What Consumers Need to Know about Charging Electric Vehicles at Home

Last month, California regulators adopted rules that would ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars and light trucks by 2035. Transportation is the single largest source of global warming emissions and air pollution in the state and the new regulations should lead to a 25% reduction in smog-causing pollution from light-duty vehicles, according to the California Air Resources Board.

The new rules will gradually phase out new gas-powered cars sold in the Golden State. Thirty-five percent of new vehicles sold in 2026 must be fully electric or hybrid and that target rises to 68% in 2030 and 100% by 2035. Gas powered cars won’t just disappear in 2035. Twenty percent of new vehicles sold after the deadline can still be plug-in hybrids. Plus, the regulations only apply to sales of new vehicles so older gas powered cars will remain on the road.

If you’ve recently purchased an electric vehicle or plan to, you may be wondering whether you should purchase an at home charging station. Since these charging stations have some equipment and installation costs, are they worth the investment?

One of the biggest draws to at-home EV charging stations is how affordably they charge vehicles. For example, the US Department of Energy found that charging an electric vehicle with an at-home station costs only $0.04 for each mile of charge if your vehicle uses 33 kWh for every 100 miles traveled and your electricity costs 0.13 per kWh. While this number can change based on your local energy costs and your vehicle, the bottom line is that at-home charging stations give you affordable energy.

At-home chargers are cheaper than public charging stations, can increase your home’s value, and also help you reduce your battery and mileage use.

• In general, public charging stations are more expensive than at-home charging stations, as they charge a markup for the electricity you purchase. While you can sometimes find free public charging stations, they’re rare and often inconveniently located.
• When you rely on public charging stations, you have to make an extra trip to get a charge. With an at-home charger, you aren’t paying for the energy you’d use up driving back and forth. Plus, keeping your EV’s mileage low will help your vehicle stay in better condition, saving on maintenance costs.
• Along with the lower costs of charging your EV at-home, EV chargers increase your home’s value. A home with an installed electrical vehicle charger can be very attractive to buyers.

While you’ll have to make an investment in a new charging station and pay for a trained electrician to install it, purchasing one of these stations is financially worth it in the long run.
Bonney Plumbing, Electrical, Heating and Air installs electrical charging stations in area homes, currently they average a minimum of four electric vehicle chargers per day. The technicians expect to be busy in the coming years, but the company is confident they can meet the demand. They’ve already partnered with Tesla and ClipperCreek and keep their chargers stocked on their trucks, so they can easily manage same-day installs.

Bonney is available online at Bonney.com. For more information on EV charging stations for your home, call 916-444-0551.