Building a Garage for Your Electric Car

What Should a Garage for an Electric Car Include?

A garage for an electric car should have enough room for the vehicle, power for an EV charger and protection from the weather.

At a Glance

When planning an electric car garage, think about:

• Allowing more space than your current car needs
• Where to install the EV charger
• How the power supply and charging cable will reach the car
• Leaving enough room to reach the charging port
• Adding Wi-Fi for a smart charger
• Leaving space for another electric car in the future.

Why Have a Garage on Your Property for Your EV?

Weather protection

Inside a garage, the electric car will be sheltered from the elements - snow, rain, hail, and wind. The bodywork will stay in better condition for longer.  

Safety

As electric cars tend to be valuable, it makes sense to keep yours secure and out of sight. Plus, some insurance providers offer cheaper policies for drivers who store their car in a garage, rather than outdoors.

Insulation 

According to the RAC, cold weather can temporarily reduce an electric vehicle's driving range, by around 10-12%, because batteries operate less efficiently at lower temperatures. An insulated garage is less affected by changes in outdoor temperature. Keeping the car indoors also means it uses less energy to heat or cool the cabin when you set off.

Electricity

A garage gives you a sheltered place to charge your car using mains electricity or another energy source, such as solar panels fitted to the roof. Plan the charger position around the car’s charging port, and leave enough space to connect the cable easily.

Ask a qualified installer to check the electrical supply and fit the charger.

Windscreen cleanliness

With the EV tucked away under a solid roof, you won’t have to worry about visibility before setting off. The windscreen will never be iced or covered in sap and leaves, which can save you time before setting off.

What Should You Consider Before Choosing a Design For a Garage For An Electric Car?

Choose your EV before designing the garage, so you know how much space you need and where to place the charger.

Height and width

Check where the charging port is and confirm the car’s width and height before choosing the garage size.

If you have the space, choose a garage slightly larger than your current EV needs. We don’t know how the design of EVs will change in the future. They could become bigger or have the charging port in another position, so the extra room will make it easier to change cars later.

Also think about where you’ll put the charger. Will it be more convenient at the front or the back of the building? How far from the electric car charging port can it be? Bear in mind that charging cable lengths vary between charger models.

Energy source

Next, decide how you will power the EV charger. You can connect it to your home’s mains supply or fit solar panels to the garage roof. A mains connection may need new cables and groundworks, while solar panels need new wiring and equipment.

Ask a qualified electrician who follows Approved Document P: Electrical Safety to check your plans before the installation.

No matter what you decide, make sure you can provide enough energy to the charging station to fully charge the EV each night. 

Cabling

The charger will need its own circuit. If it connects to your home’s mains supply, plan the cable route before laying the garage base.

Thinking of storing two EVs in a bigger outbuilding? You’ll need to allow for two charging station circuits, plus one for the lights and plugs. 

Always get a full consultation with an electrician before you order a garage, so the building can be designed with your energy needs in mind.

Wi-fi or no wi-fi

If you want to fit a smart charging station in the garage, you will need to install a wi-fi network in the building. 

You can either test if your home wi-fi reaches the outbuilding, use a range extender, or buy a 4G router. If you're installing a router and modem, they will also need electricity to work.

Should You Build a Garage Specifically for an Electric Car?

If you're building a new garage, it's worth designing it around your electric car from the start. A new outbuilding also offers extra room for storage, a workshop, or hobbies.

Plan the garage size, charger position, power supply and cable routes before building starts. This is easier than adding them later and leaves room for another charger in the future.

Which Type of Building Is Best for an Electric Car Garage?

This will depend nearly entirely on you, where and how you live, as well as your preference.

A traditional carriage house or oak framed garage sits perfectly next to a period property, they offer incredible flexibility and you can choose to have open bays or closed bays with garage doors. In some instances though, a slightly simpler wooden garage may be the ideal solution, these can be lower profile and are always enclosed for security.

The Olson team are on hand to help with choices and suggestions, to match garages and car heights and widths and even to assist with planning drawings. Explore the ranges and drop us a line.