How to Prep Your Home for an EV

When you start considering the switch to an electric vehicle in Cincinnati, OH, you’ll need to prepare your home for an electric vehicle. Don’t be intimidated by this! With the help of your electrician and the team at Tom Gill Chevrolet we can tell you how to prep your home for an EV with a minimum of trouble and expense. We’ll walk you through what you need to do to get an electric vehicle charging station in your garage, and what you need to do to maintain electric vehicle charging batteries. In no time your Covington home will be ready for a great new Chevy Bolt EUV or Silverado EV and you’ll be reaping the benefits of an EV!

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

When you start to prepare your home for an electric vehicle you’ll first need to decide which level of charging you want—Level 1 or Level 2. Most Independence drivers choose Level 2, which will usually get your electric vehicle charging batteries up to 80 percent charged in under an hour with the help of a charger. Level 1 charging uses your garage’s grounded outlet and will take days to charge your EV. It’s good for topping off your charge, though. 

2. Prepare Your Garage

Looking for an excuse to clean your garage? Installing an electric vehicle charging station is a great excuse! Clean your garage before you take delivery of your electric vehicle charging station. Your electrician can tell you how much room you need and the optimal spot for your charger. 

3. Find Your Power Panel & Assess Consumption

Most newer homes (or older homes with updated power systems) have a 100 Amp power panel. This panel distributes power throughout your home. You should be able to find yout amperage rating on your main circuit breaker. You can do a self-assessment of your power consumption as part of how you prepare your home for an EV. This will help you make sure that charging your EV doesn’t overload your power panel. 

4. Hire an Electrician

In addition to being able to help you understand your power consumption, an electrician can 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 your power panel requires upgrading. 

5. Buy Your Charger and Have it Installed

Research and purchase your EV charger, and let the electrician do the rest. 

Contact Tom Gill Chevrolet to Learn More!

Now that you know how to prep your home for an EV, turn to Tom Gill Chevrolet for more help in choosing the right EV for you! Check our Chevy manufacturer information hub for more about Chevy electric vehicles and more.