How to Prep Your Home for an EV

Looking for a new Buick, GMC, Ford electric vehicle? An electric car or SUV is a fantastic investment for Troy drivers! Whether you’re looking for improved fuel efficiency or lower maintenance costs, electric vehicles definitely deliver on the hype. However, preparing your home for an electric vehicle takes more effort than you’d think. Luckily, the folks at Dave Arbogast have you covered! Find out how to set up an electric vehicle charging station in your Dayton-area home below

1. Settle on a Charging Type (AKA Charging Level)

Before you begin searching for an EV, you’ll want to explore which EV charger is best for you. Most electric vehicle home chargers fall into two categories: either Level 1 or Level 2: 

• 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. For this reason, most people intermix daytime “top-off” charging with overnight charging.

2. Clean Out Your Garage

You’ll need plenty of space for your electric vehicle and your electric vehicle home charger. The garage is a great place for both of these, so you’ll want to prepare your home for an electric vehicle by clearing out the space of any clutter or garbage. 

3. Locate Your Power Panel & Evaluate Consumption

Your power panel distributes electricity throughout your entire house and is rated for a maximum amount of current flow in Amperes. Typically, many new Dayton homes come with a 100 Amp power panel, but there should be an amperage rating printed on your primary circuit breaker. You’ll want to assess how much electricity you use on a daily basis before installing an electric vehicle charging station in your house. Overloading your power panel can result in serious personal injury or physical damage to your house. 

4. Find an Electrician

Next, you’ll want to hire an electrician and consult them about any concerns you may have about power consumption or the electric vehicle home charger installation process. Most electricians can also install a dedicated 240-volt plug or hardwired circuit back to your power panel. You can expect this process to cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on whether your power panel needs upgrading. 

5. Purchase & Install Your EV Charger

Have you decided on a charging type? Have you cleaned out your garage? Have you done the proper research? Then it’s time to buy your preferred EV charger and have it professionally installed by a trusted electrician! 

Find Your Next Electric Vehicle at Dave Arbogast! 

Have a better idea of how to prep your home for an EV? Then why not reach out to us at Dave Arbogast to begin the EV purchasing process today? We have a variety of new vehicle specials to choose from that’ll help bring down the cost of your next electric vehicle!