Topics:
Charging At Home
What measures are Smart Charge America implementing in response to COVID-19?
Given the current challenges we face, Smart Charge America has taken steps to ensure the safety of our employees and customers. Using guidance from the CDC and OSHA we have implemented their recommendations including but not limited to specific hand washing procedures, wearing gloves, face masks as well as boot covers when indoors. Safety has and always will be our number one priority. We are ready and willing to make additional accommodations where needed so don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss further. Thank you for your understanding as we look forward to working with you. Read more about Smart Charge America’s response to COVID-19.
Do you offer monthly payment options?
Yes! Smart Charge America is proud to parter with Synchrony Financial to offer monthly payment options to our customers. Customers can pay for their electric car charging station and installation with convenient monthly payments, and 0% interest is available! Synchrony is one of the nation’s premier consumer financial services companies. Learn more and apply here.
Can a home car charger be plugged into a dryer outlet?
In some cases, yes, but again, it depends if the manufacturer of the charging station produces that plug-in connection for the type of dryer outlet. There are over 12 different dryer outlet configurations, so be sure to tell your Smart Charge advisor which one you possess. All car charging stations must be run on a dedicated circuit. Smart Charge America’s master certified electricians are qualified to determine if your electric system meets the requirements for your specific charger.
Are home charging stations eligible for federal, state or local incentives?
When you speak with your Smart Charge advisor they will advise you on what incentives are available to you.
How do I get started?
Complete our “Get A Quote” form, hit submit and that’s it, it’s that EASY! The form will provide me your contact information and what is needed for me to provide you an accurate estimate.
Does it matter when I plug-in to charge?
Vehicle manufacturers recommend that you plug in your vehicle any time you are parked. This allows you to maximize your range as well as the life of the battery. Some utilities do offer time-of-use rates meaning it may be more cost effective to charge during off-peak hours to save on electricity costs. Check with your local utility to determine if this is available.
What is the average cost of a home electric car charger installation?
Each installation is unique and varies among customers. The price of installation is influenced by factors such as the age of your home, the location of your charging station, utility involvement, permitting costs, etc. Fill out our quote request form to get your free customized quote today.
How do I know if my home electric system can handle car charging?
Our thorough electrical evaluation of your home includes a load calculation. Your load calculation is designed by National Electric Code (NEC) to ensure we are not overloading your electric system.
How much electricity will my charger use?
That entirely depends on how much you drive. For example, a Tesla Model S that drives 40 miles per day will average 13.2kWh of electricity used. With the national average cost per kWh of $0.12 that would come to a total of $1.58 per day. Your advisor can give specific numbers based on your car, driving habits and local electric costs.
How long does it take to charge my battery?
Most car batteries can be fully recharged using a Level 2 home charging station in as little as 2-3 hours. With a Level 1 home charger it can take between 15-84 hours using a dedicated household outlet. Your advisor will give you estimated charge time based on your specific car and selected charger.
What charger is best for me?
There are more than 80 home charging stations available on the market today. Our thorough process takes into consideration many factors including the car, parking location, cable length, future growth, internet connectivity and electric utility pricing. Once complete your advisor will walk you through our recommendations and what we believe to be the ultimate charger for you.
Why Smart Charge America?
Having intimate knowledge of every plug-in vehicle and home charger on the market, your advisor will help you determine the best charging solution for you. Our thorough process takes into consideration many factors including the car, parking location, future growth, internet connectivity and electric utility pricing. Your highly knowledgeable advisor will walk you through our process including an evaluation of your electric system to ensure you have the required electric capacity for your new charger. We utilize commercial grade materials and quality craftsmanship to ensure that every installation meets and exceeds all standards. We are the only company that puts a 3-4yr warranty on our work.
Why do I need someone that specializes in car chargers for my installation?
When it comes to electric appliances, car chargers are unique. When you plug in your car the charger will be drawing the maximum power available for many hours. This type of continuous load requires a specialized design in order to provide optimal performance & long term reliability. Additionally, specialized knowledge of the car as well as the charger is essential to ensure long term compatibility.
Why do I need a Level 2 electric car charger at home?
90% of charging happens at home. Home chargers offer extremely fast charging times, up to 10 times faster, as opposed to a regular 120V outlet. Freedom to drive anywhere at any time without being concerned with finding a commercial charging station. Imagine the safety, reliability and convenience of having your own personal fueling station in your garage.
Commercial Charging
What measures are Smart Charge America implementing in response to COVID-19?
