Electric vehicles have become more popular and accessible over the years, but there’s still the question of keeping an electric vehicle properly charged. There are currently over 160,000 EV chargers in the United States that can be used by the public, but those won’t do you any good when your vehicle’s battery is running low. Instead of relying on an EV charging station that could be miles away from you, why not install a charging station in your home? After all, you charge your smartphone and other electronic devices in your own home; why should your vehicle be any different?
EV charging stations may not exactly be standard in American homes now, but there are still plenty of benefits to having one if you own an electric vehicle. Here are just some to keep in mind.
Convenience
The best reason to have an EV charging station installed in your home is convenience. Having to rely on a public charging station means scheduling everything around your vehicle’s battery life to make sure that you have enough of a charge to make it to a station. When you get there, there’s always the chance that you will be in a long line waiting for other drivers to charge their vehicles. If you have your own charging station in your garage, you won’t have to worry about any of that. Simply plug your vehicle in overnight and wake up to a full charge in the morning.
Affordability
A home EV charger can cost anywhere from $528 to $1,317, with an average cost of just over $900. That certainly isn’t cheap, but it does pay for itself in the long run. As much as the upfront cost of an EV charger can be, charging your vehicle at home is still less expensive than going to a public station. Your savings will be even more substantial if you charge your vehicle overnight. The price you pay for electricity is often lower during nonpeak hours. If you rely on your electric vehicle as your main mode of transportation and you have to drive longer distances, this will make a big difference to your budget.
Also, don’t worry about wasting energy by leaving your vehicle’s battery plugged in overnight. Most EV batteries will stop charging once they reach their full charge. If you’re still worried about using too much energy when you charge your vehicle, you can always program your charger around your schedule and your vehicle’s needs.
Greater Control
Another advantage of home EV charging stations is the greater control they give you. Not only can you charge your vehicle at any time in your own garage, but many home charging stations can be programmed to suit your schedule and your vehicle. This gives you far more control over the charging process than you would otherwise have with a public charging station and extends the lifespan of your vehicle’s battery. Some charging stations even offer advanced features such as smartphone integration that allow you to schedule charging sessions and monitor your energy usage. The report produced by a smart app can let you know how much money you are saving by charging during nonpeak hours. It can also be useful when evaluating how much more expensive it is to use a public station.
Boosting Your Home’s Resale Value
As more people invest in electric vehicles, home charging stations will become more popular and desirable. If you plan to sell or refinance your home, installing a home EV charging station could increase its value.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Electric vehicles are already more environmentally friendly than gasoline-powered cars, so you’re already lowering your carbon footprint by driving one. Having a charging station in your home can lower your carbon footprint even more since you won’t have to drive anywhere and use any energy to charge your vehicle.
A Longer Battery Life
Like any other rechargeable battery, your electric vehicle’s battery will wear down over time until it can no longer hold a charge. Most modern EV manufacturers estimate that EV batteries will last between 10 and 20 years before they need to be replaced. However, you should be aware that many warranties only cover EV batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles. Many public EV charging stations are “fast charge” spots, but while those may be convenient when you need to get back on the road as soon as possible, they can lower your battery’s lifespan if you use them too often. On the other hand, you shouldn’t have to rely on fast charging if you charge your vehicle at home. As long as you stick to a regular charging schedule and you can charge your EV overnight, you should be able to get the most out of your vehicle’s battery and not have to worry about buying a replacement anytime soon.
Supporting the Transition to Clean Energy
By installing a home EV charging station and using it regularly, you can be a role model for the transition to clean energy that will help preserve the environment. Keeping electric vehicles charged at home reduces reliance on fossil fuels, lowers emissions from vehicles in general, and otherwise helps the environment overall. Society clearly has a long way to go in this regard, but installing a home EV charging station is a great first step for your community, especially if you have already embraced clean energy sources such as solar or wind power.
Installing a Home EV Charging Station
While there are some very clear benefits to having a home EV charging station, having one installed does require a lot of work. It requires specialized equipment and possibly an upgrade to your electrical panel, especially if you’re in an older home. This is not something that you should ever attempt on your own. Not only can the installation process be complicated, but working with electricity without proper training or equipment can be very dangerous.
If you’re interested in having an electric vehicle charging station installed in your home, contact the professionals at Temp Air System Inc.. Our expert electricians can inspect your home and electrical panel to find the right EV charger for you and your vehicle. We will also walk you through every step of the installation process and help you set up your charging station. One of the benefits of a home charging station is the ability to program and calibrate your charger to the make and model of your vehicle, so our electricians will definitely help you through that process as well.
In fact, [compay_name] can do far more than install an EV charger in your home. We specialize in many other electrical services that you might need for your home, as well as heating and cooling services. We serve homeowners throughout Los Angeles County and the surrounding areas, and we offer specials such as rebates and GoGreen financing for those who qualify.
For more information about installing an EV charger in your home or any of our other services, contact Temp Air System Inc. in Los Angeles, CA today. We will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
