Canton drivers are interested in electric vehicles for their many benefits, like a reduced carbon footprint and lower maintenance costs. That said, going to the dealership and buying a new Nissan electric vehicle, like the Nissan Leaf or Nissan Ariya, requires a little more work than buying a traditional gas vehicle. Namely, when you choose to buy an EV, chances are you’ll want to prepare an electric vehicle charging station at home. There may be public EV charging stations around Akron, but home charging will likely be the most convenient and reliable option for keeping your EV batteries charged. 

Below is a five-step guide on how to prepare your home for an electric vehicle so that you can be ready to hit the road with confidence!

There are different types of electric vehicle battery charging stations available to be installed in your home. Most fall into one of these two categories:

• Level 1 EV charging can take a day or more to fully charge your vehicle. 
• Level 2 EV charging typically takes several hours to fully charge your vehicle and can add meaningful range per hour of charging. This way you can intermix overnight charging with “top-off” daytime charges for errands around Akron.

Take the time to clean out and organize your garage before your electric vehicle or electric vehicle home charger arrives. You’ll want to make sure you have space for the installation of the charger and a place for your electric vehicle to charge its batteries. 

Your home’s power panel distributes electricity throughout the entire structure and will be rated for a maximum amount of current flow, measured in Amperes. The main circuit breaker will have your amperage rating printed somewhere. 

Then, you’ll want to get an estimate of how much electricity you consume on a regular basis. Adding an electric vehicle charging station can add quite a bit of energy to your daily usage and you want to be sure you don’t overload the system!

Hire a licensed electrician to discuss any concerns you have about your electricity consumption and adding an electric vehicle home charger. They can install a dedicated 240-volt outlet or add a hardwired circuit back to the power panel, depending on your homes electrical setup and available panel capacity. If your power panel does not have sufficient amperage, you may need a panel upgrade before adding a circuit for EV charging.

Now that your garage and power panel are ready, purchase your EV charger if you haven’t already! Bring back your electrician for the installation to ensure it’s done safely and correctly. 

Dipping your toes into the electric market doesn’t have to be hard. Keep reading about your favorite Nissan electric vehicles and the benefits of EVs at our Nissan Research Hub. If you have any questions about upcoming Nissan EVs, feel free to contact Fred Martin Nissan!