How to Prepare Your Home for an Electric Vehicle

As more Morrisville drivers switch to electric vehicles, the idea of installing an electric vehicle home charger is becoming more appealing. Having the ability to charge your EV at home offers unmatched convenience and ensures your vehicle is ready to go whenever you are. 

Before setting up an electric vehicle charging station, there are a few important steps to take to prepare your home for an electric vehicle. While setting up an electric vehicle charging station might seem overwhelming, it’s a straightforward process with the right preparation. By following the steps below, you can make the charging process smoother, faster, and more efficient, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of electric vehicles fully.

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

If you haven’t already done research on types of electric vehicle charging stations, now is a good time to start. As a refresher, most home car charging systems fall into Level 1 or Level 2. Here’s more information about electric vehicle charging batteries:

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

2. Ready Your Garage for an Electric Vehicle Home Charger

If you haven’t cleaned out or organized your Apex garage, now is the time to do that before installing an electric vehicle home charger! Make sure that you get your garage ready for an EV before you take delivery. You may wish to clean out clutter first if your garage has been used as a storage space for a long time. 

3. Find Your Power Panel & Assess Consumption

The power panel in your home distributes electricity throughout the entire building. It should be rated for a maximum amount of current flow measured in amperes. Most new homes come with a 100-amp power panel, but there should be an amperage rating printed on your main circuit breaker.

Next, you’ll want to get a handle on how much electrical energy you consistently use in your house by performing a self-assessment of your electricity use before you install an electric vehicle charging station system. You do not want to overload your electric distribution panel.

4. Hire an Electrician

Next, hire an electrician. You can discuss any concerns you have about your power consumption and adding EV charging. You can also have them install a dedicated 240-volt plug or add a hardwired circuit back to the power panel. Usually this costs a couple hundred dollars, but could be up to $1,000 or $3,000 if it’s found that your power panel is not sufficient as-is and requires upgrading. 

5. Buy Your Charger & Have it Installed

If you haven’t already researched and purchased an EV charger at this point, it would be the time to do so and have it professionally installed by the electrician of your choice.

Contact Hendrick Cadillac Cary to Learn More!

When you’re ready to prepare your Durham home for an electric vehicle, Hendrick Cadillac Cary is here to help. Our team will guide you through selecting and installing an electric vehicle home charger that suits your needs. We can also recommend professional electricians to assist with the installation of your electric vehicle charging station. 

Looking for the perfect electric vehicle to go with your new home setup? Check out the Cadillac LYRIQ, which combines cutting-edge technology with exceptional range and luxury. Contact us to schedule a test drive to explore the LYRIQ and other electric vehicles in our lineup. Let Hendrick Cadillac Cary help make your transition to electric driving smooth and convenient!