Is the US facing major EV home charging problems?

[RobLyons]

Forgive me if this has been already discussed, but I searched and didn't find posts like this.

Planning for our family's next vehicle(s), it makes sense to think about EVs. I'm actually having a tough time even thinking about buying another ICE, except for limited situations like the need for a large, 3 row SUV (more EVs will be released over the next few years obviously). I already have solar, and I really want a Tesla specifically. EVs have a lot of advantages. Little to no maintenance. Quiet. Fun. Fast. But there's also disadvantages. Cost and charging are two.

I've done a lot of research and one of the biggest hurdles that I can see for US home owners is the ability to charge at home. We, like many home owners, have a 100 amp electrical panel. The average US home is about 39 years old. Most homes built around 1984 had 100 amp. Our home was built in 1986. Having a few electrical appliances, AC, limited electrical heat, lighting, etc, we are just about maxed out and cannot add anything besides trickle charging to our service, which is a terrible experience. We actually had a family member add a sub panel so that we could add limited heat to our partially finished basement.

I received an initial quote this week of $3,500 to upgrade. For most Americans, that's very expensive. I'm also having a difficult time with electricians not returning my calls/texts. Seems they are all very busy already.

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster, insurance is sometimes more expensive (quoted $1,000 more a year going from Prius to a Model 3), the cost of buying a home charger, and in my state, excise tax. Looking far in the future, I can't see really needing a 200 amp service except when we go EV. I mention Prius because it's about $30k new whereas a Model 3 is about the same price with the federal tax credit and my state offers $3,500 cash, not a tax credit.

So, with many US homes having 100 amp service, might this make a big impact on the transition to electric vehicles?
Thanks!

[Cheez-It Guy]

It doesn't sound like the cost is a barrier to YOU, so is your concern about the cost to upgrade panels largely altruistic in nature, or perhaps driven by a greater concern about the expected societal consequences of doing nothing and continuing down the ICE path indefinitely?

[TomatoTomahto]

We have 400A service, so the problem for us is academic. Many many parts of our home have been converted to electrical, especially our oil furnace became GSHP, our propane stove became induction, and the home had an EV charger installed.

I believe we will not be alone in the transition.

[strongboy2005]

Depends on how much you drive around town.

I have a Tesla and charge at home with a regular wall outlet (120V) and it gives me about 40 miles of range every night, which is 14,600 miles per year. That is plenty for me. If you drive more miles than that on a daily basis, you’ll want a more powerful home charger.

On long trips, I use the Supercharger network, which is simple and fast.

Contrary to what you hear (from non-EV owners), the number of chargers around town is irrelevant. You will NEVER charge your car with anything other than your home charger within 100 miles of your home, so there doesn’t need to be “as many chargers as gas stations”. It’s like your phone, you just plug in every night. Totally different mindset than a gas car.

[livesoft]

Maybe, but folks will figure out how to charge away from home. At home, they can just trickle charge.

Added: In 2022, we replaced one of our HVAC systems. The guy who did the work stated that business was good because market research showed that homeowners in our area were expected to have more than $1,000,000,000 worth of HVAC upgrade work required in the next few years. My question: Is the US facing major home HVAC problems? I don't think so.

[watchnerd]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

[enad]

My neighbor has both a Tesla and a Toyota hybrid. He charges both off of a pair of 220V circuits (200A service) at night so he doesn't have the fastest charger or the slowest and no solar or battery. His biggest gripe (so far) with the Tesla was it was out of commission for 3 months recently as he was waiting for a part that was not in stock. The law of conservation of energy still runs through my head when I think about an EV

[quantAndHold]

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

[Startled Cat]

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

I don't think this is correct. Electrical code wouldn't allow installation of an EV charger without dedicated panel capacity.

[JoeJohnson]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

Weight and torque. EVs are heavier and have instant power.

[lazydavid]

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

Weight. It's not a dramatic difference, but a 5,000 lb car will naturally wear tires faster than a 3,500 lb one.

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

This. At night, there's generally no lights, little or no appliance use, less AC and probably less heat use. 35-45A for a fast charger is not a big deal on 100A service.

