How to Prepare for an Electric Vehicle Home Charger

Now that you found the perfect EV to upgrade your drive, there are a few things you may still need to consider about what happens when you finally bring your new electric vehicle home. While EVs have many benefits — the top of the list being your lowered carbon footprint — your vehicle does require some prep in the form of an electric home charger.

While there public EV charging stations are increasing in number, home charging will still probably be your primary method of charging, given its convenience. Want to learn more about your electric vehicle charging batteries and station options? Our #1 Cochran EV Specialists have all the details. 

How to Prepare Your Home for an Electric Vehicle: Steps

Decide on a Charging Type (AKA Charging Level)

If you haven’t already researched types of EV chargers, now is an excellent time to start. Our page has options from the most trusted name brands and OEMs. As an added benefit, you’ll enjoy discounted rates when purchasing one from #1 Cochran  

As a refresher, most home car charging systems fall into Level 1 or Level 2, and these types can extend to the electric vehicle charging stations you see in public. See below to get a better idea of the different types you’ll have the opportunity to see:

• Level 1 EV charging often takes days to charge an electric car fully. 
• Level 2 EV charging often takes several hours to charge an electric car fully. However, with Level 2 DC charging, you can often get between 60-200 miles of range in just 20-30 minutes. For this reason, most people intermix daytime “top-off” charging with overnight charging.

Ready Your Garage

While the home charger for your electric vehicle won’t take up much room, the technician needs ample space to work to install it in your garage. So your garage should be cleaned and ready when your EV delivery comes around.

Find Your Power Panel & Assess Consumption

The power panel in your home distributes electricity throughout the entire building. It should be rated for a maximum current flow measured in Amps. Most new homes come with a 100-amp power panel, but the amperage rating should be printed on your main circuit breaker. Do not overload your electric distribution panel in favor of charging your electric vehicle’s batteries.

Home Charging Installation Made Easy at #1 Cochran 

Finding the correct charger and potentially an EV-specialized electrician to rewire your garage can be complicated and time-consuming. Thankfully, #1 Cochran makes home charging installation easy. Our partner Emporia Energy offers fast, affordable home charging installation. 

Within two weeks after purchase, we will arrange for home charger installation. We’ll help you choose the correct charger for your vehicle and home and can even roll the purchase cost into your auto loan^X. Then, let our team take care of the rest.

Buy Your Charger & Have it Installed

Now that you have the basics down, it’s time to shop and compare chargers.

Contact #1 Cochran to Learn More!

Whether you’re looking for an electric vehicle charging station or want to learn how to prepare your home for an electric vehicle, we can help you welcome an EV into your life. If you’re still looking for the perfect EV, you can always with our used EVs or contact our finance center to see which one aligns with your budget.

^XLabor extra. See dealer for additional details.