Where the charger goes
The best spot is where the cable reaches the charge port without stretching across the garage floor. Outside, the charger and its connections have to be rated for wet locations. The farther that spot is from your breaker box, the longer the wire run, and the distance is one of the biggest parts of the price. Ben put one in a garage for a customer and added a bathroom outlet on the same visit:
Ben, the electrician assigned to our home project, was as friendly and professional as one could hope. He added a line/outlet to our bathroom and installed an EV charger in the garage exactly as planned. This necessitated a few trips under the house, but he left no trace (he came with dedicated in-house shoes!). And, everything works! …
Can my panel handle a car charger?
A home charger usually needs its own 240-volt circuit, often 40 or 50 amps. If the breaker box has two open spaces and the house has power to spare, the job is the charger and the wire. If the panel is full, a new panel usually solves it. Many chargers can also be set to a lower charging rate to match the power the house has. We work out which of those fits your house, and when a service upgrade is the better answer, you see that cost separately.
Rebates to check before you buy
If SUB supplies your power, it lists a $500 rebate for a new ENERGY STAR Level 2 charger at a home with an electric vehicle registered to the same address, and the form is due within 60 days of installation. EWEB's Smart Charge program lists up to $500 for qualifying residential Level 2 charging, and Lane Electric lists a $500 residential charger rebate for members. Each utility has its own rules about which chargers qualify, so check the list before you pick a model. The EV charging guide links to each program.
Patrick K. had Jesse wire a car charger and a hot tub on the same job:
Jesse installed a car charger and all the wiring, equipment and conduit needed to install a hot tub. He and his crew did a great job!
Permit, inspection, and the paperwork
We pull the electrical permit, install the circuit, and the charger, and call for the inspection. Keep the charger receipt, the model number, and the inspection record together, because rebate forms ask for them. If you're planning a detached garage or shop, a charger circuit is easy to add while that wiring goes in.