Electric cars are becoming cheaper, and batteries are becoming more powerful. As a result significant number of car owners are trading filling up for plugging in, and many more are thinking of joining them. We should soon see a major shift towards eco-friendly transport options and a global decrease in fossil fuel usage. If you have toyed with the thought of buying one too, then you have also probably thought of what it would take to install an electric car charger in your single-family home. Let's learn the basics of EV car charging so you can make the right decision when the time comes.
The simplest way to explain the EV charging station is that it is similar to your phone charger. What it does, essentially, is to convert the electricity from your home to a voltage and a current level that is suitable for your car. The more expensive your electric car charging station is, the more features it will offer you in addition to charging your vehicle. Furthermore, if it uses more electrical energy than what the installed service can provide, it can cause problems for your home's electric system. Therefore, while on paper it might seem that you should always opt for the fastest available option, you should first consider your home and your current energy usage.
Electric car charging stations are usually separated into three levels. The Level 1 chargers include the simplest charging stations that are relatively straightforward to install. They use the 110-120Volts with a maximum current of 16 Amperes. Level II chargers are more powerful charging stations that rely on 208 to 240Volts and approximately 30 amperes of current, and Level III charging stations are designed for commercial use, which use higher voltages and higher current. With this in mind, as a property owner or a prospective property owner, you should start with an assessment of the electrical system at home.
While some well informed customers may be able to perform the assessment themselves, it is always recommended to hire a professional, a good electrical contractor or an electrical engineer can take a look at your home and evaluate the loads that are installed, assess the capacity of the distribution (also known as the breaker) panel and determine if you have enough capacity (juice) to add a charger and what type of charger you can add.
A lot of the loads are not used at night, the period when the EV is going to charge for the next day commute; rarely you will be doing laundry or using the clothes drier in the middle of the night, cooking, or having the air conditioner at full blast when the weather cools off at night. That means you can add an EV EMS, and Electric Vehicle Management System for homes, one that can monitor the overall home consumption and whenever there is capacity available, energize the charger.
If you are installing the charger inside the garage, or adding electrical equipment to the wall, the electrical code, the municipality, or your insurance company will require you to have clear space in front of the equipment for full and clear accessibility. Fortunately, storage can be an option. After all, green solutions are available when it comes to storage options that can house any type pf goodies.
While this may seem like a more costly option, we're here to assure you that it is well worth the price. The Level II Charging Stations are usually four times faster than Level I. And with a couple of alterations, you can make your home energy efficient enough to support it.
As you can see, there isn't much that needs to be done to install an electric car charging station at your home. It starts with an assessment and then the choice of a reliable Energy Management System for your home. Choosing a Level II charger is, in the long run, a wise investment. If you cannot afford it at the moment, stick with a Level I, and depending on where you live, you might be able to rely on nearby commercial charging stations.