Electric Vehicles: What You Need to Know About Home Charging

You've reserved your electric vehicle and can't wait to zip around town in an all-electric Nissan Leaf, plug-in Chevrolet Volt or one of the models soon to hit the road.

But choosing the "EV" that's right for you is just the first step. You will need a reliable place to charge up your electric car, and for most people that means getting a "charging station" installed in their garage -- a process likely to require a permit and sign-off from your local building inspector.

Among the questions to ask yourself: What kind of home charging system does the auto maker advise you to get? How many miles do you expect to drive each day? What time do you expect to start charging your car? Most importantly, have you told your utility company you plan to get one?