Charging at home can add more to your electric bill than any other appliance you own. Pair the charger with solar and that math changes: you fuel the car off your panels instead of buying every kilowatt-hour from the utility.
Solar Connect prices the charger and the install together, through licensed local electricians. Add it to a solar proposal or take it on its own.
Home chargers look almost identical on a spec sheet. Four things actually decide which one belongs on your wall, and only one of them is the brand on the box.
A 40-amp charger delivers about 9.6 kW, a 48-amp about 11.5 kW. Either refills a typical battery overnight. The limit is usually your panel: code requires the circuit rated at 125% of the draw, so 40 amps needs a 50-amp breaker, 48 amps needs a 60. If your panel is close to full, the smaller charger is the right answer, not a compromise.
Plug-in units use a 240-volt NEMA 14-50 outlet and can come with you if you move. Hardwired units connect straight to the circuit, and anything running 48 amps has to be hardwired, because code does not allow a plug at that current. It sounds like a detail. It changes the electrician's scope, so it changes the quote.
The charger itself is usually a few hundred dollars. Most of what you pay is the install: the run from your panel to the parking spot, whether the panel has spare capacity, and local permit fees. Every price below is installed, so it covers the charger and a licensed electrician to fit it, not a sticker you add to later.
Level 2 charging in North America runs on J1772, and Teslas ship with an adapter. Newer cars and chargers are moving to NACS, and some now build the adapter into the handle. Adapters bridge the two in both directions, so the plug on the box rarely rules a charger in or out.
Installed prices on the chargers our network fits most often. Each one covers the charger and a licensed electrician to fit it. If your panel needs upgrading or the cable run is unusually long, your electrician confirms that with you before any work starts.
It varies more than most people expect. The charger itself is a few hundred dollars, but installed cost depends on how far your electrical panel is from the parking spot, whether that panel has spare capacity, and local permit fees. A short run to a modern panel is straightforward; a long conduit run or a panel upgrade costs more. Comparing quotes from licensed local electricians is the only way to see your real number.
For most EV owners, Level 2 is the practical choice. Level 1 plugs into a standard outlet and adds only a few miles of range per hour. Fine for plug-in hybrids or very low daily mileage. Level 2 runs on a 240-volt circuit and typically refills a battery overnight, which is what most drivers actually need. Your daily mileage is the deciding factor. We break down the differences in more detail in our guide to EV charger vs EV outlet.
Yes. Pairing an EV charger with rooftop solar lets you fuel your car on power you generate instead of buying every kilowatt-hour from the utility. The cleanest setup charges during the day while your panels are producing, or stores solar in a battery to charge at night. It's the lowest cost-per-mile way to drive, and Solar Connect can quote the charger and solar together.
Yes. A Level 2 charger runs on a 240-volt circuit and should be installed by a licensed, insured electrician, both for safety and to keep the work to code and permitted. Many utilities and equipment warranties also require professional installation. Every electrician in the Solar Connect network is licensed and vetted, so you compare quotes without checking credentials yourself.
The physical install is usually a few hours once everything is lined up. The longer part comes first: pulling a permit, confirming your panel can handle the load, and scheduling. A simple install near your panel can wrap in a day; one needing a panel upgrade or a long wiring run takes more time. Your electrician gives you a timeline with the quote.
In almost all cases, yes. Nearly every EV sold in North America charges on the J1772 standard for Level 2, and Teslas include an adapter. Newer cars and chargers are moving to the NACS connector, but adapters bridge the two. A quality Level 2 charger works with essentially any current EV. If you're unsure about your model, the installer confirms it before installing.