Should You Buy an Electric Vehicle Home Charger?

Have you decided to get an electric vehicle for your Kirkland commute? Great! But now you have to figure out the best way to charge your electric vehicle. Charging batteries from a regular wall outlet can take a considerable amount of time and finding a public electric vehicle charging station may not always be convenient. Should you buy an electric vehicle home charger? How do you prepare your home for an electric vehicle? We’ve put together a handy guide below.

Which Electric Vehicle Home Charger Do You Need?

Depending on which method is used to charge an electric vehicle, charging batteries can take from a few hours to overnight, which is why a lot of Redmond drivers have chosen to get an electric vehicle home charger. Take the following into consideration to determine if you need one:

• Public electric vehicle charging station – You just run short errands in a city with lots of charging stations.
• Level 1 home charging – You drive less than 50 miles a day and are fine with charging the car overnight.
• Level 2 home charging – You drive more than 50 miles a day or need to charge the car faster than overnight.

Prepare Your Home for an Electric Vehicle – Level 1 Charging

A charging cord that plugs into a wall outlet is usually supplied with an electric vehicle. Charging batteries with this method (Level 1) can take a considerable amount of time, and there is still some preparation involved:

How to Prepare Your Home for an Electric Vehicle – Level 1 Home Charging

• Find the amperage rating on your main circuit breaker.
• If your home can handle the 12-amp setting on your electric vehicle, use that setting.
• If your home can’t handle 12-amp charging or you’re not sure, use the default 8-amp setting.

Prepare Your Home for an Electric Vehicle – Level 2 Charging

Charging an EV to a full charge with a Level 2 electric vehicle home charger will only take around 4.5 hours on average, and you can often get 80% in under half an hour. Such a charger can be bought at certain Woodinville retailers and will require professional installation. Follow these steps to prepare your home:

How to Prepare Your Home for an Electric Vehicle – Level 2 Home Charging

• Clean your garage and prepare a space for the charger.
• Purchase your charger from your car’s manufacturer or a retailer like Home Depot
• Hire an electrician to install it.

Check Out the Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid at Honda of Kirkland

Did you know the Honda Clarity can get an estimated 47 miles per gallon? Why not come take it for a test drive? We make it easy to get behind the wheel of your next vehicle, whether you’re leasing or buying. We’re just down the road from Seattle. So, drop by or contact us today!