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What Should I Know About Renters with Electric Cars?

Electric Vehicle ChargingIf you’re a renter, you may be seriously thinking of how that works with purchasing an electric car. Electric cars come with a range of benefits, but on the other hand, there are a handful of things you have to know when bringing your electric car home to your Upper Marlboro rental house. Going forward, we will speak about some tenant responsibilities that come with electric car ownership while renting. We will especially provide helpful tips on making owning an electric car work for you!

Electric Cars and Renting

You might already realize the many benefits of electric cars. Particularly, they’re more cost-effective to operate than gas cars. Electric vehicles also emit much less pollution than gas cars, making them a more environmentally friendly option. And, because electric vehicles are powered by electricity, you will have no worries as regards running out of gas!

These valuable benefits make electric cars a terrific and economical option for renters. Yet, while you may not need to fear gas prices, you do need to determine the perfect method to charge your vehicle between uses.

Charging Solutions

To charge an electric vehicle, you have to connect it to an external power source using a charging cable. The time it takes to charge an electric car depends on the size of its battery and the kind of charger you’re putting into use. A home charger is conventionally the slowest choice and public chargers are usually the fastest.

Lots of electric cars require a proprietary charging station, but certainly, others can be plugged into a 120v or 240v outlet in a garage or carport. There are positives and negatives to all options.

Charging Station

One of the greatest benefits of a charging station is that it is made to, as quickly as possible, replenish your electric vehicle’s battery in a short amount of time. But really, they can be expensive to purchase and install. You may also need your Upper Marlboro property manager’s permission to install the unit, and according to what kind of agreement you can agree on with your landlord, you may need to leave the station behind if you move.

120v Outlet

120v outlets, at the same time, are much more common and can be used with any electric car. To use one, you merely need a cord long enough to reach from your vehicle to the outlet. Although, be aware that they charge a little slower than proprietary stations. Recharging an average daily commute using a 120v outlet may take all night.

240v Outlet

You could also make use of a 240v outlet if your garage or carport already has one. These outlets are normally used for large appliances, like electric dryers. Be that as it may, if you don’t yet have a 240v outlet installed somewhere accessible, you may require having one installed. The same as the charging station, you would also need to secure landlord permission first and then pay for the installation, knowing you won’t be able to take it with you. Though on a positive point, a 240v outlet will charge an electric vehicle much quicker than a 120v outlet – oftentimes in just a few hours.

Regardless of which option you decide on, take into account that charging a vehicle at your rental property will always add to your electricity bill. If you pay for your own electricity as a renter, that may not matter to your landlord. Though if utilities are included in your rent, your landlord may necessitate you to pay an additional fee for charging your electric vehicle on the property. You should outrightly ask about this before you bring your new car home.

Public Charging

One last point to tackle, you could also choose to charge your electric vehicle using public chargers at work or other available locations. This solution can be convenient, as long as plenty of chargers are available in these places. You may even be able to locate one or more free charging stations. But countless public chargers, in general, charge by either the hour or kilowatt-hour (kWh), making public charging a more expensive option. You further need to always make sure you are using the suitable type of charger for your vehicle. Nonetheless, if charging your electric car at your rental home isn’t an option for you, public charging could understandably be the best solution.

Buying an electric car can be a sensible way to save money and help the environment, but there are many factors that you need to take into consideration if you’re a renter. By following the tips above, you can ascertain that owning an electric car works for both you and your landlord. And bear in mind to charge responsibly!

 

Are you looking to find a new rental home for you and your electric vehicle? Browse our listings to see what’s available in your area!

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