Feb 3, 2021 - Energy & Climate

As electric vehicle sales grow, so will the need for home chargers

Joann Muller

Image of an outdoor home charger for an electric car — Wallbox's new Pulsar Plus can be mounted ourdoors, in the elements. Photo: Wallbox

If electric vehicle sales are going to take off in the U.S. as expected, demand for home chargers will likely surge as well.

Why it matters: Even though President Biden has vowed to add 500,000 public EV charging stations across the country, the reality is that most EV owners will be able to get all the power they need by plugging their car into a home charger overnight.

Driving the news: Sensing America's shifting momentum toward EVs, even foreign charging companies are starting to market their wares to American buyers.

Spain's Wallbox, with 40,000 units deployed in 43 countries, launched its first smart charger for the North American market this week.
The Pulsar Plus is available in two configurations — a 40Amp version for $649 that plugs into any 240-volt outlet and a 48Amp version for $699 that needs to be hardwired into the home.
Most mid-range EVs can be charged in 6-8 hours using the 40Amp box.
Charging can be controlled through a smartphone app or with voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, using either Bluetooth or a wifi connection.

The bottom line: Installing a home charger can seem like a pain, but the benefit is never having to go to the gas station again.

The choices can be overwhelming. But most EV companies, partnering with an agency like Qmerit, will help customers find a certified installer and steer them to government incentives, too.
Most are available for a federal tax credit for up to 30% of total equipment and installation costs up to $1,000.

Add Axios on Google

As electric vehicle sales grow, so will the need for home chargers

What to read next