Here in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, more homeowners than ever are purchasing electric vehicles. However, they have to confront a problem that they never had to consider with a conventional vehicle: charging capability. In this area, there are countless gas stations that ensure that you’ll never get stranded when traveling with an internal combustion vehicle. When you’re driving an electric vehicle, you’ll have a much harder time locating a public charging station when you need one. That creates the real possibility of getting stranded. That is, unless you can charge your vehicle at home. This allows you to start each day with a full battery with at-home EV charging.
Reduced Range Anxiety
If you install an electric vehicle charging station at your home, you’ll get access to the speed that comes with Level-2 charging infrastructure. If you’re used to charging your vehicle at home with its included wall plug charger, you already know that it takes between 40 and 50 hours to charge your vehicle from empty to approximately 80% of its full capacity. A dedicated EV charger uses a higher voltage and can accomplish the same task in four to ten hours. This means you’ll be able to start each day with close to a full charge if you leave your EV plugged in overnight. You won’t need to go hunting for public chargers nearly as often, especially if you use your vehicle only for your daily commute and local errands.
Lower Charging Costs
Another great benefit of installing an EV charging station in your home is that it will cut down on your charging costs. This is because you’ll be paying residential electrical rates instead of the inflated rates that you often encounter when you’re using a public charging station. The cost difference between these two options is quite significant. Depending on your home’s electricity rate, you may be able to cut your EV charging costs in half with a home charging station. According to the Department of Energy, the average EV owner will only spend about $60 per month if they charge their EV at home for the majority of the time.
Safer Charging
Installing an EV charger in your home also makes charging your vehicle safer. When you use public charging stations, you usually have to leave your vehicle parked outside for extended periods of time until the charge is complete. This opens up the possibility for theft, vandalism, and damage from the elements. With a charger installed in your home’s garage, you can charge your vehicle without exposing it to any of these risks.
Extended Battery Life
Charging your EV at home can also help extend the life of its battery. This is because of the resistance created when you charge at higher voltages. That resistance generates heat, and that extra heat can shorten the lifespan of a battery. When you use a public charger, the system is usually designed to charge your vehicle as fast as possible so you can get back on the road. Some public chargers use level 3 charging technology, which can fully charge most electric vehicles in about a half hour. Unfortunately, doing this generates more heat, which will wear out your battery faster. So, charging at home will give you reasonably fast charging without harming your vehicle or your vehicle’s battery.
Increase Your Home’s Value
Most vehicle manufacturers have come up with plans to convert their vehicle lineup to all electric at some point in the near future. This means that every home will benefit from an EV charger sooner or later. If you install one now, you’ll be investing in your home’s value. This is a feature that future buyers may even insist upon in the next few years. According to the Department of Energy, homes with EV chargers installed sell for between 1% and 3% more than homes without one.
Pairs Well With Solar Power
Installing an EV charger in your home also means you have the option of charging your vehicle with solar power. If you already have a rooftop solar system installed on your home’s roof, it should offset much of the costs involved with charging your EV. This also greatly reduces your carbon footprint. There are EV charging stations that integrate with certain solar power systems to dynamically adjust when your vehicle charges to make the best use of available solar energy. Even if you don’t have a solar power system currently installed, there’s nothing stopping you from adding one in the future to further enhance your home charging station’s functionality.
Reduced Emissions
The whole point of electrical vehicles is that they help cut down on the harmful emissions produced by the internal combustion process. However, there are also significant carbon emissions associated with electricity generation. When you charge your EV using a public charging station, you have no control over where or how the electricity you’re consuming gets generated. With a home charger, you get to use electricity from any supplier you choose. So, if you sign your home up to receive power from a 100% renewable supplier, you can fully realize the carbon emissions reductions promised by your EV. If your home has solar panels, this is also a beneficial source of power.
Advanced Features
Finally, installing an EV charger in your home can give you some advanced features that you wouldn’t get while using public chargers. Many residential charging stations can connect to your home’s Wi-Fi to give you better visibility into your vehicle’s charging status through an app. This means you don’t have to guess how much longer you need to charge your vehicle for it to have the range you need. Instead, you can go on with your day and check your vehicle’s status from your smartphone, wherever you are. Then, you can return to pick up your vehicle when it’s charged and ready. Some chargers also feature advanced charge scheduling to help you exploit the savings of time-of-use electricity rates.
Your Local Residential EV Charging Specialists
Since 2011, Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric has been the go-to installer of home EV charging equipment in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. We’re also a family-owned and operated company that can handle all of your home’s electrical needs, ranging from repairs to surge protection and the installation of backup generators. We also provide complete plumbing services as well as HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services. And, as a Better Business Bureau-accredited company with an A+ rating, you can always count on us for quality work that we’ll stand behind. We even offer 24/7 emergency services for any electrical, plumbing, and HVAC issues that just can’t wait. Plus, we offer a convenient and money-saving membership plan that comes with a plethora of benefits, including annual electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspections.
If you’d like to have an EV charging station installed in your Dallas or Fort Worth home, call our team at Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric today to schedule an appointment.
