How Much Does Installing an EV Charger Cost?

If you took the plunge and switched to an electric vehicle (EV), congratulations! Your daily life and commute are about to become much more simplified thanks to the cars of the future. Along with purchasing an electric vehicle comes the decision of what type of charger to have installed in your home and other EV charger costs.

EV chargers are essential for electric vehicles to run efficiently, but you don’t need to pay an arm and a leg to get a quality, reliable charger installed in your home. By researching, knowing what questions to ask, and working with a qualified electrical company, you’ll find the perfect solution for your new ride.

Breakdown of EV Charger Cost for Installation

There are a few things you need to know before deciding on an EV charger setup. Here are the main factors to consider when installing an EV charger in your home or office.

Types of Charging Equipment to be Installed 

There are three styles of chargers available for electric vehicles: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 (or Direct Current chargers – also called DC Fast Chargers.)

Level 1 chargers plug directly into a 120-volt outlet and are the slowest and most basic type of EV charger. Many electric vehicles come with a Level 1 charging cable at the time of purchase. If not, these can be purchased separately and average about $200-300 for the equipment or cable itself. For example, you can purchase the Tesla Mobile Connector Kit for $230. The cost to install a standard three-prong outlet will vary based on how much an electrician charges per hour as well as location of the outlet.

Level 2 chargers are the most popular consumer option and can save you time and money in the long run by installing this option in your home. Purchasing a Level 2 charger can range anywhere from $300 to $900 for the equipment, before labor and installation. For example, the Tesla Wall Connector currently costs $350 and the Chargepoint Home Flex costs $749 (both before tax). Gulfstar currently has both of these chargers in stock.

Level 3 chargers are the fastest option available today and are designed to charge vehicles in commercial and industrial settings. These are not available residentially. You may find DC chargers (under brand names like Electrify America, Tesla Supercharger, etc.) in parking garages, sports arenas, shopping centers, gas stations and near highways. For commercial and businesses looking to install a Level 3/DC Fast Charging station, the equipment alone can range from $50,000 to $200,000 not including the cost of installation, permitting and engineering costs.

Thanks to the recently approved tax credit of 30% on both the cost of the EV charging stations as well as the installation cost in commercial settings, your project may be eligible for up to a $30,000.00 tax incentive per installation project. Click here to learn more.

How Much Does Installation of an EV Charger Cost?

When doing a cost analysis of Level 2 EV Charging installations, the 3 main factors which affect cost are:

• Location of the installation
• Distance from the electrical panel
• Current state and available capacity of your home electrical system and panel(s) 

As the leading EV manufacturer to date, Tesla has done their homework on what a correctly done installation looks like. A resource page on their website indicates that a Level 2 EV Charger installation done up to code, aesthetically, sufficiently warrantied and should cost anywhere from $750-$1500. This price range may seem wide but is commonly accurate, depending on the factors listed above.

If you have a brand new electrical panel and your preferred installation location isn’t very far from that panel, your install may fall below that price range. If your electrical panel requires modifications for installation, or if the distance of the wire run is longer than 20 feet, you can reasonably expect to fall within that price range or be above it. 

If your installation requires a sub-electrical panel, new main panel or service size upgrade, you could be in a different ballpark altogether. 

Before committing to the purchase of your new EV, you may want to have an electrical assessment done ahead of time to understand these costs in full and avoid a more difficult situation later. 

Cost of Electrician Services 

Let’s be clear — not every electrician is qualified or certified to install an EV charger in a home or commercial setting. 

From Tesla-specific chargers to Clipper Creek, Chargepoint and Juicebox, the electrician you hire should be appropriately certified and experienced in dealing with ALL electric vehicle charging technology and types of installations. 

If you are doing research on your EV charger installation and receive quotes which are far below the quotes of other certified specialty electrical contractors, consider this a red flag before accepting the lowest quote. Look for what other contractors may be leaving out in order to deliver a service that cheap. The value of quality materials, warranty, experience and reputation should factor into your decision making.

Cost of Commercial EV Charging Installations 

The steps involved in commercial electric vehicle charging projects are much different than residential installations. Thus, their price range can be much higher.

Office buildings, condominiums, certain styles of town homes, high rise buildings and professional facilities require specialty assessment, engineered plans and other research in order to properly provide a quote.  

EV Charger Installations Become More Accessible Worldwide

We know how quickly the tides have changed in the electric vehicle industry, with national infrastructures adapting to eco-friendly transportation options including EV chargers in public settings and accessible options for consumers. 

As demand grows for EV chargers, retail and commercial settings will invest in charging stations in large public areas to create more opportunities to charge up, travel, and road trip in electric vehicles. Until that time, and even when that time arises, investing in a home charger will be essential to ensuring your electric vehicle fits your lifestyle.

Gulfstar Electric is Here to Get You Plugged In!

Ready for your EV charger installation? We’re here for you! At Gulfstar, we specialize in providing a concierge-level experience for every customer. 

Whether you’re driving a Tesla, Ford, Rivian, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes or any other EV, we’d love to work with you on designing the ideal setup for your charging station at home. Contact us today for a free electrical panel assessment!