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Nov 04, 2024

Woman installs EV charging station at home and shares monthly bills - now people say it's 'not worth wasting money' | The US Sun

A HOMEOWNER who installed an in-home EV charging station disclosed her monthly electric statement, but some people were unconvinced it's worth the hassle. The woman sparked a debate among her TikTok

A HOMEOWNER who installed an in-home EV charging station disclosed her monthly electric statement, but some people were unconvinced it's worth the hassle.

The woman sparked a debate among her TikTok followers after disclosing the monthly electricity bill she and her husband pay for charging two Teslas at their home.

In other videos, the TikToker, who goes by Larubyacevedo on the platform, described how she and her husband had recently switched to electric vehicles and installed two Tesla home chargers.

However, it was her video where she explained her monthly electric bill that was at the center of a TikTok firestorm.

Ruby explained to her more than 2,000 followers that her last electric bill was around $130 to $150 for the month.

"My husband and I charged every night," she said in the clip, which has garnered more than 180,000 views.

"We drive about 80 to 100 miles per day. So, as soon as we got home we charge.

"We only charge between 9 pm and 8 am. That's off-peak hours, and we have solar panels in our house, and we installed two chargers.

"So there is a lot of electricity used per night, but because we have solar panels, they subsidize all of that energy."

In a separate video, Ruby explains how she and her husband paid around $1,500 to install a Tesla charging station at their home.

Despite the impressive monthly savings, some gas drivers weren't convinced the EVs are worth the headache.

One person commented, "I looked into the cost. It just doesn't make sense for us. Maybe if I lived in Florida? Again, replacing the roof is extra cost, hooking up to the system, the system itself and the financing."

"So you're saying it's not worth wasting money on EVs," another wrote.

A third person said, "That's expensive as I only pay $30 during off peak times and I drive for delivery jobs like Grubhub etc.

"That has to be for their whole house."

However, others were optimistic about the monthly savings electric vehicles can produce.

"My solar panels payment is $130. I owned one electric car. I almost never have an electric bill and I have a pool and hot tub too," one person wrote.

A second commented, "That's good. I don't have solar panels and I pay $180 a month to charge 1 car.

"I also live in AZ and am always running AC so my bill isn't higher than it would normally be."

"I charge my Tesla everyday at home. My bill went up like $30. I drive around 60-80 miles per day," another said.

"My electric company also gives me an incentive to charge during off peak hours."

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Ruby for comment.

Finding a public charger for your electric vehicle doesn't have to be difficult.

Many modern EVs have their own manufacturer-specific connected services technology that can locate compatible chargers.

With more automakers gaining access to Tesla's Supercharging network with an NACS charging port, it can be even easier due to the vastness of the network.

According to an article from J.D. Power, additional ways to locate functioning and available chargers can be achieved with Plug In America, the PlugShare app for iOS and Android, or the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Electrify America and EVgo provide the most accurate charging data, the site said, as they frequently update data over the air.