As electric vehicles (EVs) increasingly become a staple in Florida households, many families now find themselves with a new, novel issue – multi-car EV ownership and limited EV charger space. Today, we want to discuss EV charger sharing, how you can streamline your household, and the options going forward for multi-car homes with EV chargers.
EV Charger Sharing in Multi-Car Homes
In Florida, where the sun shines on an increasing number of electric vehicles in driveways, the concept of charger sharing in multi-car homes is becoming more and more a part of daily life. As EVs gain popularity, households with more than one electric vehicle are no longer a rarity. Problems managing charging times and access, similar to the issues that arise at a public gas station, are now plaguing the home. The key to a harmonious EV ecosystem at home lies in understanding and implementing effective charger-sharing strategies.
The first step in navigating this new territory is acknowledging the need for charger sharing. With different vehicles likely having varying charging requirements, and family members having different schedules, managing charging times can become a complex puzzle. At a basic level, your charging schedule should ensure all of your vehicles are charged before their next daily commute. But while making sure each car is ready to go is important, you should also have considerations for off-peak charging for cheaper electricity rates, among other cost-saving measures.
Smart chargers can play a pivotal role, as they offer features like remote management and scheduling, allowing you to control charging sessions from your smartphone. This can help eliminate human error, drama, and mistakes that mess up your created schedule. For households with different EV models, it’s important to understand each vehicle’s charging capabilities and requirements. Some may charge faster than others or have different plug types, necessitating adapters or specific charger types that may or may not require human intervention to work correctly.
Enhancing Home Charging with Multiple Chargers
Working around the limits of one single home EV charger is definitely possible, but understanding when and how to upgrade to multiple chargers can significantly enhance your home charging experience.
If juggling charging schedules becomes a daily hassle, or the charging needs of your EVs consistently overlap – leading to delayed trips or extended charging times – it may be time to upgrade. It’s also important to assess your home’s electrical capacity, as upgrading to multiple chargers will add additional load to the system that can compromise safety and efficiency. Once you decide to install extra chargers, you should work with a certified installer to determine the best placement for your new charger. In a typical Sarasota home, the best location for an extra charger might be near or inside a garage, ensuring ease of access for all vehicles.
Once your second charger is installed, the benefits will be obvious. For one, it alleviates the stress of scheduling conflicts. No longer will you have to wake up in the middle of the night to switch cars or worry about leaving home with an insufficiently charged vehicle. Multiple chargers also enhance charging efficiency, allowing for simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles, often at faster speeds depending on the charger model and electrical setup.
Have you recently noticed issues with your current charging setup? If you want to upgrade your charging capacity and streamline your family’s daily routine, call Promise Electric today. We install at-home EV charging stations in garages and homes that allow you to fully embrace the benefits of owning multiple EVs and ditching traditional gasoline vehicles.