[Dakotah]

There are some solutions out there that are intended to bypass the need for a panel upgrade by connecting directly through the meter socket.
https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/360 ... -upgrades/

Generally speaking, however, I think people overestimate the necessity of a L2 charger. There are plenty of people that we be just fine using only a trickle charger. You can add 50+ miles by trickle charging over night. If you don't go anywhere for a day, you can add 100+ miles. That'll satisfy the need for most people in my estimation...but you can always use public charging to supplement should the need arise.

[enad]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

They don't use the same type of tires that many passenger cars use because they are very heavy vehicles to begin with and thus the tires wear out faster. They also do more damage to a roadway vs. their ICE cousins. At the moment there is no way to tax them for that damage i.e. they don't use gas so they don't pay for gas taxes at the pump. Eventually someone will have to figure out a way to collect taxes from EV owners to maintain the roads. Last time I checked those vehicles used to maintain a roadway still pollute a lot and now they'll be repairing the roads more frequently i.e. causing even more pollution.

[usrulepc]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

This is because EVs are heavier. And also drivers can't seem to resist flooring the "gas" on their cars.

[TomatoTomahto]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

They don't use the same type of tires that many passenger cars use because they are very heavy vehicles to begin with and thus the tires wear out faster. They also do more damage to a roadway vs. their ICE cousins. At the moment there is no way to tax them for that damage i.e. they don't use gas so they don't pay for gas taxes at the pump. Eventually someone will have to figure out a way to collect taxes from EV owners to maintain the roads. Last time I checked those vehicles used to maintain a roadway still pollute a lot and now they'll be repairing the roads more frequently i.e. causing even more pollution.

When you first get an EV, you have a tendency to have a heavy foot and accelerate more that's you need to. This wears out tires. Fwiw, I have my Acceleration Mode set to "chill" now, and my tires last a long time.

MA charges an annual excise tax for all vehicles, including EVs.

[enad]

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

I don't think this is correct. Electrical code wouldn't allow installation of an EV charger without dedicated panel capacity.

It depends. It's best to check with your local utility company to see if there are any restrictions on an installing an EV charger. They may limit it to a 32A charger. In many parts of our state there are areas that only use a 60A service. What will those people use? Perhaps only a used Prius?

[CletusCaddy]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

They don't use the same type of tires that many passenger cars use because they are very heavy vehicles to begin with and thus the tires wear out faster. They also do more damage to a roadway vs. their ICE cousins. At the moment there is no way to tax them for that damage i.e. they don't use gas so they don't pay for gas taxes at the pump. Eventually someone will have to figure out a way to collect taxes from EV owners to maintain the roads. Last time I checked those vehicles used to maintain a roadway still pollute a lot and now they'll be repairing the roads more frequently i.e. causing even more pollution.

Hmm. How about tanker trucks delivering gasoline to the 100k+ gas stations across the country everyday. Think those have any impact on pollution or road damage?

[Cosmo]

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

ACs are usually humming away down in the South during the summer.

[enad]

MA charges an annual excise tax for all vehicles, including EVs.

Is it a flat fee or based on miles driven?

Once a system can be put in place that is similar in all states and at the federal level, many of the perceived economic advantages of an EV will start to disappear.

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

ACs are usually humming away down in the South during the summer.

cool the house at night or charge the car and be miserable at night. Tough choices

[Cheez-It Guy]

This is not the first time in human history that technological developments have necessitated some infrastructure upgrades and adaptations. Is it really that big a deal?

This thread inspired me to check and re-confirm by electrical service. The house was built in 1984. I have 200A service, but maybe this is to be expected because all appliances and heating are electric -- no gas.

[jebmke]

Mercedes AA Class will come to the rescue

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live ... es/3021121

[enad]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

They don't use the same type of tires that many passenger cars use because they are very heavy vehicles to begin with and thus the tires wear out faster. They also do more damage to a roadway vs. their ICE cousins. At the moment there is no way to tax them for that damage i.e. they don't use gas so they don't pay for gas taxes at the pump. Eventually someone will have to figure out a way to collect taxes from EV owners to maintain the roads. Last time I checked those vehicles used to maintain a roadway still pollute a lot and now they'll be repairing the roads more frequently i.e. causing even more pollution.