Given the current challenges we face, Smart Charge America has taken steps to ensure the safety of our employees and customers. Using guidance from the CDC and OSHA we have implemented their recommendations including but not limited to specific hand washing procedures, wearing gloves, face masks as well as boot covers when indoors. Safety has and always will be our number one priority. We are ready and willing to make additional accommodations where needed so don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss further. Thank you for your understanding as we look forward to working with you. Read more about Smart Charge America’s response to COVID-19.
Do you offer monthly payment options?
Yes! Smart Charge America is proud to parter with Synchrony Financial to offer monthly payment options to our customers. Customers can pay for their electric car charging station and installation with convenient monthly payments, and 0% interest is available! Synchrony is one of the nation’s premier consumer financial services companies. Learn more and apply here.
What is the difference between a Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging station?
The difference between the levels of charging stations is the rate of charge or the power delivery rate of the station. That translates into the amount of time it will take for people to charge their car. To determine which level is most appropriate for your situation your Smart Charge Advisor will consult with you on which is best based on your property and customer needs.
Do commercial charging stations charge every type of electric car?
Yes, we have solutions that can charge every plug-in vehicle on the road.
Are charging stations eligible for federal, state or local incentives?
When you speak with your Smart Charge America Charging Advisor they will walk you through this based on your location.
Why offer electric car charging at an apartment or condominium?
Electric car drivers will live where they can charge. As more apartment and condominium residents switch to driving on electricity, they need a convenient, reliable way to charge their cars at home.
- Attract and retain high value, green-minded residents
- Increase average rent and property value
- Meet emerging state and city regulations
Improve your green standing and meet sustainability goals, e.g. LEED certification
What are the benefits of installing a commercial electric car charging station?
Electric car drivers have higher spending capacity and thus make very attractive customers for your local businesses. Installing chargers will propel EV drivers to those businesses. EV charging stations are a visible testament to your sustainability commitment that will inspire your employees and customers every single day.
Smart Charge America offers “smart” or networked EV charging solutions that allow you to: Implement pricing policies that can make it a self-paying investment or even an additional revenue source + Restrict access and set pricing by driver groups, time of use and other criteria + Track costs, revenues and energy savings + Measure ROI and environmental metrics with reports and analytics + Enjoy a complete turnkey and hassle-free solution with managed services and 24/7 driver support + Offer a superior charging experience for your drivers, with real-time availability via mobile app and premium features like Reservations and Wait List.
Why use Smart Charge America?
Smart Charge America provides flexible car charging solutions to meet all kinds of business needs. Whether your plan is to offer charging to employees, customers, tenants, or to all of the above, Smart Charge America can help.
Why purchase and install a commercial electric car charging station?
Electric vehicle numbers have increased ten times in the last four years. Electric car drivers choose their destinations based on the availability of electric car charging and they tend to base their routines on those destinations, so they can charge the car while they shop and dine.
EV charging helps your tenants attract new customers, and build a steady revenue stream from repeat buyers with higher spending capacity. EV drivers also prefer companies that offer workplace charging as a benefit.
Xpress Install
What is Xpress Install?
A customizable digital design feature which allows our customers to confirm the Scope of Work needed to get their EV home charger installed. The feature also enables our customers to suggest their preferred installation date/time of which we’ll do EVerything in our power to meet, while enabling an instant payment feature to confirm their installation. The concept behind the design was derived from our customer base looking to get in and out of the exhausting process for installing an EV home charger. No haggling, no confusion, no red tape, no bait & switch, no problem. We hope you enjoy the experience and welcome any feedback.
How is Xpress Install different from the standard installation?
Less back and forth. You enter the information requested for submission and we just show up and get the job done for you. No haggling, no confusion, no red tape, no bait & switch. If you don’t like it we’ll refund you for your entire order, no problem. Again, our full focus is on driving down the cost of installing your EV charger. Our mission is to install more chargers FASTER and this feature allows us to do just that. By doing so, we are doing our part to transition the world to a sustainable energy future. We hope you enjoy the experience and welcome any feedback.
What will my installation look like?
Take a look a gallery of our home electric car charger installations. 99% of our home installations are post-construction builds. EVery home is laid out differently and EVery home is wired differently. What does that mean? We simply don’t have the luxury of running our 240V electric lines through newly framed studs of your home like we would if we were installing during your home’s initial build and EVery installation is a custom one. Most of our installations involve us installing conduit on the walls/ceiling of the garage. Using this technique is extremely common in the electric renovation world and quite pleasing if done right. Since 2007, we’ve installed tens of thousands of home EV chargers and with that experience and knowledge comes the birth of this program. We hope you enjoy the experience and welcome any feedback.