The Expert Podcast

If electric vehicles are going to become an extremely popular mode of transportation, one of the changes that needs to be made is where to charge them. Charging at home is a huge appeal for vehicle owners, as it eliminates the need to go to gas stations or other locations to fill up. Instead, you can plug your electric vehicle directly into your home electric system and recharge your car overnight. The problem right now is that installing a home charging station can be very expensive.

Basically, in your house, it requires running wires and putting in a charging system with 240-volt dual-mode circuits, which can get expensive. Currently, it could cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000, and for some applications, it might even reach $3,000 to have an electrician come to wire the system. But here's a new invention that might eliminate some of that cost. Siemens, a very large manufacturer of electrical products, has developed a new home electric charger adapter that hooks up directly to your electric meter, wherever it is located.

This new charger adapter connects to the glass bowl of your electric meter. The silver rim, which normally goes right up against the electrical box, is replaced by a little gray connector that fits in between. While you still need an electrician to handle this, it’s a lot more efficient and less expensive than having them spend five, six, or even eight hours at $150 per hour wiring an entire electrical system. With this new setup, the electrician can simply pop off the meter, plug in the device, and put the meter back on, providing you with a home charging station.

There are some limitations, however. Your electrical company must approve it, and you have to be close enough to where you plan to charge your car. There may be a wire that you can run from the adapter, but this is still a much more efficient and cost-effective way to set up a home charging system. Keep an eye out for this option becoming available in your area, especially if you own an electric vehicle and are looking for an alternative to installing a full-blown charging station inside your garage.