Hmm. How about tanker trucks delivering gasoline to the 100k+ gas stations across the country everyday. Think those have any impact on pollution or road damage?

You're right, but it's not that simple. Consider the total cost of an EV from the increased mining/pollution costs of an ever decreasing supply of raw materials for the batteries which drives the price up of batteries used in other applications like smartphones, and laptops, etc ... Then there is the increased cost of production of EV vehicles and the energy involved. One study suggested a break even point between 50,000 miles and 75,000 miles before an EV will have an overall impact on the environment. You'll never be able to get completely away from gasoline/diesel as many of them also deliver other goods and services that stock our stores and factories. An EV may sound great for some people who can afford it but it's not ready for the masses just yet and the overall costs on the economy and environment are difficult to calculate.

[bob60014]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

Speed kills......along with the added weight.

[MathWizard]

I upgraded to 200 amp service when I bought my house.

It just seemed prudent.

The house I grew up in didn't even have 100 amp service.

The house my wife grew up in originally had two 15 amp fuses for the whole house.

My older brothers grew up in a house without electricity.

The point is that the US has steadily moved toward electric and away from wood/coal/propane and natural gas.

Upgrading electrical service is only prudent.

I expect that battery technology will become more dense and reliable and cheaper to allow solar panels with batteries to become more popular. This will lessen the load on the grid, at least in states where it doesn't snow.

Time of day and on-demand pricing at peak times will shift loads to even out the strain in the grid.

I am in a program that allows the utility to turn of my central A/C for 15 min out of an hour on days of peak use so that A/C loads can be synced to not all be on at the same time. We don't notice any problems, and the peak use is lowered .

[vasaver]

With a 100 Amp panel you probably could have a 16 Amp 220 Level 2 charger installed with out upgrading it.

We charged via Level 1 for 5 years and just recently upgraded to Level 2. For most people Level 1 is more than enough.

Years ago most houses didn't have a washer/dryer - now most do. Same with indoor plumbing.

[quantAndHold]

MA charges an annual excise tax for all vehicles, including EVs.

Is it a flat fee or based on miles driven?

Once a system can be put in place that is similar in all states and at the federal level, many of the perceived economic advantages of an EV will start to disappear.

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

ACs are usually humming away down in the South during the summer.

cool the house at night or charge the car and be miserable at night. Tough choices

We’re not exactly talking about unsolvable problems. My 1929 house had a service panel upgrade, from 80 to 250 amps, back when I wanted to run the AC on my motorhome a few years back. It wasn’t really that big of a deal.

[ClassII]

Yet another EV Battle Royale on Bogleheads. Must be a day that ends in -y.

I have friends that charge two EVs using plain old 120V house outlets. For everyday driving 50 miles of charge a night is just fine. Thinking of my own car use that would be plenty for me augmented with high speed charging on the occasional road trip. On the flip side someone I know (with more money than sense) paid top dollar for full 240V/100A charging requiring major work on their panel. He was quite proud that his Tesla could fully charge in like 2 hrs but then he never goes anywhere. I'd have to think very hard about getting more than the bare minimum charger setup when the most modest 240V plug can give me >100 miles a night.

As for the pollution impact of EVs I think the fear mongering doesn't account for the fact that ICE vehicles are also very nasty for the environment. But then just like everything today we all get to pick our own personal set of realities and simply pick the facts that validate it.

Talking to friends who have EVs and what they are spending on electricity it seems like a slam dunk to me, it'll definitely be the next car we buy. [inappropriate comment removed - mod mkc]

[enad]

MA charges an annual excise tax for all vehicles, including EVs.

Is it a flat fee or based on miles driven?

Once a system can be put in place that is similar in all states and at the federal level, many of the perceived economic advantages of an EV will start to disappear.

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

ACs are usually humming away down in the South during the summer.

cool the house at night or charge the car and be miserable at night. Tough choices

We’re not exactly talking about unsolvable problems. My 1929 house had a service panel upgrade, from 80 to 250 amps, back when I wanted to run the AC on my motorhome a few years back. It wasn’t really that big of a deal.

