What are your garage modifications for your electric car?

[Fastskiguy]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe

[asianthree]

Mini split instead of a fan, keeps better even temp, have car company install connection, (sometimes small or no charge)

[Toymeister]

We have a gas line and 220 at our dryer. We have a gas dryer.

I took the 60 amp dryer 220 line and rerouted it to the garage for a level 2 charger. So now I have a 220 line for the car i/l/o an unused dryer line

I had looked into having Lenhart installing a new 220 circuit and it was over $1,000 since I am placing the level 2 charger over 25' (as measured by the length of the wire) from the breaker box. If the breaker box had been on the same side of the garage as where I needed the charger it would have been extremely simple to put the 220 outlet for the charger below the breaker box.

I'm my case erouting the dryer line was a DIY job for my skill level.

[Keefelane66]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe
Found this article
How To Get Your Garage Ready For an Electric Car (https://www.garageliving.com/blog/how-to-get-your-garage-ready-for-an-electric-car?hs_amp=true)

[vinricci]

I had Lenhart do mine but installer said he had to put plug under my circuit breaker box. A few months later I hired Dan Mansir an electrician with over 35 years experience come out to hook up a plug near my water heater for a recirculating pump and he asked why my charging cable was stretched across my garage. Told him about Lenhart saying couldn’t be done where I wanted it. He went up into the attic and said of course it can be done. He had me order the wire from Amazon and a week later it was done right next to my car. Professional and neat. Very reasonable prices. 352-446-8140. Corrected work done by Lenhart for less money.

[retiredguy123]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe
There are lots of threads about adding a garage fan. My garage doesn't have a fan, but the garage almost never gets above 95 degrees or so. There is no guarantee that adding a fan will do much to lower the garage temperature.

[Babubhat]

Chevy bolt was offering free charger and installation recently

[pikeselectric]

Hi Joe! So many residents have invested in a dedicated circuit for the car charger plug/charging station. We have installed various types of set ups for different EVs from Teslas to Jeeps, and anything in between! Here's a photo of a Jeep station we have installed. We offer FREE estimates and 5% OFF if you mention you saw us on Talk of the Villages! (352) 748-6251

[sparky4840]

When you are ready for the charger circuit, PM me and I will give you a great estimate.45 years in trade and licensed and insured for Florida.

[Fastskiguy]

Thanks for the ideas guys! Sure appreciate it :)


Mini split instead of a fan, keeps better even temp, have car company install connection, (sometimes small or no charge)

Now...a mini split is essentially air conditioning the garage, right? I'm not sure we're ready to go whole hog out there....on the other hand...we have a weight lifting area out there and do the occasional crafting thing (wood project, easy carbon fiber layup) and have a pumpin' garage sound system so it could be a possibility maybe.

[sdeikenberry]

We own a KIA Niro EV, and have a level 2 charger mounted on our garage wall next to the breaker box. We have a screen garage door, and the attic is insulated above the garage ceiling, but otherwise do not mitigate the temperature in our garage. We do not have problems. However, we only charge between 9PM and 6AM since we are on DUKE energy's EV rebate program.

[MandoMan]

Mini split instead of a fan, keeps better even temp, have car company install connection, (sometimes small or no charge)

I drive a Prius. I buy about 9 gallons of gas PER MONTH—about $35 at most. Having a mini split installed in the garage would cost me about $6,000. (Toymeister wrote here last year that his system cost him $10,000.) If I have had my car out in the sun for a few hours (or minutes, actually), then park in the garage, it is like parking a 3,000 pound hot iron in the garage—it eventually cools, but that heat radiates into the garage. The morning sun hits the garage door and heats that up, too, making it like a hot frying pan. An inch of insulation there doesn’t help much. Cooling that garage with a heat pump could cost as much as cooling the rest of my courtyard villa (usually under $100 a month). If I buy an electric car to help the environment, then use lots of energy to cool my garage, I may not be helping the environment at all. And is this cost effective for me, compared to what I have? Nowhere near! I’ll stick with what I have.

[Wondering]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe
The electric car should come with a charger that you can plug into any garage 110 outlet. Charging time is loner on a 110 outlet. You could have an electrician put in a 220 line and plug which takes a much shorter time charging.

