Month: September 2016 | NextGen Electric

Solar adoption is taking flight thanks to the price of solar panels plummeting. This enables homeowners and businesses to save more money by controlling their own electricity costs instead of being at the mercy of rising utility rates.

We’ve shared before about the top motivators to switch to solar but for most, the federal incentive is where it’s at! Thanks to the Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, homeowners can help themselves to a 30% incentive.

The Best Part?

This incentive is now good through December 31, 2019!

A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of taxes owed. For example, a typical solar array with Next Gen will cost around $13,000 for a 4 kilowatt installation. In this example, the homeowner would benefit from the federal tax credit and reduce their taxes by $3,900. Yes, please!

This incentive is super easy to take advantage of. Like with any good deal, you much do your research to ensure that you’re eligible and how to claim your credit.

REMEMBER:

We know solar, not taxes! The information provided below may not be appropriate for your situation. Be sure to consult a tax professional before filling your tax credit to ensure you meet the requirements.

Eligibility

To qualify for the 30% Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, you must meet the following requirements:

Have A System Installation Date On Or Before December 31, 2019
Panels Are On A Residential Location In The U.S.
The Solar Panel System Is New Or Being Used For The First Time
You Own The Panels (Not Leased)

Your Next Gen team is happy to help with any questions you may have. We know that going solar is a big decision and a large financial decision. That’s why we want to make sure that you are fully educated on how much your specific situation will cost and how much money you can expect to stay in your pocket. For a free Solar Site Evaluation, visit our website or call our office to get scheduled today: 208.765.WIRE.

For current information on incentives, including incentive-specific contact information, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website at www.dsireusa.org.

Trading a gas pump for a plug-in is a wonderful thing. It’s far more convenient, saves you time, and keeps you from breathing toxic fumes after fueling. Charging is a different experience all together and understanding the ins and outs can take some time. I’ve been driving electric for over two years and I’m still learning!

If you’re looking to drive electric, you may want to get ahead of the learning curve now. It will save you some time and it may even help you save some money!

Mostly, I’ll relate how charging works for a Nissan Leaf, a four-door, five-passenger hatchback with a range of about 100 miles. I’m most proficient with this product since that’s what we have for our family vehicle. I’m my experience, it’s one of the best local commuter care since the Leaf is intended for typical daily driving, which means around 40 miles or less per day. Occasional longer trips are certainly possible with this vehicle. By understanding charging, you will soon be able to evaluate whether an EV will suit your driving needs.

Level 1 Charging: Standard Outlet

Level 1 charging is the technical jargon for plugging your car into a standard household 120V outlet. For a Leaf, this means about 4.5 miles of range per hour of charging, or about 22 hours for a full charge.

22 hours?! That’s way too long!

Hold on! Let’s break this down. First of all, you’ll rarely need to do a full charge from 100% empty to a full charge. If you drive 40 miles per day and charge overnight, you’ll be back to full in 9 hours. Think about charging your cell phone. Most of us plug in our phones at night once we hit the hay. We don’t think about how long it’ll take to charge once we’re sleeping, right? We’re just happy that charging is complete once we wake up and need to start our day.

What if you have to drive more than 40 miles in one day, say 80 miles? Yes, it would take 18 hours to get a full charge, but with a 9-hour overnight charge, you’ll be ready for your normal commute the next day. And, if you drive less than 40 miles per day or charge for more than 9 hours, you’ll work back up to a full charge over the next day or so.

If you need to drive 80 miles on consecutive days, you’ll need a “plan b”. That gas-guzzler you keep around for long trips? You may have to opt for that one. Or, there may be public EV chargers in your area. You can sneak in a movie, dinner, or shopping while you plug in.

Beyond range issues, Level 1 may not be suitable for primary charging in all cases. In extreme climates, more power may be required to maintain proper battery temperatures. In these cases, Level 2 charging may be more appropriate.

Level 2 Charging: Charging Station

Level 2 supplies 240V, like what an electric dryer or oven uses. It goes through a box and a cord that improves safety by waiting to send power to the plug until it’s plugged into an EV. Level 2 allows for a wide range of charging speeds, all the way up to 70 miles of range per hour of charging. Both Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations simply deliver household electricity to the car. Electronics within the car transform the power into the proper form which then charges the battery.
Nissan recommends that you install a Level 2 charging station at home. If your budget allows, you can consider if part of the cost of the car (it’s an added expense). There’s also a 30% federal tax credit (up to $1,000) for installing EV charging, which can make it less expensive. Still, if you are planning to use your EV for a daily commute of 40 miles or less per day, you should at least consider using Level 1 charging at home. You can always add a Level 2 charging station later if you decide you need it.

In the works currently, 20,000 public Level 2 charging stations (limited to 6.6 kW) will be installed. Even if you only have Level 1 charger in your garage, you may have access to convenient Level 2 charging available while your car is parked and you’re doing something else.
I’m already beginning to see these charging stations in my town and surrounding area. They now make it possible to drive 60 miles and pick up about 50 miles of range in 4 hours while you’re having fun, thus easily driving over the single-charge range while always keeping a healthy reserve.

Regardless if you decided to use a Level 1 or a Level 2 charger, remember that Next Gen Electric can install either of them for you! Still need some help deciding what is best for your needs? Shoot me a message. I’m happy to respond to inquiries regarding EV’s, chargers, and any other electrical questions: info@nextgencda.com. You can also schedule a FREE consult where I will come out to your home or business and go over options that suit you best.

Are You Eligible?

The Best Part?

REMEMBER:

Eligibility

Understanding Electric Vehicle Charging

Level 1 Charging: Standard Outlet

Level 2 Charging: Charging Station

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