If your house was built in 1929 and had an 80A panel it may have been upgraded in its past. I can think of several neighborhoods in our state where many homes have 30A or 60A service and many still use knob and tube wiring. None of them are ready for panel upgrades. I think EV's are still for those who are somewhat wealthy

[02nz]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

They don't use the same type of tires that many passenger cars use because they are very heavy vehicles to begin with and thus the tires wear out faster. They also do more damage to a roadway vs. their ICE cousins.

Amazing to me how easily de-bunked anti-EV talking points keep getting repeated.

Weight of Tesla Model 3: about 3700 lbs, not much more than the almost identically dimensioned BMW 3 series, at about 3600 lbs.
Weight of my 2020 Kia Niro EV: about 3800 lbs, again not much more than the same-size Mazda CX-30, at about 3500 lbs.

[ClassII]

If your house was built in 1929 and had an 80A panel it may have been upgraded in its past. I can think of several neighborhoods in our state where many homes have 30A or 60A service and many still use knob and tube wiring. None of them are ready for panel upgrades. I think EV's are still for those who are somewhat wealthy

Depending on where you live there can be some very generous subsidies and tax rebates for charger installation that can include upgrading the main panel. If you're shopping for fuses at the antique store it would be worth getting an EV just to replace all that old unsafe junk anyway.

[iamlucky13]

To clarify, what is your own question? You don't have to worry about whether other homes can have EV chargers installed. Just your own.

Are you asking if you should upgrade your service It sounds like yes, if you can afford to do so.

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

I don't think this is correct. Electrical code wouldn't allow installation of an EV charger without dedicated panel capacity.

My understanding is electric code defers to the panel manufacturer to determine the limit in terms of both number of circuits and capacity. Of course, what the service drop leading to your home can supply is also a factor. For example, I just checked and see branch circuits totaling 355A (accounting for the fact that 120V circuits only use one leg) on my 200A panel. This is a home with all electric appliances. It was built around the same time as the OP's, and I believe at that time, in our area (heating climate, and gas service was only common in major cities), 200A service was starting to become common.

I'm not certain there are no other code limits about branch circuit capacity, but of course, there is the practical limit where you might trip the main breaker. I don't know what appliance the OP has, but for me, the drier, the water heater, the oven, and the heat pump all running at the same time would probably be getting close to 100A. The breakers they are on add up to over 100A, although their actual draw is lower. When the electric furnace kicks in, which on its own is 60A, then we definitely would be over 100A.

[Mike Scott]

The vast majority are not even thinking of buying an EV so it's hardly a crisis. Individuals may or may not need to upgrade their home service if they buy an EV but that's not a crisis either. The need to continue upgrading the infrastructure of a fairly fragile and patched together electric grid has been a thing "forever" so still not a crisis but it could turn into one if the infrastructure development does not happen.

[Pdxnative]

You’re aware of the tax credits for panel upgrades and EV charger installations, right?

As mentioned, most people don’t even need a L2 charger, although most who have it think it’s worth the cost (we are in both categories).

For us, even with the minimal cost of charger installation the EV cost of ownership, convenience, driving experience wins hands down over ICE. Ymmv.

[fasteddie911]

Based on the prices of most EVs being sold, I doubt those various costs are a huge factor for many buyers.

[Millennial]

This reads like a conclusion in search of evidence.

Our home has a 100A service, but since we have mostly gas appliances we had no issue adding a 50A charger for our EV. Yes some homes might eventually need upgrades, but the same is true for those replacing gas furnaces with heat pumps or gas stoves with induction.

We got 52k miles out of the OEM tires on our model 3.

Obviously some people will need electrical upgrades, and some will tear through tires... But it's not universal.

[RobLyons]

It doesn't sound like the cost is a barrier to YOU, so is your concern about the cost to upgrade panels largely altruistic in nature, or perhaps driven by a greater concern about the expected societal consequences of doing nothing and continuing down the ICE path indefinitely?

It's concerning to me and throws a monkey wrench into the math for certain. Then it had me wondering if this affects many people, how will most deal with this? Will the feds be forced to step in with additional incentives, 0% loans, etc? If we only had a crystal ball...

