What to Think About When Considering a Home EV Charging Station

 

Has anyone ever unplugged your electric vehicle at a commercial charging station to charge their EV? It has been known to happen. A home charging station would eliminate that problem. Another benefit of having your own charger is charging your EV at home costs less. There are some things you need to know before installing an EV charging station aka electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

Level 1 and 2 Chargers

If you research chargers further you may come across mention of a level 3 charger. With a five-figure price tag level 3s are basically commercial units. Choosing a level 1 charger saves on the cost of an electrician because it plugs into any 120-volt receptacle. The tradeoff is waiting an hour for enough juice to go four miles.

Level 2 charger prices range from $300-$1,200. In an hour a level 2 charger restores enough power to go 25 miles. Level 2s need special installation because they are 240-volt units. A chart to help you decide which level charger is best for you can be found at Consumer Reports 

The Cost of Installing a Charging Station

As determined by Improvenet.com the average cost of installing a private charging station is $1,100-$1,200. That figure includes a $600-$700 charging station and having an electrician install the station at a rate of $65-$85 an hour. The cost of charging stations range from $699-$4,499.95.

Charging Station Placement

To protect it from the elements a charging station should be inside. If it has to be outside having a shelter built should be added to your charger installation budget. For outdoor installations, a site like https://emotorwerks.com/store/residential advises making sure that the station is rated for outside usage. Look for a charger that is UL approved and has a NEMA 4 standards rating. Where the station is installed will also be dictated by the length of its cord.

Choose a Station For The Future Not The Present

The electric car you own in the future may require a greater charging capacity than your current (no pun intended) EV. For that reason, one source recommends installing a 40-amp charger. A 40-amp unit can be thought of as a universal charger.

Calculating The Cost of Charging

Fueling an EV costs less per year than fueling their internal combustion counterparts. To calculate the cost of charging your electric vehicle you need to know the electrical rates in your area at different times. Apply that information to this formula number of kWh required to travel 100 miles x the cost of electricity = cost per 100 miles.

A second formula is kWh hours to completely recharge x cost per kWh = price of a single charge. What time you charge can save you money. WI-FI equipped EVSE units are available. These units allow programming the charging station to start charging during off-peak hours. This feature not only saves you money but reduces demands on the grid.

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