FAQs

To maximize the cost and convenience benefits of an electric car, you should charge it at home most of the time. Plugging in your EV overnight is convenient and also will help extend the life of your battery. All you need to do is plug the car in – just like you would a smartphone or laptop. The best place and time to charge is at home while you’re sleeping, because many electrical utilities offer discounted rates during late-night hours. In order to charge at home, you’ll need to obtain a Level 2 charger – which is included in the purchase price of many but not all EVs– and have access to a 220-volt outlet where you park your vehicle. If you don’t have such an outlet available, you will need the assistance of a professional electrician. That's where we come in and make sure your outlet has the capability to handle adding a level 2 charger. Some homes might require a panel upgrade. This will be discussed during our initial consultation.

Gasoline vehicles all “fill up” at about the same speed, different levels of chargers will charge your EV at different speeds. Level 1 chargers plug into a 110-volt household outlet and really should only be used for plug-in hybrids. They will only add about 3 to 5 miles per hour of charging, making them inconvenient for electric cars. Most EV owners will charge using a Level 2 charger at home or work. Running on a 220-volt outlet, a Level 2 charger can deliver between 12 and 80 miles of charge per hour – meaning you can generally get a full charge overnight. Level 3 chargers, or DC fast chargers, are used to get a rapid charge when you’re taking a trip. They can deliver a charge rate of 3 to 20 miles per minute or more, and can fill most EVs in less than an hour.

If you do not already have a 220-volt outlet in your garage or by your driveway, you will need the help of a professional electrician. One of our technicians will check your home’s electrical infrastructure and install any upgrades required to charge your EV reliably.

If you’ve been driving a gasoline car for a number of years, you know how much it costs you every week or month to put gas in your car. When you switch to an EV, the first thing you’ll notice is that you’re not buying gas anymore. But if you’re charging your EV at home, you will notice that your monthly electric bill will increase. How much it increases varies with the cost of electricity in your area. On average, charging your electric car will cost you less than half as much as fueling a gasoline-powered vehicle. Want to figure out how much your bill will go up? Divide the number of miles you drive per month by the EV’s miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh) rating; then multiply that by the cost per kilowatt-hour. For example, if you drive 1,000 miles a month, and your Tesla Model 3 gets 3.3 mi/kWh, you will use 303 kWh of electricity. If your electricity cost per kWh is $0.25, you will spend approximately $76 on charging.

Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers both operate on alternating current (AC) like you have in your home. Level 1 chargers plug into a 110-volt plug, like you’d plug your laptop into; therefore, they can only deliver about 3 to 5 miles per hour of charging – making them inconvenient for electric cars. Use Level 1 chargers only for plug-in hybrids.A Level 2 EV charger connects to a 220-volt outlet, like you’d plug your clothes dryer into. Depending on the electrical infrastructure, and the specific charger model, a Level 2 chargercan deliver between 12 and 80 miles of charge per hour – making it a great fit for charging your EV at home.

Starting at $499 if it is installed right by your electrical panel and an additional $40 per additional ft if it is installed further away from your panel. $50 for an initial in person consultation and if you accept our quote we will deduct that consultation fee from your total cost after we are done with your installation.