5 Steps to Preparing Your Home for An Electric Vehicle

It’s easy to set up an electric vehicle charging station in your own home. EVs have many benefits, including the potential to reduce your carbon footprint and lower maintenance costs compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles. And Volkswagen is doubling down its commitment to electric mobility. When you buy an EV, you want to make sure that your home can easily charge your new electric car. And with an electric vehicle, charging batteries is an essential part of operating your car. Tysons Corner features charging stations, but it’s important to set up a home electric vehicle charging station as it will probably be your primary means of charging. Let’s delve into how to prepare your home for an electric vehicle!

1. Choose a Charging Type (Or a Charging Level)

Now is a great time to start learning the different types of EV chargers offered for an electric vehicle charging station. Most home charging stations are either a Level 1 or Level 2 Charging type. Here’s more information below:

• Level 1 EV Charging: Often takes days to fully charge an electric car.
• Level 2 EV Charging: Often takes several hours to fully charge an electric car. You can often get between 60-200 miles of range in just 20-30 minutes with Level 2 DC charging, though. Most people intermix daytime “top-off” charging with overnight charging for this reason.

2. Prepare Your Garage for a Charging Station

Now’s the time to clean and organize your garage for an electric vehicle charging station. Make sure you have the time put aside to plan out everything relating to your EV before taking the delivery. It’ll be better to be proactive and know where to put your EV and charging station before your model is brought home.

3. Find Your Home’s Power Panel & Assess Consumption

Your home’s power panel distributes electricity throughout your entire home and is crucial for your electric vehicle’s charging batteries. Your power panel should be rated for a maximum amount of current flow measured in Amperes. There should also be an amperage rating printed on your main circuit breaker, but most new homes come with a 100 Amp power panel.

Next, you’ll want to perform a self-assessment of your electricity use before you install an EV charging station. You don’t want to overload your electric distribution panel.

4. Hire an Electrician Before Installing a Charging Station

An electrician can answer any concerns you have about your power consumption and your electric vehicle charging batteries. An electrician can also install a dedicated 240-volt plug or add a hardwired circuit back to the power panel. This could cost a couple of hundred dollars, but it could also be up to $1,000 or $3,000 if it’s determined that your power panel is not sufficient as-is and needs to be upgraded.

5. Buy & Have Your Charger Installed

The electrician of your choice can install your new EV charger, ensuring you’re ready for your new electric vehicle. Be sure to research your EV charger options and ensure you choose the right charger for your home and needs around Springfield.

Learn More About EV Home Charging with Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles!

Now you know how to prepare your home for an electric vehicle, but if you still have any questions, contact us today at Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles to learn even more about EV home chargers. You can also learn more about the benefits of electric vehicles and how they could be a great option for Alexandria drivers!