Thanks to rising gas prices and a growing desire to be environmentally friendly, interest in electric vehicles has exploded in recent years. But while electric vehicles allow you to avoid the need to gas up your car regularly and produce fewer emissions, they do present a challenge for their owners: How do you keep your EV charged up?
The best way to do so is by having an EV charger installed at your home. But unfortunately, many homeowners don’t know what this entails, whether their home is suitable for EV charger installation, or how to go about getting one installed.
Don’t worry — we’ll lay out everything homeowners need to know about having a home EV charger installed below!
EV Charger Types
There are essentially three different types of EV chargers available, which primarily vary based on the charging level they provide and the type of electrical input they require. Each presents a different set of pros and cons:
Level 1 Charger
The most basic form of EV charging, a level 1 charger, plugs into a standard household outlet, just like your toaster or vacuum does. This makes level 1 chargers very easy to install — you simply have to purchase the charger and plug it into an outlet in your garage.
However, this convenience and installation simplicity come at a price; level 1 chargers can’t charge up your vehicle very quickly. They’ll typically only add about 3 to 5 miles of vehicular range per hour spent charging. This means if you leave your car plugged in overnight for 10 hours, you’d only be able to travel 30 to 50 miles the next day before recharging.
This makes level 1 chargers ideal for people who don’t have a long daily commute, those who drive plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and those who have access to another vehicle for long drives.
Level 2 Charger
The ideal option for most California homeowners, level 2 chargers can charge your car quickly enough to add 20 to 60 miles of range for every hour spent charging. In other words, you’d be able to drive 200 to 600 miles by charging your car overnight for 10 hours — much farther than the typical work commuter needs to go.
However, level 2 chargers must be installed by licensed electricians. Additionally, you’ll need to have access to a 240-volt outlet (the kind your dryer or oven uses) to use these kinds of chargers. If you don’t have such an outlet in your garage, you’ll have to have one installed. You may even need to have your home’s electrical panel upgraded to accommodate the additional 240-volt outlet.
This means that level 2 chargers can be much more expensive to install. In addition to the cost of the charger (which will likely run between $300 and $1,200), you’ll likely have to spend between $400 and $1,800 on the installation if your home already has a 240-volt outlet in the garage. If you need the outlet installed and your electric panel upgraded, the total installation costs may climb to as high as $5,000 in some cases.
Level 3 Charger
Level 3 chargers are industrial-grade devices, and they’re typically located in places like public charging stations or along highways. These kinds of chargers require 480 volts of electricity or more, and they have additional capabilities, such as being able to bypass the vehicle’s onboard charger and deliver direct current (DC) straight into the vehicle’s battery.
These kinds of chargers work very quickly, and they’re capable of adding up to 100 miles of range with as little as 20 minutes of charging (depending on the vehicle — some vehicles aren’t intended to be charged this quickly).
However, these types of chargers can’t be installed in residential settings, as few homes have the electrical capacity or grid connection needed for DC fast charging. It’s also overkill for most typical EV car owners. But perhaps the most obvious reason it isn’t ideal for the average California homeowner is the cost; installing a Level 3 charger typically costs between $50,000 and $100,000!
Choosing the Right EV Charger
Now that you know you’re likely going to opt for a level 1 or level 2 charger, you can start narrowing down your options further. After all, there are a number of specific chargers available on the market.
Making that decision will require you to consider a few key things:
Charging Amperage
Different home EV car chargers deliver different amounts of amperage (electrical current). Different electric vehicles are designed to accept different levels of current, but generally speaking, the higher the amperage the charger delivers, the more quickly it’ll charge your car.
A few common amperage ratings home car chargers can provide are 30A, 40A, 48A, and 50A. Some electric vehicles will only accept 30A, but most will accept 32A to 48A.
Smart Features
Modern EV car chargers often come with a variety of smart features that provide considerable value. For example, some have scheduling capabilities, which allow you to charge your vehicle when electricity rates are at their lowest.
Other smart capabilities you may want to consider include mobile app integration, energy monitoring, and load management. Load management is particularly helpful for homes with multiple electric vehicles, and some models even allow you to share power between two ports.
Installation Considerations
It is almost always possible to install a level 1 or level 2 charger in California homes, but the amount of installation work that will be required — and therefore the costs involved — will vary.
For example, you may need to have your home’s electrical panel upgraded if it is already maxed out. You may also need to think about things like weather protection, if the charger will be installed outside. Finally, it’s important to ensure that the charger’s cable length will be able to reach your parking spot. If it won’t, you may need to have a new power outlet installed.
Planning for the Future
Because EV charger installation is a relatively significant project (at least in the case of a level 2 charger), you’ll want to think about your future needs. This will allow you to avoid having to make additional upgrades in the future.
So, be sure to consider factors like:
- Your future charging needs, if you anticipate adding an additional EV to your family.
- Integration with solar power systems and battery storage devices, if you use these kinds of non-traditional power sources.
- Whether you’d like to have the unit hardwired, if you plan on being in your current home for the foreseeable future.
