While you may not have an electric-powered vehicle now, chances are there’s one—or several—in your future. So now’s the time to get ready for your EV future.

Battery-powered cars, commonly known as Electric Vehicles (EVs) are here to stay. No longer limited to undersized compact cars for urban commuters, EVs now come in a variety of sizes and styles, from SUVs and crossovers to high-performance sport cars from well-known racing names like Porsche, Lotus, and Jaguar.

Home Chargers Add Savings and Convenience

While numbers are growing, commercial EV charging stations are not nearly as plentiful as gas stations. EV drivers often find themselves short on time, too, since it takes considerably longer to “fill up” an EV than a gasoline or diesel vehicle—anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. And if your battery runs down on the road, you can’t hitchhike to the nearest charging station and come back with a can of electricity.

But there’s one place where you always go with plenty of time to spare—your home.

Installing Home EV Charging Stations

As of 2016, Denver and other locations require that all new residential construction include provisions for Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. At minimum, residential garages and carports must have sufficient electrical conduit installed to enable 240-volt, 40-amp wiring to be easily pulled to an outlet for future EV charging stations.

But unless an EV charging option is already installed, there’s more work to do.

Installing EV charging stations to existing structures requires running conduit and wiring on a separate GFCI-protected circuit to an outlet, typically in a garage. It can involve panel upgrades and adding extra electrical service as well, especially in older homes. If your garage or carport isn’t attached, it could also require burying a new line from your service entrance. Even if your builder has run conduit, adding a 240-volt line and an EV outlet requires a permit and professional installation.

Home EV Chargers Save Money—and add Value, too

If you see an electric car or truck in your future it’s worth adding a charging station to your home. It lets you charge your vehicle(s) conveniently at home, avoiding the hassle and expense of commercial charging stations. Plus, since you’ll probably be charging your EV overnight, you’ll be buying electricity at off-peak rates instead of higher daytime prices (and without markups for overhead and profits).

And it adds value to your home when it comes time to sell.

Allstar Electrical Services has installed dozens of EV charging stations in homes, parking garages, and at businesses with multiple EV fleets. We’ve helped Coloradans increase efficiency while adding comfort and convenience to their homes and businesses for over 20 years.

To learn more about the many ways upgraded electric services and emerging technologies can improve your home or business, schedule an appointment our website or give us a call at (303) 399-7420.