LA Auto Show: Best Buy to sell and install electric-car chargers

Nov 19, 2010 4:43 PM

As part of Mitsubishi's i-MiEV conference yesterday, the company announced that it is partnering with Best Buy to support i-MiEV customers. The retailer will begin selling and installing home recharging stations built by Eaton Corporation next year. An Eaton representative said that the price for the 220-volt Level 2 chargers hasn't been set yet, but that it would be "well below $1,000."

In addition to installing the charger, Best Buy will assess a customer's household electrical needs and help with any needed upgrades. A Best Buy representative said that its charging stations could be used with other electric cars besides the i-MiEV.

The cost for the electrical work would depend on the condition and design of the building's existing electrical circuits. In a previous article, "Should you plug in?", we said that such an installation could cost $300 to $2,000, according to Mark Duvall, director of the electric transportation program at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an electric-utility industry organization.

For more insight into what you should know before buying an EV, check out "Four questions to consider."

—Rik Paul

See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels.