According to estimates calculated by American business research firms, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will represent more than 55% of the automotive market over the next 10 years. When compared to cars with internal combustion engines, EVs offer many advantages. Many drivers getting new EVs these days are motivated by the prospect of skipping lines at the pump, and many others appreciate the superior engineering of zero-emissions technology and its unmatched sustainable advantage.
If you intend to purchase or lease a new EV, you need to think about a charging strategy. Some automakers and dealerships offer charging credits on a card you can use at major public networks such as ChargePoint, Electrify America, and Tesla. For most new EV drivers, these charging card incentives can last a few months. When the card runs out of charging credits, however, you may not want to rely on public charging or the EV mobile charging cord. The wise move is to install a Level 2 residential EV charging station in your garage to benefit from the features mentioned below.
Enjoying Your EV as Intended
The first mass-market EV for the American market was the General Motors EV1, a stylish two-door coupe engineered with MagneCharge Technology for convenient home charging in the late 1990s. At the time, GM engineers recognized that home charging would be crucial for widespread EV adoption. This set a standard for EV design, and although public charging networks have expanded substantially in recent years, the convenience of home charging is undeniable.
After coming home from a long commute, it would be great if you could simply plug your car into a Level 2 charger. Most EVs will be fully charged and ready to go in the morning, even if they are older Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf models. You don’t want to make an extra trip to a public charging station because if you use the mobile charging cord, you might get a 20% charge overnight. With a Level 2 charger in your garage, you can top up the EV battery while you sleep or go about your routine. Home charging stations integrate seamlessly into your life; they are designed to allow the full enjoyment and convenience of EVs. This integration is a key part of the EV experience because it eliminates the need to plan trips to public charging stations, where you may have to wait in line for an open connector.
With a home charger, your EV is always ready when you are, providing a level of convenience that is superior to fuel-powered cars. It is even better than living around the corner from a gas station.
Superb Cost Savings With Home EV Charging
EVs deliver significant cost savings compared to fuel-powered cars, especially with a Level 2 home charger. The ability to charge at home using electricity offers a substantial opportunity to lower your EV ownership costs.
Do you know our local electricity utility offers a Time-of-Use (TOU) program for residential EV charging? After we set up your garage for Level 2 EV charging, you can contact AMU and sign up for the TOU program, which runs nightly from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. This is the off-peak charging window designed to reduce strain on the power grid during high-demand hours, and it can translate into substantial savings for EV drivers.
The TOU program requires the installation of a meter from the utility, for which you can get rebates. Once you are all set, your EV off-peak charging rates can be as low as $0.0573/kWh during the winter and $0.0696 in the summer. Based on these rates, the cost of charging a Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with a standard 70 kWh battery would be $4.01 in the winter and $4.87 in the summer. This would give you a range of up to 230 miles under average driving conditions for the Mach-E.
Let’s not forget about the potential savings you can get with a clean vehicle tax credit from the Internal Revenue Service. If your new EV qualifies, you can get a credit of up to $7,500, which you can use to pay for the Level 2 home connection and a smart charger such as the Tesla Wall Box.
Taking Control of the EV Charging Process
Home EV charging provides convenience and control. You can choose the charging speed that fits your household lifestyle. As mentioned above, you can take advantage of the TOU program for ultra-affordable overnight charging, and you can also set the EV for faster daytime charging if you need to.
The flexibility of Level 2 chargers allows you to tailor the charging schedule, and many home chargers also offer advanced features. The ChargePoint Home Flex, for example, offers adjustable amperage with charging speeds up to 50 amps. You can set it at a top speed for a charging rate of up to 37 miles of range per hour. This and other charging boxes are Wi-Fi enabled to integrate with smartphone apps, thus providing advanced features such as scheduling, remote monitoring, notifications, usage tracking, integration with smart home automation hubs, and voice controls.
Boosting Your Property Value
EV charging stations are becoming a key consideration in the real estate marketplace. More prospective buyers are inquiring about Level 2 chargers, and they are looking for homes that will allow them to plug their EVs into a charging station from the moment they move in.
As more drivers join the EV revolution, homes with installed chargers will be in higher demand, thus making EV charging a feature that home appraisers are paying attention to. The Appraisal Institute has a form to this effect, the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum, where inspectors can indicate if the property is EV-ready. This growing demand isn’t just about convenience; it also reflects a shift in real estate preferences. Prospective home buyers, particularly those in higher income brackets, are more likely to search for properties equipped with a Level 2 charger. In a competitive housing market, this can give you an advantage over other sellers.
Garage Preparations
In addition to the cost of the charger and the electrician’s labor fees, you may need to install a 240-volt circuit. If your existing electrical panel can’t support the additional load, it will need an upgrade. The charger outlet needs to be on the same side and close to the car’s charger port, so plan out your space before the electrician arrives to install it. If there’s a second refrigerator, freezer, boxes, bikes, or lawn equipment, relocate the items to a different spot in the garage.
Contact Our Office to Inquire About Home EV Charging Stations
We are more than an electrical contractor. Over the years, we have shaped our business into a Lifestyle Services Company through a commitment to delivering quality products and exceptional work. We urge our electricians to take pride in the services we provide and encourage them to expand their expertise through training on various products and systems, particularly the new wave of smart EV charging stations. Our commitment to the community includes active membership in the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. We’re here for all your electrical installation, repair, and maintenance needs.
Contact Liberty Comfort Systems in Anoka today for more information about installing an EV charger in your garage.