[TomatoTomahto]

You’re aware of the tax credits for panel upgrades and EV charger installations, right?

As mentioned, most people don’t even need a L2 charger, although most who have it think it’s worth the cost (we are in both categories).

For us, even with the minimal cost of charger installation the EV cost of ownership, convenience, driving experience wins hands down over ICE. Ymmv.

One thing to note is that, of the people who switched back to ICE from an EV for their next purchase, the majority did not have an L2 charger at their home. You might not need L2, but it sure is nice to have.

[jebmke]

Based on the prices of most EVs being sold, I doubt those various costs are a huge factor for many buyers.

yes; and other factors. Good to have aspirational crossover dates I suppose but I think they are optimistic.

[quantAndHold]

MA charges an annual excise tax for all vehicles, including EVs.

Is it a flat fee or based on miles driven?

Once a system can be put in place that is similar in all states and at the federal level, many of the perceived economic advantages of an EV will start to disappear.

It doesn’t matter how much your total service is, what matters is the amount you’re using at once. Most people charge at night when they’re not using the electricity for other things, so 100A will be enough.

ACs are usually humming away down in the South during the summer.

cool the house at night or charge the car and be miserable at night. Tough choices

We’re not exactly talking about unsolvable problems. My 1929 house had a service panel upgrade, from 80 to 250 amps, back when I wanted to run the AC on my motorhome a few years back. It wasn’t really that big of a deal.

If your house was built in 1929 and had an 80A panel it may have been upgraded in its past. I can think of several neighborhoods in our state where many homes have 30A or 60A service and many still use knob and tube wiring. None of them are ready for panel upgrades. I think EV's are still for those who are somewhat wealthy

No, it wasn’t. The original service was 80 amp, and the house still mostly had the original wiring. 1929 is new enough that they weren’t still doing knob and tube.

If you don’t want an EV, don’t get one. That doesn’t mean they aren’t a good idea, or that it isn’t the way things are going in the future.

[Millennial]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

They don't use the same type of tires that many passenger cars use because they are very heavy vehicles to begin with and thus the tires wear out faster. They also do more damage to a roadway vs. their ICE cousins. At the moment there is no way to tax them for that damage i.e. they don't use gas so they don't pay for gas taxes at the pump. Eventually someone will have to figure out a way to collect taxes from EV owners to maintain the roads. Last time I checked those vehicles used to maintain a roadway still pollute a lot and now they'll be repairing the roads more frequently i.e. causing even more pollution.

This is not true. While there are some EV specific tires, they are mostly optimized around efficiency not weight. There are plenty of EVs that come with OEM tires that are not marketed to EVs. Yes they weigh a little more but not enough to need special tires... My model 3 weighs 600lbs less than a Ford explorer or a BMW 5 series. No one is on the internet saying those need special tires due to weight.

[RobLyons]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

Probably due to the instant torque, driving habits, having "fun", or a combination of several factors. I've conducted informal polls in several Tesla groups, in regards to tire life span and most are replacing tires every 15-25k miles! Friends are reporting the same.

[CletusCaddy]

Add to that, there's other costs such as many EVs go through tires much faster

I didn't know this.

Why do EVs go through tires faster?

They don't use the same type of tires that many passenger cars use because they are very heavy vehicles to begin with and thus the tires wear out faster. They also do more damage to a roadway vs. their ICE cousins. At the moment there is no way to tax them for that damage i.e. they don't use gas so they don't pay for gas taxes at the pump. Eventually someone will have to figure out a way to collect taxes from EV owners to maintain the roads. Last time I checked those vehicles used to maintain a roadway still pollute a lot and now they'll be repairing the roads more frequently i.e. causing even more pollution.

Hmm. How about tanker trucks delivering gasoline to the 100k+ gas stations across the country everyday. Think those have any impact on pollution or road damage?

You're right, but it's not that simple. Consider the total cost of an EV from the increased mining/pollution costs of an ever decreasing supply of raw materials for the batteries which drives the price up of batteries used in other applications like smartphones, and laptops, etc ... Then there is the increased cost of production of EV vehicles and the energy involved. One study suggested a break even point between 50,000 miles and 75,000 miles before an EV will have an overall impact on the environment. You'll never be able to get completely away from gasoline/diesel as many of them also deliver other goods and services that stock our stores and factories. An EV may sound great for some people who can afford it but it's not ready for the masses just yet and the overall costs on the economy and environment are difficult to calculate.