Installation Costs
We’ve touched on the installation costs for EV chargers already, but we’ll provide more detailed information below so that you can budget appropriately for your project.
- Equipment: Level 2 chargers generally cost between $300 and $800; level 1 chargers are even more affordable.
- Labor: The labor costs associated with EV charger installation vary, but they’ll generally fall into the $400 to $1,800 range, depending on the project complexity.
- Wiring: If you need to have additional wiring installed, you may face additional costs in the $100 to $500 range.
- Panel Upgrades: The costs associated with panel upgrades vary significantly; minor upgrades may only add $500 to the total costs of your charger installation, but extensive upgrades may cost $4,000 or more.
- Permits: Depending on your municipality and the details of the project, you’ll typically find that permits cost between $50 and $300.
Ultimately, simple EV charger installs will generally cost between $700 and $2,000. Complex installation jobs, on the other hand, may cost $5,000 or more.
Is Your Home Ready for an EV Charger?
You’ll need to have a licensed and EVITP-certified electrician inspect your home’s electrical system to determine if your home is ready for a level 2 EV charger installation (the vast majority of homes are capable of supporting a level 1 charger). He or she can assess your existing panel and let you know whether or not you’ll need additional upgrades to support the charger.
You’ll also want to consider the logistics of the project, such as where you’ll place the charger, how long the cable will need to be to reach your car, and whether or not you’ll have to shield the charger from rain.
Additionally, you’ll need to consider scheduling; electric vehicle charger installation typically requires about 2 to 4 hours when no panel upgrades are required. If extensive upgrades must be made, the project could take multiple days.
Rebates and Incentives for EV Charger Installation
Part of the rise in electric vehicle popularity is due to some of the financial incentives and rebates currently offered. A few of the credits, rebates, and incentives you may be eligible for include:
- You may receive up to a 30% federal tax credit (up to $1,000 total) on the labor and hardware costs.
- Many local California electricity providers offer rebates of up to 100% for income-eligible homeowners.
- You may be eligible to receive $2,000 from California’s Clean Cars 4 All program.
The EV Car Charger Installation Process
If you decide to proceed with an electric vehicle charger installation project, you can expect the process to unfold as follows:
- Your licensed and EVITP-certified electrician will conduct an electrical assessment to identify any upgrades that’ll be necessary to complete the installation.
- You’ll select the specific charger you’d like to install, based in part on your discussions with a trusted electrician.
- You or your electrician will apply for the permits required to complete the job legally and in accordance with local electrical codes.
- The electrician will provide any panel, wiring, or electrical system upgrades necessary and then install the charger and associated hardware.
- You’ll have an inspection performed to verify that the charger was properly installed, and you’ll coordinate with your utility company to have the unit powered on (if necessary).
- You can apply for any rebates or tax incentives available to you.
This is the typical EV car charger installation process, but it’s important to note that every home and installation project is unique. Just be sure to discuss the process with your electrician before the work begins, so that you’ll be properly prepared for all the steps.
EV Car Charger Installation: Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about EV car charger installation in California? Want to know more about the process in general? We’ve gathered some of the questions we hear most commonly from homeowners and answered them below to help!
What’s the 80% rule for EV car charging?
The 80% rule states that EV owners should charge their vehicle’s battery to the 80% level most of the time. This helps to improve charging performance and extend battery longevity.
How much does it cost to put an electric charging station in your home?
There are a variety of factors that’ll influence the costs associated with EV charger installation. Installing a simple, level 1 charger may not cost more than the actual charger itself — perhaps as little as $300. On the other hand, you may have to pay $5,000 or more to have a level 2 charger installed if your home needs significant electrical system upgrades.
Is it worth having a 22kW charger at home?
Generally, 22kW chargers are overkill for residential scenarios, as most cars will only accept 7kW, and few homes are set up for three-phase power.
How much does it cost to have a 240V outlet installed for a car charger?
Installing a 240V outlet may cost between $500 and $1,200, depending on the specifics of your home and its electrical system.
Is it worth installing an EV charger in your home?
This is a question that every homeowner will have to answer for himself or herself after considering all of the factors involved. With that said, the vast majority of homeowners find that the convenience home car chargers provide easily offsets the investment required to have the charging system installed.
It’s also important to consider the safety and logistical value a home car charger provides — you’ll never have to worry that you can’t drive your car because you need a charging station.
How much will my electric bill go up with an electric vehicle?
The exact amount your monthly utility bills will increase after buying an electric vehicle will vary based on the amount of time you spend driving and the type of charger you install. However, most homeowners who drive an average amount (1200 miles per month) will find their electric bill increases by about $50 to $100 per month.
Rely on Alpha Omega Electric for Your EV Charger Installation Needs!
If you’re ready to have an electric vehicle charger installed at your home, contact the professionals at Alpha Omega Electric. As electric vehicle charger experts, we know exactly how to design the perfect charging station for your needs. We’ll be glad to provide you with a free estimate for the project and answer any questions you may have about electric vehicle chargers. We even have flexible financing options you can use to help make the installation affordable. Contact us now to get started!
