plan on installing the station, which is usually not the case.
Plug-In vs. Hard-Wired Charging Station
Most Level 2 charging stations can be hard-wired directly to the dedicated circuit or plugged into a special type of 240-volt outlet. Hard-wiring the station is typically a bit cheaper since you don’t need to pay to have the new outlet installed. A hard-wired station also tends to provide more consistent charging speeds. That’s because power fluctuations can cause temporary drops in charging speeds if the station is just plugged into an outlet.
While opting to have the station hard-wired is normally the best option, you may instead want to go with the plug-in route if you think you may move shortly. That’s because you can just unplug the station when you move instead of paying for an electrician to uninstall it.
Location Considerations
One thing you should always consider carefully is where you want to put your charging station. If you have a garage you can park in, this will typically always be the best location for the station. All charging stations are designed to be fully weatherproof, so you can install your station outside if necessary. The only issue is that your vehicle will be exposed to heat and cold at different times of the year.
Charging your vehicle in extreme heat or cold will eventually end up damaging and shortening the life of its battery. EV batteries also charge much more slowly in cold weather. To help protect your vehicle’s battery and get the fastest charging speeds, you’re best to charge your vehicle in an area around 70 degrees. While your garage will often be quite a bit colder than this during the winter if it isn’t heated, you still won’t experience the same issues as you would if you always had to charge it outside.
Regarding location, you’ll also need to consider the length of the charging station’s cord. Most stations have at least an 18-foot cord, and the National Electric Code requires that the cord is no longer than 25 feet. That means you want to make sure the station is close enough that the cord easily reaches your vehicle. If you have two EVs, placing the station in the middle of where you park will help it reach both vehicles. While you won’t be able to charge both at the same time, you’ll still save the hassle of having to switch spots when you need to charge the other vehicle.
If you’re searching for an electrician you can trust to safely and correctly install an EV charging station at your home, look no further than Dawson's Electric. Since 2005, we’ve been providing reliable electrical services in Raleigh and the Triangle Area and have developed a strong reputation for doing excellent work and offering an unmatched level of customer service. To set up a consultation for your home’s electrical system with one of our experts for your charging station installation, contact us today.