[Fastskiguy]

Mini split instead of a fan, keeps better even temp, have car company install connection, (sometimes small or no charge)

I drive a Prius. I buy about 9 gallons of gas PER MONTH—about $35 at most. Having a mini split installed in the garage would cost me about $6,000. (Toymeister wrote here last year that his system cost him $10,000.) If I have had my car out in the sun for a few hours (or minutes, actually), then park in the garage, it is like parking a 3,000 pound hot iron in the garage—it eventually cools, but that heat radiates into the garage. The morning sun hits the garage door and heats that up, too, making it like a hot frying pan. An inch of insulation there doesn’t help much. Cooling that garage with a heat pump could cost as much as cooling the rest of my courtyard villa (usually under $100 a month). If I buy an electric car to help the environment, then use lots of energy to cool my garage, I may not be helping the environment at all. And is this cost effective for me, compared to what I have? Nowhere near! I’ll stick with what I have.

Between corporate shenanigans, government "wisdom", and plain old ignorance, I'm not sure you can make a solid case for anything regarding electric cars and the environment.

I'm more looking at the one foot driving, performance, convenience (no gas, no oil changes) and the safety of autopilot as reasons for a Tesla. I don't really care if it's electric or not. Your Prius has most of those features and, amazingly, reliability with two complete drivetrains is excellent. It's incredible!

Active cooling would cost something, no question. But cooled to a dry 85 degrees might not be too bad. Or a screen door or garage fan could be enough and that would be very cheap.

Just a data point for everybody, it costs $1073 per year to insure my 2017 chrysler pacifica, it would cost $1747 for the model Y. So the money you save on gas can go directly to the insurance company LOL.

Joe

[jarodrig]

One and a half years ago, Lenhart Electric installed a 50 AMP breaker and a NEMA 14-50 receptacle directly on the side of the electrical panel . They would have placed the outlet anywhere I wanted but the cost of the cable per foot was VERY high !

The only thing I had to do was to talk my wife into switching parking places so that the Tesla would be right next to the electrical panel.

The charging cable that came with the Tesla is about 20 feet in length so I can simply pull in and charge.

This is a level 2 charging system that will charge the car overnight from 20% to 80 % in a little less than 4 hrs.

As far as any other “modifications” to the garage, none needed IMO….

Cost of this setup ?

Lenhart Elec : $250 (parts and labor)
Tesla 14-50 adapter: $75

[Brwne]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe

We replaced our Frontier pick up (16 mpg) with a Honda Clarity - a PHEV. There were no modifications to the garage as the garage wall 110 outlet lined up with the charging port. I did add an eWeLink wifi port to the wall outlet and we've been running around $30 per month electric usage to charge up the Clarity. We start the day with around 40 mi worth of EV - good for almost everything we do "in the bubble". Trips to the airport or beach require gas plus the EV. Recent round trip to the airport took 2.5 gal. - roughly 50 mpg.

[scooterstang]

I have an old 1970 Pickup with a 307 V-8 and I don't seem to have the problems that EV have(wonder why)?

[jaclou]

I moved to Citrus Grove last year and I had a 220v dryer type plug installed in my garage for under $200 after I bought all the parts.
I have a plug in wall charger that I can change or remove.
All EV's except Nissan Leaf have active heating or cooling for the batteries so I don't worry about my garage temp.
One of the big costs was for the wire so the closer to your wall panel the plug is mounted the lower the cost.

Good luck with your EV. I have had 4 Leafs and 4 Bolts over the years and love plugging in my garage instead of going to gas station. I had solar panels in my last house and was driving on sunshine.

I do rent a car for a week when I take a long road trip back home to Ohio. I did this even when I had a truck to save gas and put the 2000+ miles on the rental not my personal truck.

I do have a GE Wattstation listed for sale in the classifieds here for $195. It works on all EV's ( Tesla with adapter ). Great price for a nice charger.

[tophcfa]

I'm more looking at the safety of autopilot as reasons for a Tesla.


??????? Yikes

[Vermilion Villager]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe
You seem to be asking about two different things. Unless you were going with a rapid charger your 110 plug-in will do. I don't know why you would need a garage fan… if you are thinking you needed to cool the charger you don't. You can charge a car in a temperature of above 100°. They do it in Arizona and Texas every day.

[Kathy K]

I installed a ceiling fan in my garage and later I installed a smoke detector in my garage. Just wanted to be extra cautious - hate to have a battery fire while I slept.

[Fastskiguy]

You seem to be asking about two different things. Unless you were going with a rapid charger your 110 plug-in will do. I don't know why you would need a garage fan… if you are thinking you needed to cool the charger you don't. You can charge a car in a temperature of above 100°. They do it in Arizona and Texas every day.

