With gas prices always fluctuating, you might be one of many people considering a more stable solution – an electric car.
Electric cars are still relatively new, but they are growing in popularity due to their eco-friendly benefits and the simple fact that they don’t require gas. Instead, electric cars need to be charged in order to run.
Remote Charging Stations: the new fill-up station
More and more charging stations are becoming available across the U.S. and Canada.
But only relying on charging at remote locations is not a good idea. Some EVC (Electric Vehicle Charging) stations are affiliated with hotels or businesses that only offer the service privately to guests or employees. Your best bet is to install your own charging station in your garage.
Know what you’re purchasing
First, you should know the electric “charger” is actually buried inside the vehicle. It takes the AC source from the electrons or “juice” supplied and converts it to DC so your car’s battery pack can be charged.
The part you need to purchase is the wall-mounted box with the cord and plug that supplies the volts of electricity. Technically, it’s called Electric Vehicle Service Equipment or EVSE. It allows drivers to safely connect to a source of electricity.
Choosing your home charging station
There are a variety of EVSEs on the market, usually priced without the cost of installation, but it’s important to choose the right one for your car’s needs.
Depending on the model you drive and your driving habits, you’ll want to install either a 120-volt/12-amp outlet or a 240-volt/20–40-amp outlet. The rule of thumb is: a 240 EVSE service roughly gives you 23 miles (or 37 kilometres) of range each hour of charging.
More power = half the time, but more cost
A 240-volt outlet will use more power in half the time of a 120V outlet, making it a good solution for those constantly on the go. But if your car is usually in the garage overnight, you can save money by running a 120V outlet during off-peak hours – even if it takes more time.
Installation: expertise and time
Sharing a circuit with additional appliances will slow down the charging process and make it difficult to properly power your vehicle. Because of the added demands on your home wiring that comes with charging an electric vehicle, find a certified electrician who is familiar with the process.
An electrician should visit your garage to determine:
- the placement of the new service in relation to how your car is parked
- complete a load calculation of all existing circuits
- complete an accurate quote in writing based on the scope of work
Make sure you give them advance notice for the installation, as there may be permits to obtain to complete the work. Also, an inspection will be needed when the work is completed.
Preparing (or pampering) your garage for your new electric car
Next, consider climate control in your garage. Electric car batteries do not handle fluctuating weather well, and while storing your car in the garage will help tremendously, you can do even better.
An insulated garage door, for example, will prevent the interior temperature from changing too drastically and will help extend the life of your car battery.
Schedule a free design consultation with Garage Living to get your garage ready for an electric vehicle and charging station.
We can help create more space for indoor parking with our storage systems, update your garage’s appearance, and make your garage more suitable for parking an electric car in during the winter.
4. Lower the Cost of Your EV with State and Local EV Incentives
How you could multiply your electric car savings
Many states incentivize driving an EV. You may qualify for state tax rebates, special loans, low-cost electricity rates, charging port rebates, and other benefits.
Your local area/city might offer additional incentives.
The federal EV tax credit often stacks with these state and local EV incentives.
There are many great tools to check the incentives where you live. It’s worth investing a little bit of time as some of these incentives can mean thousands of extra dollars in your pocket.
Local Incentives for EV Home Charging
In addition to the federal incentive for purchasing a home EV charger, there are local incentives as well. For example, the Chugach Electric Association in Alaska offers a discount of $200 off your electric bill if you install a Level 2 charger at home.
The California EV Rebate
One example of stackable EV incentives is the electric vehicle rebate in California. This project has helped get over 510,000 clean vehicles on the road in California.
The standard rebate for most Californians for the purchase or lease of an electric vehicle is $2,000.
The rebate can increase to a total of $7,500 if your household income is less than or equal to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
Combined with the federal tax deduction of up to $7,500, the cost to purchase an EV could be significantly lower.
Local EV Incentives in California
On top of state-wide incentives, there are also local incentives. For example, San Mateo county offers up to a $4,000 rebate for purchasing a used EV.
With the Pre-Owned Vehicle Rebate Program, customers of Southern California Edison (SCE) could qualify for up to a $4,000 rebate on used EVs.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) could provide up to $2,500 in financial incentives for income-eligible PG&E customers.
Discounts on tolls, special loans, low-cost home charging rates, electric utilities incentives and more could also be available depending on where you live in California.
“Time is Money”
Some areas allow EV drivers to use the HOV lane, saving you time.
Check to see if your state is listed here
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