Yeah…all of that outweighed by tanker trucks fo sho

Gas trucks transporting gas to put in tanks for gas cars. Can’t imagine anything more ridiculous.

[orcycle]

I didn't think I would take my Tesla on road trips, but I recently did and it worked out great, even in February in colder temperatures. But I was traveling almost exclusively on I-5 between Oregon and California. For a couple years at least, I think Tesla's Supercharger network will be an advantage over other EVs, even as Tesla opens them up to non-Teslas. Since you already want one, I thought I would point out this advantage, apart from the other negatives of Tesla/Musk.

As for home charging, we have a total of three cars that take charging and one Level 2 charging station. When the kids are home from college, I have to manage charging schedules more closely, but when it's just an empty nest, it's pretty easy. We have a 200A panel, and I have up to 80A available for EV charging (future-proofing). I wish we had solar (and battery back up) but we don't get enough sun to make it worthwhile.

[RobLyons]

Depends on how much you drive around town.

I have a Tesla and charge at home with a regular wall outlet (120V) and it gives me about 40 miles of range every night, which is 14,600 miles per year. That is plenty for me. If you drive more miles than that on a daily basis, you’ll want a more powerful home charger.

On long trips, I use the Supercharger network, which is simple and fast.

Contrary to what you hear (from non-EV owners), the number of chargers around town is irrelevant. You will NEVER charge your car with anything other than your home charger within 100 miles of your home, so there doesn’t need to be “as many chargers as gas stations”. It’s like your phone, you just plug in every night. Totally different mindset than a gas car.

This is very insightful.

I'm like you, where I don't travel much outside of my daily work, gym, errands, home routine. I'm around 11k miles a year. I can trickle charge at work as well (12-13 hour shifts). So I don't even need to buy the home charger, I'll just have an electrician install a regular outlet on the front of my house.

Thank you!

[inverter]

We have 400A service, so the problem for us is academic. Many many parts of our home have been converted to electrical, especially our oil furnace became GSHP, our propane stove became induction, and the home had an EV charger installed.

I believe we will not be alone in the transition.

Did you do this work yourself, or did you buy a house with these features?

[Glockenspiel]

Last time I checked those vehicles used to maintain a roadway still pollute a lot and now they'll be repairing the roads more frequently i.e. causing even more pollution.

Hmm. How about tanker trucks delivering gasoline to the 100k+ gas stations across the country everyday. Think those have any impact on pollution or road damage?

1000%. Electricity is delivered over transmission lines and grid system already in place. Gasoline is delivered by thousands of 80,000 lb tanker trucks to far reaches of the country.

[TomatoTomahto]

We have 400A service, so the problem for us is academic. Many many parts of our home have been converted to electrical, especially our oil furnace became GSHP, our propane stove became induction, and the home had an EV charger installed.

I believe we will not be alone in the transition.

Did you do this work yourself, or did you buy a house with these features?

Aside from the home's 400A service which the previous owner (an EE, incidentally) had installed, all the other electrical work was done/contracted by us.

[TheGreyingDuke]

There is a good presentation here outlining how to (possibly) avoid a panel upgrade:
https://youtu.be/47dl0FGKJWE

[TheGreyingDuke]

to add...

Charging at home with a 110 outlet would not be viable, in my experience. It would take a Tesla nearly two days to go from 20-80% (roughly calculated)

[nickb]

While not a panacea, there are products to help address some of these issues, particularly peak consumption, like the Span.io "smart" panel, particularly when paired with their Span Drive L2 EVSE. The panel does real-time, per-circuit monitoring, and some other nifty features, but the important feature for this thread is that it will automatically reduce the power to their L2 EVSE to stay below the utility service maximum (e.g., if other household loads increase).

While I'm posting, I'll put a PSA in for the non-profit Rewiring America. I've found their Go Electric: Your Guide to the IRA! helpful as well as their IRA Savings Calculator.