If you recently purchased an electric vehicle (EV) or you're looking into buying one, you probably also want to get a home charger installed. That way, you'll be able to conveniently recharge the battery while your car is parked at home. Many EV drivers plug in overnight so that their car is always Contact online >>
If you recently purchased an electric vehicle (EV) or you''re looking into buying one, you probably also want to get a home charger installed. That way, you''ll be able to conveniently recharge the battery while your car is parked at home. Many EV drivers plug in overnight so that their car is always charged in the morning.
But there''s a lot to consider before you get a charger installed at home. Some installations may be trickier than others, and you''ll want to get an estimate of how much it will cost before you decide if an electric vehicle is right for your budget. Plus, you may qualify for tax credits or rebates from your electric company.
Some of the experts at CR''s Auto Test Center have gone through the process of installing and using an EV charger at their homes and our test track. Their experience can help guide you through the process.
Also read: "Which EVs Can Charge at a Tesla Supercharger?"
For drivers who use their EVs daily, a 240-volt wall charger—sometimes called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)—is practically a must. It increases charging speeds to 25 miles of range per hour of charging or more depending on the vehicle and charger combination. We think it''s also a worthwhile investment because charging at home is usually much cheaper than plugging in at public charging stations. And it''s clearly more convenient.
If you own a single-family home, the answer is usually yes. (You may have to check with the homeowners association if you have one.) If you have a condo or townhouse, or a shared driveway or garage, the answer might be more complex. You might not be allowed to install a charger at home, or you might have to request permission from your neighbor or your building''s management. And if you rent or live in a densely populated city, installing a charger could be a major challenge.
The national average installation cost is $548 to $1,382, according to HomeAdvisor, but it could rise to thousands of dollars if you need your wiring upgraded or if you have a charger installed far from your main electrical panel.
When employees of CR''s Auto Test Center had chargers installed in their homes in central Connecticut between 2021 and 2022, they paid $500 to $4,000 depending on how much work had to be done. The simplest installation involved hardwiring a charger to an already upgraded electrical panel close to a garage. The most expensive installation was in a 200-year-old home where an electrician also had to dig a trench for wiring to a detached garage.
You can get a federal tax credit for installing an EV charger only if you live in a nonurban or low-income community census tract, as defined by the IRS. The Argonne National Laboratory offers a mapping tool so that consumers can find out whether they qualify. The credit is generally 30 percent of the cost of the charger, up to $1,000.
Many states and some localities offer tax credits, and many utility companies offer significant rebates on some smart WiFi-connected EV chargers or for home wiring upgrades necessary to install a charger. Check with your local electricity provider to find out what options are available to you. In addition, some car companies will offer a free charger or a discount on charger installation if you purchase a new EV.
All professional electricians should be able to install an EV charger. Some automakers will connect you with a local electrical contractor if you purchase a charger along with the vehicle. As with all home improvement projects, get multiple estimates and compare them to find the best deal.
Make sure that whomever you hire has insurance, a license to work in your state, and the training to complete your specific installation project.
If your electrician is digging an outdoor trench for an electrical conduit, make sure you call your state''s Dig Safe or Call Before You Dig hotline to have all existing utility lines marked. One of the employees at ATC relied on his electrician''s promise that there weren''t any gas lines nearby only to have to evacuate his home after the electrician hit a gas line during the installation. Fortunately, nobody got hurt, but it could have been a deadly mistake.
Most chargers cost $300 to $800 before any tax credits and are available from online retailers and home stores. Tesla''s chargers are available only from Tesla. We have used chargers from Blink, ChargePoint, Grizzl-E, and Tesla at the CR Auto Test Center and have not had any problems with them.
Blink HQ200 (MSRP $599): Up to 50 amps, smart connectivity, J1772, 23-foot cable.Available at BlinkCharging
ChargePoint Home Flex (MSRP $549): Up to 50 amps, smart connectivity, available with J1772 or NACS plug, 23-foot cable. Available at Amazon, ChargePoint, Home Depot, Lowe''s
Grizzl-E Classic 40a (MSRP $349.99): Up to 40 amps, no smart connectivity, J1772 or NACS, 24-foot cable.Available at Amazon, Grizzl-E
Grizzl-E Smart 40a (MSRP $395.99): Up to 40 amps, smart connectivity, J1772 or NACS, 25-foot cable.Available at Amazon, Grizzl-E
Tesla Wall Connector (MSRP $450): Up to 48 amps, smart connectivity, NACS, 24-foot cable. Available from TeslaTesla Universal Wall Connector (MSRP $580): Up to 48 amps, smart connectivity, J1772, 24-foot cable.Available from Tesla
Make sure the charger you buy has a connector that fits your vehicle. Most non-Tesla EVs manufactured before 2025 have what''s called a J1772 connector, while Tesla vehicles come with a NACS connector, short for North American Charging Standard. Converters are available, although there are currently far more options to convert from a J1772 cord to a vehicle with a NACS outlet than in the other direction. Starting in 2025, more non-Tesla vehicles will come standard with a NACS plug, so keep that in mind if you''re planning to buy a new EV in the near future.
