Video: Considerations for Buying an Electric Car

SAN RAFAEL — Host, Sarah Rutan: If you’re thinking about buying an electric car, you’ll want to consider a few different factors, including how you’re going to charge it. Today we’re in San Rafael with Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Jerry Thompson of Integrity Electric to learn more.

Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Jerry Thompson: If you’re considering buying an electric car, you have to consider charging it. Everyone’s home has a certain amount of power. Some homes have more than others. You will have to take this into consideration when buying your car. Your demand, the amount of driving that you do, the amount of distance that the car can travel, these all vary from electric vehicle to electric vehicle.

I recommend getting an electrical professional to come and tell you what the load calculation is, that’s what you’re looking for. You’re looking for the load calculation of your home and the amount of extra power that you have to charge your vehicle. In any case, this is considered a continuous load. A continuous load is anything that’s more than three hours of continuous charging. So with that in mind, you should consider contacting a professional to give you some feedback about what your home can provide for you and your new purchase.

Host, Sarah Rutan: To learn more from local top-rated companies, visit our Diamond Certified Expert Reports at experts.diamondcertified.org.