If you own an electric vehicle or are thinking of purchasing one soon, an at-home EV charger is essential. Without one, you’re forced to charge your vehicle at random parking lot charging stations and pay a premium. A home EV charging station lets you conveniently charge your car overnight and at standard residential electricity rates.
You may have heard of the different levels of charging for electric vehicles. A Level 1 charger uses a standard 120V home receptacle. It’s the slowest type of EV charger, and for most people, it simply does not charge quickly enough for regular driving. A Level 2 charger is the best at-home solution because it allows you to charge your vehicle to full overnight.
In general, the cost to install a hard-wired Level 2 EV charger at home is $1,000 – $1,500. This price depends on multiple factors, including the charger itself, installation, and any required permits. Below, we’ll give you a breakdown of these factors and why it’s so important to hire a reputable, local contractor on the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas to perform the installation.
Hardware Costs: Charger Brand and Features
Level 2 EV chargers can vary widely in price based on the brand, model, and necessary hardware. Each brand usually offers standard models that are more affordable or higher-amperage models that are more expensive. Ultimately, it comes down to preference. The more expensive the EV charger is, the faster it will charge your vehicle and the more features it will include. For example, some have WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
At Cascadia Solar, we work with the industry’s top EV charger brands to ensure the highest quality installation. They include:
- Enphase
- ChargePoint
- Grizzl-E
- Emporia
- Enel X
- Tesla (customer must provide charger)
Installation Labor
When you install a Level 2 EV charger at your home on the Olympic or Kitsap Peninsula, most of the cost will be from the installation itself. We will first assess your property to determine the best location for the charger and ensure your electrical infrastructure can support the device. From there, an electrician will need to install a new breaker in your panel for the charger, mount the charger, and run wiring from the electrical panel to the charger location. In most homes, this is straightforward. The charger is either mounted right on the outside of the home or inside a garage. The closer the equipment is to the electrical panel, the lower the cost.
Some homes will have a more complicated installation process. They might have to park their car in a detached garage far away from an electrical panel. In these instances, they might need underground wiring and conduit, which can increase installation costs.
Hardwired vs Plug-In
These are two forms of EV charger installations that homeowners can choose from. Receptacle (plug-in) chargers plug into a 240V receptacle. These are different from the standard 120V receptacles found in a home. It’s unlikely that you already have one where you’ll mount the EV charger, so this receptacle would have to be installed.
Most of the time, it’s better to hardwire the EV charger into your home’s electrical infrastructure. This is usually more affordable because it doesn’t require the additional cost of a GFI-protected 240V receptacle. Additionally, it’s safer, more reliable, less prone to nuisance tripping the breaker, and adds value to your home.
Permitting Costs Vary By County
Permitting and inspection fees are typically the smallest part of the cost to install an EV charger at home. These fees vary by local jurisdiction and county, but in general, they’re a few hundred dollars. When you work with Cascadia Solar, you don’t have to worry about applying for permits or paying your county or inspector directly; we’ll handle those interactions on your behalf. After installation, we’ll also coordinate with the inspector to ensure your system is installed correctly and you receive permission to operate
Why You Should Work With an Experienced Installer
Hiring a qualified electrician ensures you get the most value from your EV charger installation. They’ll work with high-end chargers from top brands, and they’ll minimize your installation costs by designing the most practical solution.
Cascadia Solar is part of Frederickson Electric, a 50+ year company that serves the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas. We are licensed electricians first and excel at providing whole-home solutions to our customers, including PV solar. If you’d like to integrate your new EV charger into a solar system, we’re happy to help with that. We have deep technical expertise, and we can complete every element of your EV charging installation without subcontractors. From start to finish, you’ll get assistance from a team of experts here to make your charger installation as seamless as possible.
