Frequently Asked Questions
Home Charging
Your home charging station is typically mounted on an indoor or outdoor wall and connected to your home’s electrical system. You connect the plug to your vehicle when you park your car and disconnect it when you’re ready to drive.
You can charge on your schedule, overnight while you sleep or do other activities so your car is ready when you are.
Currently, most vehicle charging takes place at home and Level 1 chargers are a viable way to charge your vehicle, but they take a relatively long time to do it. A Level 2 home charger provides more charging power—securing faster charging times than a standard Level 1 charger (depending on vehicle type). Typically with a Level 2 charger you will get about 17 miles of range for every hour you are plugged in.
Charging time depends on both the car’s battery size and the speed of electricity from the power supply. Typically with a Level 2 charger you will get about 17 miles of range for every hour you are plugged in.
There may be additional levels of approval required from your leasing management company to install a home charger in a multi-family buildings. Veloz has some great resources and best practices to help in this effort.
Yes, all Level 2 home chargers use the same connector to plug into the car. The technical term for this connector is SAE J1772 plug. If you have a Tesla, your car will come with an adapter for plugging into your car.
Yes. All of the home chargers on our list are certified and tested by the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), the same people who certify other electric appliances in your home.
Some chargers have the ability to connect to your home’s WIFI network to allow for additional features. It may also allow you to qualify for additional incentives only available to these types of chargers. Determine the types of features you are looking for and what incentives you can receive before deciding if you need a home charger that is WIFI capable.
Different charger models have different plug patterns. These plug patterns correspond to the way the charger’s plug fits into your wall outlet and may effect charging speed. Make sure you choose the type of charger for the outlet in your home. If you don’t currently have an outlet or will be hardwiring your charger, please consult a qualified electrician.
Level: None about $0
Description: Plug and Go – using an existing 120V outlet in concert with a provided 120V trickle charger
Level: Easy about $500
Example: installing a 240V outlet for use with a portable Level 2 charger where: (1) the electrical service to the home (the amperage coming into the home) can already support the addition of a 40‑50 amp (A) circuit, (2) a circuit is available within the electrical panel, (2) and the panel and outlet are on opposite sides of the same wall.
Level: Average about $1,000
Example 1: installing a new electrical circuit of 40-50A within the electrical panel to support a hardwired (wall mounted) 240V Level 2 charger where the outlet and electrical panel are on opposite sides of the same wall. Hardwiring is more costly than installing an outlet for a portable charger.
Example 2: installing a 240V outlet to support a portable Level 2 charger where a new electrical circuit of 40-50A may need to be added to the electrical panel but the outlet and electrical panel are in different parts of the house requiring a longer wiring run (but no trenching is required to connect them).
Level: High about $2,000+
Example 1: installing a new electrical circuit of up to 100A within the electrical panel to support one or more hardwired 240V charger(s) in a newer home where the charger and electrical panel are in different parts of the house but no trenching is required to connect them.
Example 2: installing a 240V outlet in an older home construction where the electrical service must be upgraded to 200A from 100A, a new circuit must be added to the electrical panel and where trenching may be required to connect the panel to either a carport charging pedestal or a distant charger location via underground conduit and wiring.
The requirement for a permit depends on your particular jurisdiction (City or County). Your installer might be able to manage this process on your behalf!
Yes, contact your electric utility to learn about any electric car electricity rates that will save you money. Visit our electric utility page to learn more.