Before you buy an electric car

By Bill Streb Owner, Streb Electric

Electric automobiles make up the fastest-growing segment of the auto market, with sales up 70% across the country last year. Here in Lake County, more and more customers are reaching out to us for help with installing outlet chargers for their new E-cars.

While as an electrician I see this situation from the other side—the supply side—of the equation, wondering how the electrical grid will handle the strain, at Streb Electric we take care of our clients. And we’re doing quite a few charger installations around town.

It seems to me as if adding electric cars to a grid that has not been upgraded is putting the cart before the horse. And in the same spirit, I hope that people don’t put the cart before the horse and buy an electric car without contacting their electrician for a consultation on the means of charging it. Oftentimes there are complicated issues, such as needing to run power out to a detached garage or updating an older system to accommodate the charger. In some cases, we’ve had to upgrade service and panels because the amperage isn’t sufficient.

Most cars come with a kit for owners to simply plug them into a standard 120-volt outlet already in their garage. The only downside is the time it takes to reach full charge, up to several days.

For a faster charge, we’re working with Mars Electric and a line of wall-mounted 240-volt chargers supplied by Leviton.

Give us a call if you need a new charger outlet or are in the market for an electric car. We can come to your home and give you an estimate on how much to install one and assess your electrical to make sure it can handle it.

Streb Electric is headquartered in Willoughby. For the past 40 years, the family-operated service company has earned a reputation for making sure homes are safe and free from electrical hazards. Call 440-953-5819 or visit StrebElectric.com for more information.