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Before installing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) or making any modifications to your electrical system, it is imperative to check with your utility company and engage a licensed electrician to complete a home assessment so you are aware of your options. Be sure to speak with someone who is knowledgeable on power consumption, as existing electric circuits may need to be updated in order to support higher level charging stations.
If you discover that your existing power system is insufficient to accommodate your desired EV charging, you have several alternatives. One is to hire a licensed electrician to replace the load center. Another possibility is to use an Intelligent Home Energy Management system (HEMS) that will allow you to optimize energy consumption and help support additional loads. A third option is to install a backup power source such as battery storage or a solar system (see sidebar). Depending on your existing utility provision, you might also need to upgrade your electricity service.
As new distributed energy resource (DER) technologies and capabilities continue to create opportunities for a net-zero energy future, some EV drivers are opting to recharge their ride with solar. By charging your electric vehicle with your own solar panels, you can offset the cost of grid power while further reducing your carbon footprint on the environment. In addition, many solar installation costs can be claimed in federal tax credits.
Additional benefits can be realized when a storage system is incorporated. Not only does this option enable excess energy generated by the solar panels to be held in reserve and used to power loads in the home and the EV charger at night, but it also allows homeowners to leverage solar use during utility power outages. Federal and state level incentives also exist for solar/storage deployments.
As the EV market continues to magnify and mature, experts predict that electrical vehicles will ultimately be utilized as a distributed energy resource (DER) — turning the batteries-on-wheels into mini grid/power stations.
Next article: Choose a system
