Building? Add EV Power Now
Although you may not drive an electric vehicle now, know there is a high probability you will ten years from now.
- Volkswagen announced recently that more than half their sales will be EV’s by 2030.
- Volvo has planned to be fully electric by 2030.
- GM plans to be offering only EV’s by 2035.
So the EV isn’t a trend, especially when companies have staked their future plans on eliminating combustion engines and going all electric. It makes a smart case for making sure your new home is ready today.
Powering up your EV
We currently have plenty of EV’s driving around Vienna, VA and there are charging stations at the Wawa and at Walgreens. But you probably don’t want to hang out at Wawa every week, or shop every aisle of Walgreens to get your power, right?
With that in mind, you can see why it is important to plan ahead when building your house to add EV circuit in the garage that can quickly power up a car..
During construction, a smart upgrade is to have the builder’s electrician add a dedicated Level 2 circuit with a 240 volt outlet. A 240 volt plug is what you’ll see behind your clothes dryer and it pulls plenty of power to really dry your clothes.
Typical 20 amp garage outlets will work, but you will only get a handful of miles per hour charging that way.
Adding a larger circuit now makes sense and will add to the resale of your home even if you are selling it next year. So, investing $1,000 now during construction is the smart decision.
Today’s home buyer needs power
An interesting example of a builder underestimated consumer EV demand was in a condominium project in McLean, VA. When they started to sell these million dollar luxury condos from the sales trailer in 2018, they offered twelve parking spots with EV charging capability.
These spots were quickly snapped up by buyers who already drove a Tesla, and having a power station at their parking spot was critically important.
So, why is this an upgrade and not a sales tool?
Builders have always commented that people want energy efficiency but don’t want to pay for it. Fortunately, the Energy Star program and use of LED lighting has helped reduce power demands at a reasonable cost.
Adding this circuit to your new garage may seem unique to you today, but in 5-10 years you’ll see these in every new home. Think resale value!
If you have an older home and don’t have an EV, you can probably hold off hiring an electrician to add this type of circuit right now.
And if you live in a condo, put this idea to add EV circuit in the garage on your Board’s agenda of a modern project to add future value to the whole building!
