New Hampshire's Lakes Region: What Every EV Owner Should Know

Thinking of moving to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire? Love your electric vehicle, or hope to have one someday? 

Then keep reading...this is for you.

Upon trading the city life for the NH lakes and mountains in 2021, my Tesla Model Y was one of my first big purchases. It is hands down the best car I've ever had.

But it definitely came with a learning curve...especially in this area. 

Here's what I wish I knew years ago, about living in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with an EV:

1. A Home Charger Is A Must

If you can charge your EV at home, EV ownership in the Lakes Region is SO easy. You pull into your driveway at the end of the day, plug in, and wake up with a full—or mostly full—charge.

With a home charger, you don't have to build your day around finding a charger, comparing gas prices, or even really thinking about it....at all.

That said- NH has tons of older homes...we're talking 1800s and earlier. It isn't uncommon for homes (even some 20th century builds) to have 100 amp service, which would likely need an overhaul if you're planning to charge your EV at home. 

Most EVs will require a dedicated 50-60 amp circuit breaker with copper wiring to support a home charger. So when you're looking at houses, don't just ask, “Does this house have a garage?”

You'll want to be working with a realtor who understands the electrical and structural requirements for EV home charging, potential roadblocks, and who to call when you need to configure a home for an EV charger. 

2. Be Aware of Supercharger Deserts

One of the things I was pleasantly surprised about when I first became a proud Tesla owner, was how many superchargers there already are!

If you're new to the EV lingo, a supercharger is a station where you can pull up, plug in, grab a coffee or a quick bathroom break, and get enough charge to be on your way in about 15 minutes. 

When driving a gas car, you barely notice these supercharger stations. But once an avid EV driver - you will realize how much more common these chargers "in the wild" actually are!

I've taken multiple road trips, going as far as 8 hours away, and have never had an issue with staying charged. 

That said...there are some areas that haven't gotten the memo. 

The Eastern side of Lake Winnipesaukee, for example, is one.

There are multiple supercharger options in the Western half of the Lakes Region: Tilton, Meredith, and Ashland to name a few.

But on the 'Boro side of the lake...towns like Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough...? Good luck. 

If you're planning on relying primarily on public charging, I would absolutely look at the Telsa supercharger map when choosing your new hometown. 

3. You Can Optimize The Electricity Bill

If I could go back in time, the first thing I would do would be to narrow my home search to towns with fantastic electricity providers, as the costs can vary pretty dramatically from company to company, and from town to town.

For example, residents in Wolfeboro can participate in the Wolfeboro Electric Co-op which offers electricity rates far below the statewide competitor, Eversource. The NH Electric Co-op is another for other Lakes Region towns. 

The real hack though, is solar. 

Justin Paynter, proud EV owner and Sales Manager at Revision Energy explains it perfectly: "A solar array is the equivalent of having a gas station on your roof, and the incoming fuel is the sun. A New Hampshire EV owner with solar who drives 15,000 miles per year will pay approximately $345 to drive their car. This is in comparison to $1,114 of the same energy from the electric grid, or a whopping $2,125 at today gas prices."

A seasoned realtor can help you identify pros and cons of a great solar setup...but that's a blog for a different day. 

4. Regenerative braking is weirdly fun around here

If you already drive an EV with regenerative braking, you know.

For everyone else: regenerative braking basically allows the car to recover some energy when you slow down. (Imagine if every time you hit the brakes, you got a splash of gas added back into your tank...it's kind of like this.)

And around here, there are a lot of hills. Driving through the Lakes Region and into the mountains gives you plenty of opportunities to appreciate it.

One of my favorite adventures I've taken my Tesla on, is driving the 6,288 feet of elevation to the top of the Northeast USA's highest peak: Mount Washington.

While the the rest of the gas guzzlers were frantically downshifting and trying not to blow out their brakes, my car quietly and cleanly gained range, without me touching the brake pedal once. 

5. Winter is different

This is a big one if you're moving to New Hampshire from somewhere warmer.

Cold weather noticeably affects EV range.

Your July range and your February range will likely be a bit different.

Most winter days are fine. But I do remember a specific single-digit-temperature day that was just brutal, and my Tesla barely made it home on its charge.

If you're an EV driver moving from a more temperate climate, you will need to adjust your charging habits to account for a faster drop in battery. And as an avid skier who lives here for the ski and snowboard scene..this can be a big deal. 

Fortunately though, many ski resorts have caught on to the growing demand for charging options.

As of the time of writing this, several of the major resorts such as Gunstock, Cranmore Mountain Resort, and Loon Mountain have installed charging options within the last few years.

6. Service Is Tricky

Here's one that might not occur to you when you're falling in love with a house on a beautiful country road:

Where am I going to take my car if it needs service?

Tesla currently has a store, service center and delivery center in Londonderry, NH. From the Lakes Region, that can mean a 1-2 hour drive.

Something you'll want to check, is how versed the local mechanic is with your make and model of EV. Fortunately for me, my small town mechanic at Alton Auto Alignment has been able to assist with every mechanical issue I've encountered (tire rotation, flat tire fixes, broken windshield, air filtration issues, etc). 

But if you happen to run into a more complex issue, or need a part that is specific to just your EV...you may be facing either a long drive, or a several-week wait before a technician can come out to your home. 

7. There's a Whole EV Community

If you own a Tesla in New England, you absolutely need to know about the Tesla Owners Club of New England. It's co-founder, David Connaughton, organizes several events throughout the region.

In his words, "from late spring into fall we run Charge & Chats, Foliage Convoys to the Mount Washington Summit, and volunteer at the Mount Washington Road Race to help runners get down from the summit."

Additionally, Connaughton shares "New Hampshire Motor Speedway offers laps for charity events around the oval and road course. My Tesla does quiet fast laps. Fun to ride on a NASCAR track. May through October in New Hampshire...then the long run south."

Which brings me to #8...

8. Snowbird Tested, Snowbird Approved

Census data tells us that some towns in the Lakes Region consist of over 50% of seasonal, non-primary residences. It is extremely common for retirees to split their time between the comfortable NH summer, and migrate south during the colder months. 

So...how smooth is that trip?

According to Connaughton, a snowbird himself, "The Supercharger network between New Hampshire & Florida is solid. The car's navigation plans the stops. Plug in, take a break, and keep moving. Plenty of hotels along the route offer free overnight charging, so a night's stay often means I leave in the morning with a full battery." 

In summary, it may seem like I'm trying to sell you an EV.

I am not. 

I'm not even trying to tell you that everyone should have one.  

But if you're already thinking of purchasing a home or 2nd home in the NH Lakes Region, have an EV or hope to have one in the future, I'd be honored to help you find the perfect property. 

At the very least, I'm ready to meet you at the NASCAR track for some warmup laps ;)