Charging An EV at Home

There are a number of factors in play when it comes to charging an EV at home. Where you'll be charging, the type of charging system you'll use, your commute, and even how cold it is in winter are relevant.

Consider the following:

• If you own a house, does the electrical system have the power for a level 2 charging point? If your house's electrical panel isn't up to par, you will likely need an electrician to evaluate the cost to update your home. This is especially true for older homes. A level 1 charging system (a 120 volt outlet) will do the job, but can take 24 hours or more to charge your vehicle's battery. Additionally, this electrical outlet can only be used for charging the vehicle.
• If you rent a house, all of the considerations above apply. Are you going to be able to work out these improvements with your landlord without incurring the cost?
• If you own a condo or rent an apartment, do you have an enclosed garage space where you can charge? Does your community have a charging station? If the answer to these is 'no' then you're going to have to rely on public charging stations to keep your vehicle drivable.
• How long is your commute each way? Are there charging stations on the way to/from work?
• Cold temperatures are well known to drain batteries, including the ones in your EV. Will you have enough charge to get to/from your destination during winter or will you have to allow extra time to charge up your vehicle?
• Charging an EV at home with a level 2 charging point is the most time-efficient option but may increase your electric bill significantly depending on the amount of usage. Is this within your budget?

Thinking about these questions ahead of time will help you better understand what your options for charging an EV at home are.