Are you considering buying an electric vehicle? Do not forget about a home charger to go with your vehicle. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to a home vehicle charger. You cannot just pick out an electric vehicle charger like you would a phone charger. You need to think about the type of charger, amperage, cord length, and the type of installation among other things. When it comes to installation, this is definitely not something you want to try yourself.  A professional electrician will need to help. Electrical vehicle charging stations may be the next big thing for electricians over the next five to ten years.

What Does a Home Charging Station Do?

An electric vehicle home charging system technically does not charge your car. There is an on-board charger in your electric vehicle that takes household alternating current and converts it to the direct current. This is stored in the batteries.

Pick the Right Charger

Electric vehicle chargers and plug-ins use the same standard plus. However, EV chargers are not all created equally even though they work the same way. You must consider what you are looking for in a charger that is suitable for your electric vehicle. Chargers can range from a price of just under $500 and upward to more than $1,000 so you also want to consider your budget. Amperage and cord length are the two biggest differentiators. Expect to pay more if you want more out of your charger.

Make and Model of Plug-in

The make and model of the plug-in are important in letting you know the capacity of the vehicle’s on-board charger. It also helps to determine the size of the battery pack. A charger powerful enough to recharge fully between trips will be needed. You will also need the charging station outlet installed close to the parking space that can offer a capacity that is enough to service the rate of charging.

Speed of Charge

Certain situations will call for a faster charger than others. For example, you do not need a very fast charger if you only need to charge your electric vehicle overnight. You also do not need a fast charger if you will not be driving far distances between each charge or you have a plug-in with a limited range of electricity. Most plug-ins have a limited range of electricity. This allows a full charge to happen in less than 5 hours with the provided charger in a standard outlet.

Type of Install

An electric vehicle charging unit is meant to be a permanent install. It should be securely mounted to the wall on a bracket. However, it may seem confusing as some chargers are classified as being “permanently installed, but removable.” This uses a standard plug so you can remove the charger and take it with you if you move out of your home. Consider how you want your electric vehicle charger installed so that it is very secure but will not be too difficult or cause damage upon removing it when the time comes.

Amperage

A level 2 EV charger comes in two different amp sizes, 16 or 30. A 16-amp charger works just fine for certain plug-ins like the Chevrolet Volt where it does not use more current than that. This can often also be installed with your existing wiring. However, 30-amps should be your main choice. It gives maximum speed in charging and is useful if you end up buying a second electric vehicle in the future.

Length of Cord

Where your electric vehicle charger is installed in your garage will ultimately depend on how far you need to reach the charging port. A typical recommendation is to have the charging port installed in a spot closest to the garage door. This allows you to charge your vehicle when you are parked in the driveway. A 16- or 18-foot cord is just fine but you should consider going longer if you can afford it. If you end up leaving yourself short, these units cannot be retrofitted.

Conclusion

Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular as they become made more often and provided to the public for sale. This is something that will change the future of vehicles drastically. It is the next big thing in the vehicle industry and will continue to grow as more research becomes involved with designing and building electric vehicles. As you would with any other important electrical element in your home, a professional electrician will be needed to help install your home electric vehicle charging port. This will allow for a safe, convenient, install that you can comfortably use to charge your electric vehicle.