If you've recently bought an electric vehicle — or you're planning to — you've probably started thinking about home charging. The good news is that home charging is significantly cheaper and more convenient than relying on public networks. The question is which setup makes sense for your home and your driving habits.
Level 1 Charging: The Slow Option
Level 1 charging uses a standard 120V household outlet — the same type every appliance in your home already uses. You plug your EV directly into the wall using the cord that came with the car. No additional equipment needed.
What you get: Roughly 3–5 miles of range per hour of charging. If you drive 30 miles per day, you need 6–10 hours of charging to recover what you used.
Level 1 is adequate if you drive fewer than 30–40 miles per day and have 10+ hours at home each night to charge. It works. But for most drivers it's a frustrating limitation rather than a real solution.
Level 2 Charging: The Right Choice for Most Homeowners
Level 2 charging uses a 240V circuit — the same voltage as your dryer or electric range. This requires a dedicated circuit and a wall-mounted charging unit (called an EVSE), but the payoff is dramatic.
What you get: 20–30 miles of range per hour. A fully depleted battery on most EVs can be fully recharged in 6–8 hours. In practice, most people plug in when they get home and wake up to a full charge every morning.
Does Your Home Need a Panel Upgrade First?
This is the question most homeowners don't think to ask — and it's the most important one. A Level 2 charger requires a dedicated 240V circuit, typically rated at 40–50 amps. If your electrical panel is already at or near capacity, there may not be room to add that circuit safely.
We assess your panel before quoting every EV charger installation. In many cases, a panel upgrade and EV charger can be installed in the same visit, keeping the project scope and cost manageable.
What the Installation Process Looks Like
- We assess your panel capacity and discuss charger placement options
- We recommend the right charger for your EV brand and charging habits
- We pull the required permit with your city
- Installation typically takes a few hours for the charger plus circuit work
- City inspection is scheduled and attended by us
- You're ready to plug in the same day
Why Permits Matter for EV Charger Installation
A surprising number of EV charger installations are done without permits. This matters for three reasons: your homeowner's insurance may not cover damage from an unpermitted electrical installation, your EV manufacturer may void the warranty if charging equipment isn't code-compliant, and when you sell your home, unpermitted work can surface in the inspection and complicate the sale.
We pull permits on every EV charger installation we do. It takes us a few days, adds a small amount to the timeline, and protects you entirely.