Spark Services EV Charger Installation

EV Charger Installation in California

Put a level two charger in the garage or on the driveway wall.

A level two charger installed in Los Angeles costs 700 to 2,400 dollars for the electrical work, and more when the panel is full.

The short version

  • The charger is the easy part. Panel room is what sets the price.
  • A 240 volt circuit on a 60 amp breaker covers almost every car sold.
  • A load management device can save a whole panel upgrade.
  • Permits are required, and rebates usually ask to see one.

What the work involves

An electrician runs a new 240 volt circuit from your panel to where the car parks, mounts the charger, and either hard wires it or fits a heavy duty outlet. On a clean run in an attached garage this is a half day.

The distance matters more than anything else. A charger on the wall right behind the panel is simple. A charger at the end of a long driveway means trenching, conduit and a lot more copper.

When the panel is the problem

A car charger is one of the largest loads in a home. Before pulling a permit an electrician runs a load calculation, which adds up what the house already draws and checks whether the service can carry the charger too.

When it cannot, there are three ways out. Upgrade the service, install a load management device that pauses the charger when the dryer and the oven run, or set the charger to a lower amp draw. The second option is the one people miss, and it often saves thousands.

Choosing the charger

Almost every electric car sold in the last few years charges fully overnight on a 40 amp circuit. Buying a bigger charger than your car can take adds cost and changes nothing about how full the battery is in the morning.

Hard wiring is a little cleaner and is required outdoors in some cities. A plug in unit on a 14 to 50 outlet is easier to swap or take with you when you move.

Rebates and paperwork

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison have both run charger rebates, and the amount and the rules change often. Every program asks for a permit and a licensed installer, so an unpermitted install costs you the rebate on top of the risk.

Keep the permit final, the invoice and the model number in one place. Rebate claims ask for all three.

Questions people ask

Can I just use a regular outlet
You can, and it adds about four miles of range an hour. That works for a short commute and not much else.
Do I need a permit
Yes, everywhere in the county. It is also what rebate programs ask to see.
Will it raise my power bill a lot
Charging at home costs far less than gas, and both utilities offer lower overnight rates. Ask about a time of use plan when the charger goes in.
Can I install a charger in an apartment garage
Often yes, and California law gives renters and condo owners a path to ask. The wiring has to come off a meter that is yours.

Electricians who list ev charger work

3 of the businesses in the directory describe this work on their own listing.

Highest rated in California

Every electrician in California