The electric vehicle market has seen a surge in popularity and doesn’t show signs of slowing down. Electric cars offer several benefits over gas-powered vehicles; including reduced environmental impact, less engine maintenance, and the available federal tax credits. If you’ve been thinking of switching to an electric vehicle, Integrated Building Systems is the leader of electric vehicle charging installation for homes in the greater Milwaukee area.

Benefits of Installing An EV Battery Charger In Your Garage

There are several benefits that come with installing an EV battery charger in your garage.  One is that every morning your EV is fully charged and ready to take you wherever its range allows.  No need to stop at the gas station while on your way to work. Even though Destination Fast chargers and super charging stations are being built at a rapid pace, if you keep your daily driving under your vehicle’s total driving range you may never need to charge anywhere but home. This fact alone will provide you another 30-60 minutes a week of me-time. And if your friends or relatives purchase an EV, and they will, they can top off while at your home.

What Are The Different Charging Options Available?

There are power options available for your garage depending on your home’s electrical service size, need, and budget. At a minimum a dedicated 120 volt 20 amp circuit will typically give you a full charge in under fourteen hours, but that is too slow for many. Plugging your charger into a 50 amp 240 volt NEMA 14-50 receptacle can typically increase your charging time from nearly empty to full in around four hours. Many people are selecting to go even further by future-proofing their garage by installing a 100 amp panel. This will not only allow you to power two 50 amp chargers on their own dedicated circuit but as I see it the 100 amps will allow you to connect to an even more powerful personal super charger that could be rated at 90-100 amps of power in the future. While plug-in hybrids can be recharged overnight using 120-Volt duplex receptacles. However an all battery-electric powered vehicle should typically have access to a 240-Volt Level 2 charging station.

Chargers can vary depending on your specific year, make, and model. One of our certified and experienced technicians can help you determine what kind of charging level you need. Once you’ve determined the level of power your vehicle will require, installation can begin. If your garage is attached to your house, it’s possible to tap into your home’s electrical panel to power the electric vehicle charging station. This is the easiest option because it requires no trenching from the house to the detached garage. The drawback is that this method will increase your monthly utility costs, however, this is where the end-of-year tax credits can help.

Garage Solar Panel Installation

Garage Solar Panel Installation is another alternative-power option that can offset your EV’s Electricity consumption. Installing solar panels on the top of your garage can have a wide variety of benefits. When it comes down to the money and the costs of the installation, solar system financing is a useful tool to make the process more affordable. If your garage is detached from your house you may want to consider having a solar PV System installed onto the roof of your garage. Typically garage roofs are less intricate, lower to the ground, not enclosed with insulation and drywall which typically makes installation easier. Solar panels themselves offer a wide range of benefits and end up paying for themselves! There is no ROI in paying your electric bill each month. Have you ever received an income tax credit or renewable PV system grant for paying your electric bill? Whether you are trying to offset the electrical consumption of the EV or just trying to reduce your dependency on the electrical grid, solar energy is a clean and beneficial approach. They also increase your home’s value and are extremely friendly to the environment, just like your new electric vehicle!

Contact Us Today For Your Electric Vehicle Charger Installation

If you have been in the market or thinking about making the purchase of an electric vehicle, and you are looking to upgrade your home garage to be able to properly charge it, please contact us today. We are here to help you with this process and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the topic. We always offer timely and free estimates on all of our projects.