Where Should Your Charging Station Go In The Garage?
We have installed many charging stations and with nearly every install the first question is how much will this install cost me? That depends on how much power is available for a charging station, which breaker panel the power will be coming from, where you’ll want to place the charging station, and what the run between the breaker panel and the charging station will look like.
We can determine the factors like how much power is available, where that power is available and what the run will look like but the placement of the charging station is purely personal preference. Electrically, we can place the charging station anywhere in the garage that makes the most sense for how you’ll use it.
- How long is the cord for the charging station that you’re providing?
Many charging stations now have a 24 ft cord on them so location can be partially determined by whether or not the end will reach the charging port. Given that the cord is so long on most charging stations the placement is usually not entirely determined by the cord length but definitely keep it in mind.
If you’re having trouble choosing a charging station, we have a charging station guide that might be of some help.
- Where is the charging port on the car?
The location of the charging port may make a difference on where you choose to place the charging station so that charging is an easy, hasslefree endeavor. Ideally, it should be simple to park the car inside, get out, and plug the charger in.
- Will you pull in or back into the garage?
The location of the charging port will be affected by whether you plan to pull in or back into the garage.
Some things to keep in mind for placement:
- While the cord may be long enough that you can pull it behind another vehicle, running of the cord will likely cause damage to the cord and/or unit on the wall.
- If the handle to the cord is on the side make sure the side of the charging station is easily accessible (e.g. we don’t want to place the charging station too close to the garage door, wall, or a cabinet that the cord isn’t accessible).
- Often the easiest location for an electrician to pull wire to is likely to be the most cost effective if price is a concern.
The last follow-up question I often hear from homeowners is what if I get a second EV? Should I install a second charger?
The answers to these questions could affect placement so I’m going to address them here. The hardest part about answering this question is not being able to see the future, will you actually buy a second EV, will you still live in this home when you get another EV, and most importantly are you sure that sharing a charging station between multiple cars won’t be possible? This is, of course, going to be based on personal preference as well. For starters, you’ll likely need a charging station that has the ability to load-share the existing circuit between two or more charging stations.
More often than not we’ve heard from many multiple EV households that they’re able to share the charging station rather than spend the money on a second charging station and its setup. If you’re on the fence, we suggest waiting until you have a second EV and if it’s not feasible to live with sharing one charging station then you’ll know that it was necessary to spend the money. As always, if you’re absolutely sure you’d like a second EV installed, we’re happy to help.