The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) lists Texas on the top three lists of states with high rates of EV ownership. The low availability of charging infrastructure is what prompts many EV drivers in El Paso to consider installing a dedicated station for home use. Compared to other Texas metro areas, El Paso has fewer public charging stations, and this presents a challenge when you are driving EVs with shorter battery ranges, particularly when hot temperatures make it impossible to drive without air conditioning. If your home in El Paso does not have an EV charging station, and if you are thinking about taking this on as a do-it-yourself (DIY) project, there are a few red flags you should be aware of.

Fire Risks

This reason alone should be enough to dissuade a DIY installer without the necessary experience or qualifications to attempt an EV charger installation. There are various boxes to tick when installing one of these units; if you skip a step or complete it incorrectly, various fire risks could arise. You have to keep in mind that a residential EV charging station is not like the Level 1 chargers and adapters that can be plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet; home chargers operate at a higher voltage, which means that the current can create a fire hazard should there be a short circuit caused by improper installation.

The National Fire Protection Association estimates that about 30% of EV fires occur while the car is connected to a residential charging station, and most of these fires involve a DIY installation. You don’t want to cut corners in this regard because EV batteries contain flammable electrolytes that can ignite when exposed to high temperatures; in such a situation, you would have to deal with a dangerous mix of electrical and chemical fires.

Location Is Everything

The documentation that comes with DIY kits for home EV chargers does not always go into detail about the safest place to install the unit. Ideally, the charger and the EV should not be in enclosed spaces. However, an exception can be made if there is a fire suppression system in place, but it should include a mechanism that can cut the power in case of a fault so that the sprinklers can operate without additional risk.

A dedicated EV charging station can do more than just provide a fast and convenient method to re-energize at home; it can also boost your property value while effectively reducing range anxiety issues. For more information about professional EV charger installation, contact Rush Electric of Memphis today. Installations can also be completed in Shelby County and the surrounding area.