How to Prepare for an Electric Vehicle Home Charger

If you’re upgrading your Centerville drives with an electric vehicle soon, you’re in for a world of benefits! However, you’ll need to do some prep work before installing your electric vehicle charging station at home. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz of Chantilly is here to ensure your transition to the all-electric lifestyle is smooth and stress-free. Learn how to prepare for charging an electric vehicle at home below. You can contact us anytime with questions!

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

First, you’ll need to choose a charging level: Level 1 or Level 2. Here is a quick breakdown of each charging type: 

• Level 1 EV charging typically takes days to fully charge an electric vehicle.
• Level 2 EV charging usually takes several hours to fully charge an electric vehicle. However, it typically takes only 20-30 minutes to get between 60-200 miles of range with Level 2 DC charging. That said, many South Riding drivers combine Level 1 overnight charging with Level 2 charging as a “top-off” method.

2. Clear Out Your Garage

Before installing an electric vehicle charging station at home, be sure to take the time to organize your garage. Remove any clutter so that there’s enough space for your electric vehicle home charger.

3. Locate Your Power Panel & Assess Consumption

Prior to charging your electric vehicle at home, it’s important to assess your household’s energy consumption so that you don’t overload your electric distribution panel. Find your power panel to determine your amperage rating. It can typically be found on your main circuit breaker.

After determining your amperage rating, perform a self-assessment of your household’s electricity use to see if your power panel can accommodate an electric vehicle home charging station.

4. Consult an Electrician

Now it’s time to hire an electrician to have your electric vehicle home charger installed. If you have any concerns about adding EV charging to your current power consumption, now is the time to bring them up. 

If necessary, the electrician can install a dedicated 240-volt plug or add a hardwired circuit back to the power panel. You can expect this to cost a couple of hundred dollars. However, if it’s determined that your power panel is insufficient for charging an electric vehicle at home, you may need to pay between $1,000 to $3,000 for an upgrade.

5. Buy Your Electric Vehicle Home Charger & Have it Installed

All that’s left to do now is hire an electrician to professionally install your electric vehicle home charger. After that, you’re all set for your new EV!

Learn More About Electric Vehicles With Mercedes-Benz of Chantilly

Now that you know how to prepare for an electric vehicle home charging station, you’re one step closer to enjoying the EV lifestyle! Next, feel free to explore electric car charging times. If you have any questions about electric vehicles, feel free to contact us or stop by our dealership near Ashburn. We’re always happy to help.