Should You Have Your Home's Mains Power Capacity Upgraded To Charge Your Electric Vehicle?
The world's first electric car was created way back in the early 1890's, but with concerns about climate change becoming more urgent all the time, this venerable concept is finally becoming a practical choice for motorists. There can be many benefits to owning an electric car, from lowering your carbon footprint to spending less on fuel, but you will need a way to charge your electric vehicle's battery -- and your home electricity system may not be up to the challenge.
As such, if you have recently come into possession of an electric vehicle, you should give serious consideration to having your home's mains power capacity upgraded. This may sound like a daunting task, but with an electrical service company assisting you, beefing up the power output of your home can be quick, painless and surprisingly affordable.
Why would I need to have my home's mains power capacity upgraded if i own an electric vehicle?
As you can imagine, charging an electric car takes considerably more power than running a microwave or a TV, and in most cases the electricians who fitted out your home when it was built did not have electric vehicle charging in mind. This is not to say that you will definitely need to have your mains capacity upgraded if you want to charge an electric vehicle at home. If your home was built or renovated very recently, your home power supply may already have the capacity necessary for charging an electric vehicle.
Unfortunately, the power capacity of even the newest homes can vary widely depending on the location of your home, how much it cost to build, and how robust the electrical infrastructure is in your area. For example, a newly constructed home in a rural area may have a lower mains power capacity than an older structure in the centre of a large city. Your power needs will also depend on the power of your electric vehicle -- charging an electric supercar will create a larger power draw than charging a small, two-door hatchback.
How can I tell if my mains power capacity needs to be upgraded?
If you are not familiar with the ins and outs of residential electrical engineering, determining whether or not your home needs a mains power upgrade can be next to impossible. Calling in an accredited electrician service to inspect your home's connection to the local mains power supply is usually the only way to know for sure if you need an upgrade or not. However, you can be reasonably sure that you will need an upgrade if any of the following points apply to your home:
- Your home was built in the 20th century
- Your home has a wood or oil-burning furnace instead of an electrical resistance-based heating system
- Your home uses window-mounted or ductless air conditioning systems instead of a ducted central air system
What happens if I do have my home's mains power supply upgraded?
If your electrician advises you that your mains power capacity needs to be upgraded in order to charge an electric car, your best bet is to have the same electrical service company do the upgrades for you, for the sake of speed and convenience. Depending on your home's electrical system, your mains power supply may need minor or major modifications.
In some cases, an electrician can simply add extra circuit breakers to your home's breaker box, which will let your home draw more power from the grid. However, older homes may need more extensive refitting before they can safely charge an electric car, especially if your existing wiring has degraded. Have your chosen electrician thoroughly inspect your home's electrical system and give you a detailed quote before you commit to any mains capacity upgrade.
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