You love your new electric vehicle, but having to find an EV charging station that gives your car enough power to meet your needs? Not so much. Home EV chargers are becoming more popular, but they can seem expensive to install. Is investing in an EV home charger really worth it? Answer these questions to find out:
- Is it in your budget?
- How far do you drive every day?
- Can it work with your current power setup?
- Do you have space for an EV home charger?
- How long will you be in your home?
As a team of certified electricians, we’ve helped plenty of homeowners install an EV charger in their homes, as well as helped them determine if it’s the right move for their home’s wiring. Let’s break down how to know if this service is right for your household.
Is Installing an EV Charger in Your Budget?
According to EV Electrical, a Level 2 EV charger installation in Olathe, KS, costs between $800 and $2,500 on average. This is a rough estimate, and the actual cost will depend on your home’s electrical panel capacity, the distance from the panel to your parking area, and whether an electrical panel upgrade is required. However, this average can seem steep to many homeowners.
But it doesn’t have to be. Many states and even utility companies like Evergy offer rebates that can reduce the initial installation cost. Evergy alone offers up to a $500 rebate to encourage homeowners to purchase EV home chargers.
While the initial cost of a home EV charging station installation may seem high, being able to recharge your vehicle at home more than makes up for it. According to AAA, the average cost of public EV charging in Kansas is 30 cents per kWh. Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average home charging cost in Kansas is 15 cents per kWh. That cuts your average EV charging costs in half! But what if you don’t drive that much and rarely need to visit an EV charging station? Would a home installation still make sense then?
How Far Do You Drive Every Day?
Just like longer drives take more gas, they also take more energy for electric vehicles. Unless there is a public EV charging station on your route and you’re willing to wait an hour to give your vehicle a boost, installing a home EV charging station might make more sense. The last thing you want is to be rushing to work, realize you need to charge your vehicle, and have to wait an hour just to get enough energy to get to your workplace. A home EV charger is much more convenient.
Not all EV home chargers are the same, though. Currently, there are two types of electric car charger options you can install at home, and the one you get will depend on your needs. Let’s break it down:
- Level 1 Chargers: Uses 120 volts of power and provides 3-5 miles per hour charging. If your car is charging overnight, it will gain 60 miles maximum.
- Level 2 Charger: Uses 240 volts and provides 25-40 miles per hour charged. That’s a fully charged vehicle if charged overnight.
Level 1 chargers are ideal for shorter commutes and are easier to install, as they can use existing outlets. However, you will likely still need to use public EV charging stations with this at-home setup, ultimately costing you more if you need to routinely charge your vehicle in public. Level 2 chargers, on the other hand, are ideal for longer commutes. These EV chargers may have a higher initial cost, but they provide more mileage so you can rest easy knowing your car will always be charged in the morning. However, because Level 2 chargers use and provide more energy, they require a stronger power setup than most homes have.
Can an EV Charger Work with Your Current Power Setup?
If you just need a few miles put on your car every day, a Level 1 charger is a reasonable option. Not to mention, Level 1 EV chargers can be plugged into existing outlets and ready to be used almost immediately after purchasing.
Level 2 EV chargers, on the other hand, require professional installation by a licensed electrician. This is because Level 2 EV chargers often need their own circuit to provide 30 to 50 amps of power. This is like any other large appliance in your household, such as an oven or washer and dryer. Putting these large appliances on their own circuits helps prevent overloading and tripping your home’s other circuits, which can cause you to lose power.
A good rule of thumb is to hardwire an EV charger rated at 48 amps or more instead of plugging it into an existing outlet. This prevents circuit overload as well as overheating due to plugging and unplugging the device. This absolutely requires the aid of a licensed electrician. These experts will need to evaluate your home’s power system to ensure it actually has enough power to keep the EV charger running. If your home doesn’t have enough power for an EV charging station, you may be required to:
- Upgrade your electrical panel
- Use a lower power EV charger
- Consider circuit charging systems or load management options
Before you can even worry about having enough circuits and power to use an EV charger, though, you need to have enough space for one.
Do You Have Enough Space for an EV Home Charger?
Level 1 EV chargers can plug into existing outlets and take up less than a foot of space, depending on the brand. Level 2 chargers, on the other hand, need to be installed on the inside wall of your garage with enough room for the charging cable to rest securely. This usually means having 18 to 24 inches of space in front of the EV charger.
However, if you don’t have room in your garage or don’t have a garage, you can still install a Level 2 EV charger outside. This requires still more work, as the EV charger will need to be mounted on a wall close to the electrical panel and weatherproofed to prevent damage from rain and other elements. While installing a home EV charging station requires a great deal of planning, it can be worth it depending on the plans you have for your home.
How Long Will You Be in Your Home?
Generally speaking, EV home chargers can pay for themselves within a couple of years. With an average savings of 15 cents per mile by charging at home, these EV chargers costing $2,921 on average in Kansas within 1.5 years. But if you’re planning on moving in less than three years, installing an EV home charger may not make sense financially. However, installing an EV charger can also increase your home’s property value by 3% according to FastExpert. Since EVs are becoming more popular, home charging stations are starting to attract more buyers. EV chargers may be expensive to install, but if the conditions are right, they can be a very cost-effective purchase.
Still Not Sure if an EV Home Charger is Right for You? Landis Electric Can Help!
Installing an EV home charger can be a big commitment, but it can also be very beneficial if you meet the right criteria. If you’re still unsure if installing a home charging station is right for you, consult Landis Electric. We are a local EV charger installation expert ready to evaluate your current electrical system and get your EV charger installed as quickly as possible. Call to schedule a consultation with Landis Electric today and get an EV home charger that fits your needs without an electrical hassle.
EV Home Charger FAQs
An EV charger can be worth installing at home if you drive regularly, want more convenience, and want to avoid relying on a public EV charging station. An EV home charger allows you to recharge your vehicle while you sleep so it is ready when you need it.
You may not need an EV home charger if you drive short distances and can keep your vehicle charged with a Level 1 electric car charger. However, if you want faster charging and fewer trips to a public EV charging station, a home charger may still be helpful.
The cost to install an EV charger depends on your home’s electrical system, the distance from your panel to your parking area, and whether you need an electrical panel upgrade. A licensed electrician can inspect your home and provide a more accurate estimate.
You may need an electrical panel upgrade if your current panel cannot safely handle the extra power required by a Level 2 EV charger. An electrician can check your panel capacity and recommend the safest option.
A Level 2 electric car charger is better for many homeowners because it charges much faster than a Level 1 charger. However, a Level 1 EV charger may be enough if you only drive short distances and have plenty of time to charge.
Yes, an EV home charger can be installed outside if you do not have room in your garage. The EV charger must be properly mounted, weatherproofed, and installed by a licensed electrician to help protect it from rain and outdoor conditions.
The best way to know if your home can support an EV charging station is to have a licensed electrician inspect your electrical panel, wiring, and available circuit capacity. They can also tell you if an electrical panel upgrade is needed.
An EV charger can overload your electrical panel if your home does not have enough available capacity. That is why a licensed electrician should evaluate your system before installation and determine whether an electrical panel upgrade is necessary.
An electric car charger at home is often cheaper to use than many public charging options. While installation has an upfront cost, an EV home charger can help reduce charging costs over time if you use it regularly.
A licensed electrician should install a Level 2 EV charger at home. Professional installation helps ensure your EV charging station is safe, properly wired, and connected to a power setup that can handle the demand.
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