If you own an electric vehicle (EV), you know how environmentally friendly they are and how much they are going to be part of the future. Many people enjoy driving these cars, as well, but one of the downsides is locating charging stations on your route without running out of energy before you reach your destination. There are also often lines to charge your vehicle, and once it’s your turn, you need to wait for your car to charge before you can go. There are several benefits to having an EV charging station at your residence. Let’s explore these benefits and see if installation is worth it for you.
Flexible Charging Schedule
Charging your vehicle at home offers unmatched convenience, as it allows you to replenish your battery at any time without waiting in line. You eliminate the anxiety of watching your battery gauge dwindle while running errands far from the nearest charging station. Instead, you confidently drive home, knowing you have enough power to spare, and simply plug in upon arrival.
You can also decide to wait until night to charge the vehicle. Night is an off-peak time for most electric companies, so you will use less electricity during this time. You will also be able to charge your vehicle fully as you sleep, so it will be ready for your next day’s adventures. Imagine how much extra time you can spend with your family when you no longer need to wait at an EV charging station to get enough charge to get home.
Faster Charging Speeds
Charging speeds at public EV charging stations can be slower because their installation was before newer technology came out. When you install an EV charger in your home, you can easily have the most up-to-date charging options that are available.
Most people are fine with a Level 2 charger that gives you about 250 miles of travel for an overnight charge. With a Level 2 charging station, you are going to need a 240-volt outlet, which is basically the same type of outlet that most ACs and larger appliances utilize.
There is even a Level 3 charging option available that will require even less time to charge. When you install this type of charger in your home, you can expect to pay up to 40% more than with a Level 2 charger. They also require a 480-volt outlet, and many people are not ready to spend this type of money to upgrade to a Level 3 EV charging station. However, with this option, you can fully charge your electric vehicle in as little as 30 minutes.
Charging Costs Less
Although home EV charging adds to your electricity bill, off-peak charging offers substantial savings. Public charging, however, frequently involves per-charge fees or subscription requirements, and a single charge can cost up to $30. This makes home charging a far more economical option, as it can potentially save you up to five times the cost of public charging. In addition to saving money by timing your charging sessions, many utility companies provide incentives and rebates for having an EV charging station at your home because it’s a better option for the environment.
Environmental Sustainability
Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, and you can take your environmental commitment a step further by using renewable energy for charging. Home charging stations enable you to tap into sources like solar power. If your residence is equipped with solar panels, you can charge your EV directly from that existing system. By using this greener energy, you substantially reduce your carbon footprint and decrease fossil fuel consumption.
Increase Property Value
With the ownership of electric cars growing in this country, the need for an EV charging station in a potential home that you are selling is a big plus. People are willing to pay top dollar for this convenience, and if you already have green alternatives on the property, it will become a big point of interest, especially to interested buyers who already have an electric vehicle. In addition, there are federal and state rebates and incentives available that will make the installation of a charging station much more profitable when it comes time to sell your home.
Enhanced Battery Life
When you have the option of charging your electric vehicle at your house, you can charge it in a way that maximizes the life of your car battery. Charging stations use rapid charging to provide you with enough juice to give you a fast charge and keep you moving. This can put extra stress on the battery.
If you keep charging your EV battery rapidly, it can cause some serious problems. The heat from fast charging messes up the components inside the battery, and this means it won’t hold as much power as it used to. You might notice your car can’t go as far on a single charge, and you’ll have to plug it in more often. Also, the heat makes tiny metal bits grow inside the battery, and these can cause short circuits, which are dangerous. Your battery might suddenly lose power, or it could even catch fire. After a while, the battery gets harder to charge, and it won’t give you as much power when you need it. Eventually, you might have to replace the whole battery, and that costs a lot of money.
However, when you charge at home, you can use a slower charging method that’s gentler, which means you still get the full charge you need using a steady flow of energy. A gentler charge means the battery will need fewer replacements over the years.
Installing a Home EV Charging Station
EV charging stations are a great investment, and they make charging your vehicle less of a hassle when you have one of your own. Getting anxious because you are not sure if you are going to make it to the next charging station is not worth it. Having a charging station at home means that local driving is a breeze. Installation can be a bit pricy, but if you get a Level 2 charging station and take advantage of all the incentives offered, it is a manageable cost you will get back from not paying to use public charging stations in no time.
If you have a garage, then installing a charger here is optimal, especially because it protects the charger from the elements. You can also install an electric vehicle charging station in your driveway, but you will need to find an option that has a rating for outdoor weather to protect the device.
Contact a Dependable Electrician Today
At Absolute Electric, we have over 18 years of experience providing electric services to Sterling. With everyone wanting to decrease their carbon footprint, home EV charging is becoming popular. We are a top electrical company in the Sterling area, so if you have any electrical needs that we can manage, such as rewiring or installing lighting in your home, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.