Probably will end up going with the tesla charger but the box is right next to where the car is parked so there won't be any long, tricky wiring thru walls. The 110 works but I think it's just a bit too slow (apparently 3 miles per hour of charging)

As for the fan, just thinking keeping the garage cooled to 95 on the hottest days would be better than letting the temp go over 100. The batteries are actively cooled but still, just a little cooler has got to be better, doesn't it?

Joe

[Jacintod]

Adam Snyder, +1 814-701-6477, is a licensed electrician and has done several in the Villages with enormous praise. He does this on his off time. Great pricing.

[wayneman]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe

Joe,
Our level 2 charger was paid for by Chevy(Qmerit) when we purchased our bolt. We used the dryer 220 line since we have gas and that line was not used. It is installed right next to the box in the garage. We have since purchased a kia nitro ev to go along side of the bolt so both cars are electric. No need for fan or ac. We charge at night with no issues. We are in process of putting in attic insulation and have a attic fan installed by solar guys. Munn’s is doing attic insulation, much cheaper than solar guys. The company who did install is Optimal electric out of Sanford. I cannot say enough about them. Father and son and they were awesome. He even fixed all the problems in my electrical box that the villages screwed up. He was amazed that we passed inspection. Just goes to show what the villages developer gets away with.

[Alarmed]

Add insulation to the garage attic. Most Village homes do not have any there. That will keep it a little cooler.

[RUCdaze]

Anyone thinking about getting an electric car should think again. Hint: apply some common sense.

[merrymini]

I had the tesla model 3 and it’s a terrific car. There are limitations on the “miracle” of electric cars. They use electricity from power plants that use fossil fuel. You need charging stations on a long trip. Ever take a ride through South Dakota? You need to install a power supply in the garage. Charging on a 110 would take too long to be practical. Where the car excels is in that it does not emit gases. Insurance costs more because a Tesla is more expensive to fix if damaged. All the BS about catching fire is media at it’s best, scaring you. I also have a Prius. Remember how “frightened” people were of those batteries. I am on my third Prius and getting 55 miles per gallon. So you have to use your BRAIN and think of everything before you decide what to do. PS, it would take about 200 years to mine all the elements for batteries to replace all the vehicles on the road today. Think of what that would do to the planet.

[threeonemiles@outlook.com]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe
I have done nothing because I do not own one and never will. Don't fall for the hype. Be a critical thinker.

[Nucky]

I installed a ceiling fan in my garage and later I installed a smoke detector in my garage. Just wanted to be extra cautious - hate to have a battery fire while I slept.

It would have been a good time to install a carbon monoxide detector in case you had a gas car that you left running by mistake and went to bed or jut went in the house. How many battery fires have there been in The Villages lately? Probably just as many carbon monoxide mistakes by gas vehicle owners?????

[MorTech]

Just use 120V/12A...What's the hurry :)

[Bay Kid]

Avalon Hybrid, fill up every 500 miles, free oil change every 10,000 miles, 50 mpg, no plugs.

[Fastskiguy]

Anyone thinking about getting an electric car should think again. Hint: apply some common sense.

Hmmm...Tesla model Y is the 4th best selling vehicle in the US so far in 2023 so what do you mean by "common sense"? It seems like it is a fairly commonly purchased vehicle.

The 25 Bestselling Cars, Trucks, and SUVs of 2023 (So Far) (https://www.caranddriver.com/news/g43553191/bestselling-cars-2023/)

Joe

[Battlebasset]

My Z28 Camaro does just fine in my garage regardless of the temperature.

I know. I asked it. Unless it is just giving me the silent treatment.

[MorTech]

Charging in a garage at 100F is fine...If you are considering maximum battery health (capacity degradation/calendar life), then charge slowly (120V/12A) to 90% max capacity. Use 100% battery capacity only when you must. 120V/12A should get you about 4 miles for every hour...40 miles more range for a 10-hour overnight charge.

[Whitley]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe

If you are a cautious person, you may wish to check with your insurance company (homeowners) and see if they have any requirements or prohibitions. I am on the bay side of a barrier island, and wanted to put Solar panels on. Carrier would cancel the policy if I did.

[Whitley]

My Z28 Camaro does just fine in my garage regardless of the temperature.

I know. I asked it. Unless it is just giving me the silent treatment.

What year is the Camaro?

