How To Prepare Your Garage For an Electric Vehicle

You probably know the benefits of electric vehicles, such as fuel savings and a reduced carbon footprint on your drives around Rochester Hills, but EVs do require some garage preparation. While there are many public EV charging stations in the Troy area, home charging will likely be your main method of EV charging. Mercedes-Benz of Rochester shares this handy guide on how to prepare your garage for an electric vehicle. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. 

1. Choose a Home Charging Type (AKA Charging Level)

The first thing you need to do is select a type of electric vehicle charging station for your home in Rochester. Most at-home electrical vehicle charging stations are Level 1 or Level 2. 

• Level 1 EV charging typically takes more than 24 hours for a full charge. 
• Level 2 EV charging generally requires at least an hour or more to fully charge your electric vehicle. Usually, you can go somewhere between 60-200 miles in only 20-30 minutes of charging with a Level 2 DC charging station. 

2. Prepare Your Garage For an Electric Car

Is your garage looking cluttered or messy? You might as well begin by cleaning and organizing your garage to make room for your new Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle! Organize your stuff or have a garage sale, and it will be a lot easier to prepare your home for an electric vehicle.

3. Locate Your Power Panel and Evaluate Your Consumption

Your home power panel disperses electricity throughout your house and garage. It should be rated for the highest amount of current flow measured in Amperes. Most new homes include a 100 Amp power panel. Check your panel for an amperage rating printed on the main circuit breaker. Then, find out how much electrical energy you normally consume in your house by reviewing past energy bills. That way, you can avoid overloading your electric distribution panel when you add an electric vehicle home charger.

4. Purchase Your Electric Vehicle Home Charger

Now that you’ve prepared your garage for an electric vehicle, it’s time to research and purchase an electric vehicle charging station. Go ahead and place your order because it might take some time to arrive from the manufacturer. 

5. Hire a Professional Electrician to Install it

Hire a professional to install your electric vehicle charging station in your garage. Inform them of your regular electrical consumption. They will likely install a dedicated 240-volt plug and add a hardwired circuit back to your power panel. The cost of installation will vary depending on your power panel and whether it requires upgrading. Make sure you get a quote before you agree to move forward.

Mercedes-Benz of Rochester is Always At Your Service

Now that you know more about electric vehicle home chargers, if you have any questions or concerns about how to prepare your home for an electric vehicle, contact Mercedes-Benz of Rochester today. We invite you to make an appointment to get behind the wheel of a new Mercedes-Benz EQ today. Remember, you can apply for financing online before your visit.