Are you unsatisfied with the long charging time of the standard-issue Level 1 EV charger? You might want to get a Level 2 EV charging station. It’s a big upgrade with significant costs, so you should know what you’re paying for.
Level 2 EV charging stations for home use generally cost between $350 and $600.
Several factors determine the charging station’s price tag. Some brands are more reliable than others, hence their models commanding higher prices. Another factor is how the EV charger hooks up to the electrical network of its owner’s home. You might need an adaptor.
Additional capabilities and features can also drive up the EV charging station cost. The higher-end models might charge your vehicle faster, wirelessly connect to other devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and have smart charging.
Aside from the EV charging station hardware cost, other expenses require consideration and budgeting. They’re the following:
Unfortunately, installing the EV charging station is usually beyond what DIYers can handle. Instead, you must hire professional electricians to install the EV charger on your behalf.
Typical EV charging station installation jobs might incur labor costs that range from $100 to $350. The labor costs vary between regions.
Furthermore, your home might have special requirements. For example, the existing electrical wiring might need expansion to accommodate the EV charger. That means purchasing and installing additional wiring to hook up the EV charging system.
If the electricians need to put more effort into upgrading your home, they’ll charge you extra.
One way to get the best deal is to ask for a quote from more than one company in your area. You can choose between the companies and pick who offers the best cost for quality services.
Do you live in an older house? You might have to upgrade your home’s electrical panel before it can support the new EV charging station.
Unfortunately, the cost of upgrading the panel might give you second thoughts about installing an EV charger.
The electrical panel is the central distribution point where the internal electric system hooks up to the external electrical wires. It’s also called a circuit breaker box because it contains fuses or circuit breakers that protect the wiring against surges.
In older homes, the electrical panel is designed to handle 100 amperes of electrical capacity. These homes were built before the advent of modern appliances and fixtures with heavy power consumption.
A 100-amp electric system might lack sufficient spare electrical capacity to handle an energy-intensive home EV charging station. After all, there are numerous other home appliances plugged into the house’s internal system, all competing for power.
New homes usually have an electrical panel with a higher electrical capacity of 200A. They can power an EV charger without a problem. Some older homes have been upgraded with similarly high-capacity electrical panels.
Replacing the older 100A electrical panel with a higher-capacity 200A unit can cost between $800 and more than $4,000. The job’s complexity requires skilled electricians with extensive experience.
Again, the precise cost varies according to local labor rate rates, the experience of the electricians, and the cost of additional hardware.
Before upgrading your home’s electrical panel to support a level 2 charger, you might also have to secure legal permits to alter the building’s electrical system.
Your home must meet local building codes on safety. Modifications must stay within the confines of those regulations. Furthermore, your city might charge fees and require a permit for modification.
The cost of a permit depends on what the modifications are and how far the changes go. Talk to a licensed electrician in your area and ask for an accurate quote. You can also ask them about electrical fees and permits.
Last but not least is the operating costs of a home EV charging station. It depends on the electricity prices in your area.
According to the US Energy Information Agency (EIA), each kilowatt-hour (kWh) will cost $0.168 on average nationwide. You can multiply that by the range of your EV to calculate the cost of fully charging the battery.
Based on how many miles you travel with your EV, you can calculate how much you might pay for charging fees each year.
You can get a better idea of EV charging station costs by refreshing yourself on the different types of EV chargers.
The dealership provides every new EV with a Level 1 EV charger. This charger can plug into standard 120-volt wall outlets, requiring no modification to the electrical system.
However, the Level 1 charger has the slowest charging time, needing between 40 and 50 hours to bring a fully depleted EV battery to 80% charge.
Level 2 chargers are fixed charging platforms for use in homes and small businesses with several EVs. They run on 240 volts, the same type of current that goes from the transformer to most houses before it reaches the electrical panel.
Level 2 EV chargers take 4 to 10 hours to bring up most EVs to 80% charge.
A Level 3 DCFC is the typical commercial or outdoor EV charging station. This type is usually found in commercial and public charging networks.
Level 3 EV chargers can charge an empty EV battery to 80% in an hour or less. However, they depend on commercial power utilities with very high voltages. They’re also outside most people’s price range.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.