No matter which charger you buy, make sure it has a UL and/or ETL certification mark on the unit itself. This shows that it meets safety and quality standards. Be wary of brands you haven''t heard of, and avoid those with low ratings from owners. If something goes wrong with a charger, it could damage your vehicle or even cause a fire.
When shopping for a home charger, consider the following:
Cable length: The length of the charge cable has an impact on where you can mount the EVSE and how easy it is to reach the charge port on the car. Remember that your next EV may have a charging port in a different location, and you''ll want to be able to reach it. Most cables are between 20 and 25 feet long, and we recommend going for the longest you can afford.
Cable management: It''s handy to have a hook to wrap the unused portion of the cable around. Otherwise, if the cable is scattered, it adds clutter in the garage, collects dust, and might cause someone to trip over it. The ability to place the holster for the connector away from the unit might add flexibility in a tight single-car garage. If your connector doesn''t come with a hook, a wall-mounted holder for a garden hose will do the trick and can be found at any hardware store.
Ease of plugging/unplugging: We like to see a high-quality, substantial coupler that lets you smoothly and effortlessly plug and unplug in and out of the car''s port. A solid and secure holster is an advantage, and it gives you confidence that the coupler will stay secure. One is usually included with top brands.
Location: Where you install your charger could determine how easy it is to plug in your car and how much the installation costs. If you have to dig a trench for wiring, even a few feet can add hundreds of dollars. Even indoors, you can save money by installing a charger closer to where electrical service already exists. Ideally, you''ll want to install your charger so that a cable can easily reach the car''s charge port whether it''s on the front, rear, left, or right of the vehicle. Otherwise, you might have to drag the cable across the car''s roof. Consult an electrician before getting your heart set on where a charger can go.
Size: Once you''ve determined where a charger should go, measure to see how much space you have. A wide wall charger or a thick one that sticks out far from the wall may encroach on space or your flexibility in placing it in the garage. For instance, a narrow unit might fit on the small strip of wall between two garage doors.
Ability to delay charging: Many cars allow you to control the charging time from within the car or via an app, so you can benefit from cheaper off-peak electricity costs, depending on your utility company. If your car doesn''t have this feature, consider a charger that does. Note that this functionality may not work if the company that manufactured the charger discontinues support. That''s what happened when the company that made JuiceBox chargers left the U.S. Owners could still charge their cars, but they lost access to the JuiceBox app.
Weatherproofing: For those without a garage, look for a charger that can stand up to inclement weather. Most are claimed to be weatherproof by manufacturers. If you plan to install yours outside, we recommend finding a charger with a NEMA rating of 3, which is a standard set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association that defines how resistant a product is to environmental hazards. A NEMA 3 rating, which is common on most home chargers, means they''re resistant to nearly all ambient temperatures in addition to the rain, sleet, and snow that the average U.S. consumer would face. The Grizzl-E has a NEMA 4 rating, which means it is even more watertight. Note that a charging cable can become brittle in extremely cold weather.
Should You Hardwire or Plug In Your Charger? It depends. A plug-in type benefits from portability. These chargers can be readily replaced as needed, and they''re easy to take with you when you move or even when you''re on vacation if you rent a home. But a plug-in charger may not be able to run at as high an amperage as a hardwired model, so it may charge a little bit slower. Some high-amperage chargers require hardwiring.
Should You Buy a Smart Charger?Not necessarily. Most EVs allow you to view charging status and get notifications through the car manufacturer''s app, and smart WiFi-connected chargers tend to cost more up front. But many utility companies offer rebates only on WiFi-connected models, which can cover the added expense.
Do You Have Frequent Power Outages? If you live in an area that has frequent power outages, charging may not resume once the power is back on, and you could be surprised to find out that your EV isn''t sufficiently charged when you''re ready to drive. Some chargers and vehicles require the user to manually restart the charging session after a power outage. In those situations, it may be helpful to get a smart charger that can send an alert to your phone if charging is interrupted, or buy an EV with a similar feature. If you have a generator for your home, consult an electrician to make sure it can handle charging an EV when the power is out.
EVSE: Electric vehicle supply equipment, the technical term for what most people call a charger. It''s the wall-mounted or stand-mounted unit that supplies 240-volt power to an EV.
kW: Kilowatt, or one thousand watts. This is the unit for electrical power. Multiply volts (240) by the amperage rating of your charger and divide by 1,000 to determine how many kW can be sent to your vehicle.
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