NBC-2 News reported that a smart car charger caused a fire in Estero, FL yesterday causing $200,000 to a home. From the story I gather that the homeowner installed the smart charger himself. While I can’t say if he was qualified or if the fire was caused by installation errors or product failure, it brings an important issue to the forefront – electric car charging is going to bring a whole host of problems for home electrical systems.

The problem is that many homes already have fully loaded main distribution panels. Several tandem breakers may be installed to accommodate new circuits for things like lighting, appliances, and pool equipment added after the home was built. And electric car chargers use a LOT of power! For example, the Leviton Evr-Green 320 Charging Station is rated for 32A @ 240V, or 7,700 watts. The only appliances in your home that carry higher ratings are likely your electric range and the electric heater in your air conditioning system. Adding a Charging Station is no trivial matter in terms of power consumption.

People are getting interested in solar charging for electric vehicles at home. It doesn’t make much sense to install a solar-direct charging system because the solar panels would not function when the car is not at the home. It makes much more sense to install a grid-interconnected solar energy system and charge the vehicle with the home’s existing electrical distribution system. That way, excess electricity provided by solar panels is sold back to the utility company. Adding solar to a home can increase the power capacity of the home, but only if done correctly and safely in accordance with applicable codes.

A Charging Station can be safely added to any home with the right distribution equipment, and it doesn’t need to break the bank. It may be possible to simply add a new (dedicated) circuit for the Charging Station. Adding a second main distribution panel is sometimes the best option. This must be done by a licensed electrical contractor, and requires pulling the utility meter. A load analysis should be performed to make sure added circuits do not overload distribution equipment. Doing this during a solar energy installation is an ideal time. Since the solar electric system needs to be interconnected to the utility, updating the home’s capacity concurrently can be accomplished with minimal extra effort (cost). Better yet, some of the new distribution equipment may be eligible for the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit because it is necessary and part of the solar energy production system.

A solar electric system can be used to offset the additional electricity that your home will use when you purchase an electric vehicle. (Side note: remember when purchasing an electric vehicle that you are still using fossil fuel to power it! If you plan to purchase an electric vehicle, be sure to let your solar installer know so provisions can be made for the future.

My heart goes out to the Schardein family. Losing a home to fire must be devastating. Hopefully the damage is fully insured and the impact is minimal.