EV CHARGER INSTALLATION
CERTIFIED EV CHARGING STATION INSTALLER
I am certified by the state of Illinois Commerce Commission as an EV installer, a certification shared with ComEd for its residential customers.
I am also a certified installer with the City of Naperville, for their unique power utility.
LEVEL 2 CHARGING INSTALLATION
EV charger installations can radically improve your home charging time, whether it's a Tesla charging station or other brand. I usually install either Tesla or ChargePoint charging stations, but I can also install a simple receptacle outlet if you prefer a mobile connector, or any other brand out there. The ChargePoint Flex is my most popular selection, which is compatible with any make of car on the market, can use either a J1772 or NACS (Tesla) plug, and can draw up to 48A to charge your electric vehicle.
A typical 15A outlet will take a full 40 hours to charge a sedan such as the Model 3, whereas a 48A Level 2 charger would only take 5 hours. It is a huge upgrade in charge times, and well worth the investment, especially after rebates.
COST BREAKDOWN
The short answer is that over the past year, my home EV charger install costs (minus the charging unit) have averaged around $1200, with a typical range from $800 to $1600. The cost of the ChargePoint Flex that I usually install adds $600, while the Tesla charger adds $460. The picture below details current market pricing in the Naperville/Chicago area for such installs.
The cheapest installs will be situations where the charger is installed directly adjacent to the panel, while the most expensive will be where wiring must be run dozens of feet through drywall ceilings in a basement and fished through wall partitions to reach the desired charger location. Major factors are:
- The Distance between Panel and Charger
- The Ceiling Type (unfinished, drop tiles, drywall) and Wall Type between the Panel and Charger
- The Charge Rate (a lower charge rate can reduce wire sizing and costs)
- Overall Complexity of Framing (in walls/ceilings/spaces I need to traverse with wiring)
- Hardwire vs Plug
I usually will do an in-person inspection of the property prior to giving out a quote, which will include an overview of your current electrical system and its available load.
CHARGER REBATE OFFERS
I can also assist you in finding rebates for your EV charger install, which can offset a large portion of the total cost. Residents of Naperville are eligble to receive up to a $500 credit for an EV charger install through the city's power company, but this requires using a registered contractor such as myself and having me pull a permit for the job (always recommended regardless). Some residents of Naperville are also eligible for a further $1000 tax credit from the IRS.
ComEd customers, such as those in Bolingbrook and Woodridge, may be eligble for up to $3750 in credit if income-eligible, or $1000 otherwise.
LEVEL 1 vs LEVEL 2 CHARGING STATIONS
Level 1 charging stations plug in to a standard wall receptacle. These are heavily limited in the amount of energy they can use, generally no more than 12-16A continuously at 120V. This is generally insufficient for anything more than very light, local driving.
Level 2 charging stations are either hardwired to your panel or plug in to heavier duty receptacles, such as the standard 50A NEMA, and utilize a power-doubling 240V circuit. So not only is the amperage greatly increased versus a Level 1 plug, but also that amperage's power is doubled by heading up to 240V. Even if your panel cannot permit a full 48A charge rate, even a 32A 240V charge rate will be over 5 times faster, and often fully sufficient for daily use.
I generally recommend and install hardwired level 2 chargers rather than plug-in. This saves some cost typically, and reduces the complexity of the installation, as well as being safer in my opinion. It also opens up the possibility of rebate offers, detailed below.
CHARGER LOAD CONSIDERATIONS
The most important element of a new install is making sure the wiring and electrical panel can handle the heavy load, as well as making sure the piping and wiring are secure and safely installed with shock protection where required. The last thing you want is your car to charge you!
There are a few other significant concerns that we can help with, including the load capabilities of your existing electrical panel and service size, as well as the charge rate you can use with your home's setup. We can help pull a permit for your job and ensure that you have sufficient overhead for your charger and an appropriate charging rate.
Another option, if it requires electrical upgrades for a Level 2 Charger, is to install a Load Controller rather than a full service upgrade. This can be 90% cheaper than a service upgrade without radically overhauling your existing home's electrical system.
I highly recommend to my clients to go onto their power company's online dashboard to find a chart of their past year's Peak Demand. This will tell you exactly how much power you have required in the previous year, in 15-minute increments, so you can get an idea of how much headroom remains for your EV charger. *NOTE* this will not satisfy the Code Required load calculation, which unfortunately tends to be more conservative than actual usage; but, it is something you can do at home for a quick check, and it helps me to understand your current situation better.
