So you’re thinking of building a house. Congratulations! There are many choices you must make when designing and planning a home. One popular choice many of our customers have made is to prep their home for an electric vehicle charger despite not driving an EV.
This preparation might range from having wires and a circuit in place for a future installation to having one or more NEMA 14-30r receptacles (like what your oven plugs into) installed in their garage to installing a level 2 EV charger.
Prepping your house for an EV charger can future-proof your home, save you money, add convenience, increase resale value, and make your home more guest-friendly.
The Canadian government has unveiled its plan to embrace electric vehicles. They mandate that all sales of passenger cars, SUVs, crossovers and light trucks be hybrids, electric or hydrogen-powered by 2035.
With the push towards EVs, highlighted by changes like the carbon tax, more and more Canadians will be driving EVs over the next decade. More EVs mean more chargers are needed. Most homes will have EV chargers in the future.
If your plan is to go electric within the next few years, then you can save yourself time and money by planning for an EV charger during construction. If you just want to easily install a charger when you're ready, a 240v receptacle might be the most economical way to go.
It will be a breeze when you are ready to make the switch.
Keeping the national EV goals in mind, homes that have or are prepped for EV chargers will be worth more and appeal to a broader group of buyers. Some sources suggest the charger could add $10,000 to $15,000 value to your home.
Installing an EV charger in an already-built home starts at around $700 (not including the unit) but can increase depending on the specifics of the job. The process requires electricians to drill into walls, run wiring to the panel, and mount the outlet and charger. You can imagine it’s quicker and more affordable to install the wiring and outlet during construction when there are no walls.
The cost of the charger can be more than just the unit. People with older homes and aspirations for driving an EV face a problem. Their home electrical system isn’t strong enough to power the charger.
They may have to upgrade their electrical service and system to install the charger. The worst-case scenario includes a house rewiring, a new electrical panel, and an updated service (which connects your home to the power grid).
So, if you’re considering selling your home in the future, installing a charger signals buyers that the home’s electrical system is sufficient for powering their car.
Are you planning to host people at your home regularly? If so, it might be worth opting for a charger installation. When they visit, you can offer them the convenience of charging while they visit.
If you’re building a home, we’d be happy to help. We've consulted on and installed electrical systems in dozens of successful home projects. Our expert knowledge can help increase the value and enjoyment of your home. Please reach out at service@kraun.ca or by filling out the contact form below.