Buying An Electric Car? Here’s How To Set Your Garage Up In Advance

While still in their relative infancy, electric cars are becoming more and more commonly seen on the roads, largely due to the number of benefits they can provide to owners.

From being more energy-efficient to offering huge savings on fuel, the electric car market is currently booming and is constantly evolving to suit a market that wants to conserve energy.

However, if you’re considering buying one of these vehicles, it’s important to understand how to make your garage more accommodating to an electric vehicle – and that’s where we can help.

Join us as we run through the steps you’ll need to take to set your garage up in advance of purchasing an electric car.

Step 1: Install A Home Charging Station

As you probably know already, electric vehicles run on, well, electricity. Therefore, to use your car regularly, you’re going to need to be able to recharge it.

The best way of doing exactly that comes through installing a home charging station in your garage. Depending on your budget and the type of electric car you buy though, the type of charging station you’ll need will vary.

Most electric cars require a 120-volt circuit but, to charge it using a standard household outlet, can take somewhere between 20 and 25 hours.

Therefore, to reduce the charging time, a charger of 240-volts or higher is recommended, since your car will be ready to go again in half the time.

However, to install one of these chargers, you’ll need to enlist the help of an electrician to fit a specialist 240-volt outlet, capable of providing your electric car with enough juice to run.

Step 2: Check The Cord Length

While on the topic of installing a home charging station, one of the most important considerations you’ll need to make is the length of the cord it comes with.

After all, the last thing you want is to install the 240-volt outlet in the wrong area of the garage, meaning the cord doesn’t actually reach the car’s charging port!

Therefore, to prevent this from happening, ask your electrician to leave enough room between the charging station and the car. Alternatively, fit a longer cord so that it can reach your car effortlessly.

Step 3: Maintain Safety

If you’re concerned about the high current your charging station’s electrical cables are going to be giving out, it’s important to ensure its correctly connected to your home’s fuse box.

You should also invest in some kind of home surge protection, to keep your home and car’s electrical systems safe from any adverse events.

While the potential risk of a car fire is very low, it has been seen to happen in the past, so it’s vital to keep your home as safe as possible. With this in mind, installing devices and procedures capable of ensuring fire safety is imperative.

Step 4: Contact Wessex Garage Doors

Electric cars aren’t particularly cheap so you’re going to want to keep them as well-protected as possible – especially if you’re looking to keep them running as effectively as possible.

Therefore, safety should be at the front and centre of your garage set up, and that starts with your garage door.

If you’re looking to keep your electric car safe, your garage door will need to be as secure as possible, in order to avoid any potential physical or weather-based threat. For expert advice on the best door to install at your property, why not consult the experts?

Here at Wessex Garage Doors, we have substantial experience to our name in the supply, installation, maintenance and repair of a huge selection of garage doors.

Whether you’re looking for a sectional, roller or automatic door, we can help. Simply contact our friendly team today on 01737 309103 or click here to discover the range of services we can offer.