[Whitley]

I had the tesla model 3 and it’s a terrific car. There are limitations on the “miracle” of electric cars. They use electricity from power plants that use fossil fuel. You need charging stations on a long trip. Ever take a ride through South Dakota? You need to install a power supply in the garage. Charging on a 110 would take too long to be practical. Where the car excels is in that it does not emit gases. Insurance costs more because a Tesla is more expensive to fix if damaged. All the BS about catching fire is media at it’s best, scaring you. I also have a Prius. Remember how “frightened” people were of those batteries. I am on my third Prius and getting 55 miles per gallon. So you have to use your BRAIN and think of everything before you decide what to do. PS, it would take about 200 years to mine all the elements for batteries to replace all the vehicles on the road today. Think of what that would do to the planet.

Would it be true to say that as things are now, it would be ecologically harmful to switch to battery powered EV autos vs gas powered cars.?

[Fastskiguy]

Mwhahahah!!! Thanks for the tips guys!

Joe

[patfla06]

I’m happy with my gas engine SUV.

[bcsnave]

We didn't do anything, we do not charge at home. To ensure the distance we like to travel, we just take the gas generator with us. Easy peezy, stop at the gas station, fill up the generator tank with petrol and we can go for ever.

[JMintzer]

We didn't do anything, we do not charge at home. To ensure the distance we like to travel, we just take the gas generator with us. Easy peezy, stop at the gas station, fill up the generator tank and we can go for ever.

https://media.tenor.com/iksqw2jZSc8AAAAC/modern-problems-chapelle.gif

[pauld315]

Thinking about getting and electric car and possible garage modifications. Obviously a charger and maybe a garage fan to keep the temp under 100 degrees inside?

What garage mods have you done to make your electric car happy? Thanks :)

Joe

All I did was add a 220 Volt circuit for the charger to plug into.

[Caymus]

We didn't do anything, we do not charge at home. To ensure the distance we like to travel, we just take the gas generator with us. Easy peezy, stop at the gas station, fill up the generator tank and we can go for ever.

If this is real, I'm surprised the generator has not been stolen during your travels.

[Fastskiguy]

If this is real, I'm surprised the generator has not been stolen during your travels.

It's not real, it's just a comment about how EVs have no range and there are no places to charge. Which, of course, hasn't been true for the better part of a decade. But it was kinda "a thing" way back in the day.

Joe

[Caymus]

It's not real, it's just a comment about how EVs have no range and there are no places to charge. Which, of course, hasn't been true for the better part of a decade. But it was kinda "a thing" way back in the day.

Joe

The Ford CEO seemed to have a problem charging.

Ford's CEO had a charging 'reality check' on his electric F-150 Lightning road trip - Autoblog (https://www.autoblog.com/2023/08/14/ford-s-ceo-had-a-charging-reality-check-on-his-electric-f-150-lightning-road-trip/#:~:text=Right%20now%2C%20Ford%20EVs%20can%27t%20c harge%20at%20Supercharger,network%20available%20to %20Ford%20drivers%20starting%20in%20spring).

[bcsnave]

I have an old 1970 Pickup with a 307 V-8 and I don't seem to have the problems that EV have(wonder why)?

Scooterstang, first nice truck.

You don't have issues because you actually know how to fix things when they do go wrong. I could be wrong but I'll bet you could even wire 220v if you wanted and electric car (you wouldn't have to ask somone to do it for you). Sometimes the proven KISS philosphy works, and look at you, doing your part for the environment by keeping that 1970 truck out of the landfill :wave:

[sdyor]

I had Lenhart do mine but installer said he had to put plug under my circuit breaker box. A few months later I hired Dan Mansir an electrician with over 35 years experience come out to hook up a plug near my water heater for a recirculating pump and he asked why my charging cable was stretched across my garage. Told him about Lenhart saying couldn’t be done where I wanted it. He went up into the attic and said of course it can be done. He had me order the wire from Amazon and a week later it was done right next to my car. Professional and neat. Very reasonable prices. 352-446-8140. Corrected work done by Lenhart for less money.

If you need an honest gentleman to do your electrical project...add an outlet, fan, etc. Dan is your man. Quality work at a good price. He came out to do an estimate on adding a dedicated 20 amp circuit for new electric golf cart and did the work right then after giving me two options with two different prices. Told me costs for each part as well as labor.

[elevatorman]

I was thinking about putting the unit next to the garage door on the side of the car that the port is on. This would allow me to charge a visitors (my brother) car in the driveway.

[Spectreron]

Anyone thinking about getting an electric car should think again. Hint: apply some common sense.

If you take time to research modern EVs you will learn that common sense points to an EV future.

[bcsnave]

I put on my thinking cap and didn't have to do anything to the garage, I am retro fitting this to the front tire