Installation
EV Charger Installation Guide
Treehouse’s guide to everything you need to know about Level 2 EV chargers and installation.
January 4, 2023
Daniel Francis
Head of Product
Treehouse’s guide to everything you need to know about Level 2 EV chargers and installation.
Installing more than one GFCI on the same circuit can result in nuisance tripping. For this reason, we recommend installing a hardwired charger.
SMUD and Central Coast Community Energy now offer rebates for circuit sharing devices like the NeoCharge Smart Splitter.
Many California utilities and AQMDs offer significant rebates to make Level 2 EV charger installation more affordable.
The US Federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit covers 30% of EV charger hardware and installation costs up to a $1,000 max.
In Arizona, several utility providers (APS, SRP, TEP, MEH) offer significant rebates to offset the cost of Level 2 EV charger installation.
The NeoCharge is great for homes that want to share a single 240V outlet between an appliance and an EV charger or between 2 EV chargers.
The IRS provides a Federal Tax Credit (25C) to offset the cost of an electrical service upgrade. Several California utilities also provide rebates.
The 3 most important considerations when selecting a charger are price, the ability to schedule charging, and charging speed.
Level 2 EV charger installation costs range from $600-$3,000. Costs may include the charger, wiring, load management solution, labor, and permit.
An electrician will place a new circuit breaker in your closest electrical panel and run wiring from the panel to the EV charger or outlet location.
Most people install their charger in their garage or outside near their parking location so the charging cable can easily reach the vehicle charge port.
We recommend hardwire installation where possible since it is a safer, better looking, and more weatherproof option.
Most cities require a permit to install a Level 2 EV charger. This ensures the installation meets all safety requirements.
In most cases, no. However, your home does need to have sufficient electrical service capacity and breaker space to safely install an EV charger.
For safety, electricians must check if your home’s electrical load with the charger installed is less than the total electrical service available for your home.
Determine your electrical service by finding your main disconnect breaker. This is usually located on your main electrical panel or near your electric meter.
EV owners can strategically approach home charging, rate plans, and vehicle maintenance to save money.
Every EV owner should understand 3 types of EV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 (DC Fast Charging).
Level 2 charging adds 20-30 miles of range per hour of charge and will fully charge your vehicle in 7-10 hours.
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) and Zinsco panels have design flaws that can cause their breakers to fail, creating a safety hazard.