Bringing home an electric vehicle is an exciting milestone, but relying on public charging stations quickly becomes inconvenient. Installing a dedicated Level 2 home EV charger allows you to charge overnight at a fraction of the cost.
As a premier Qmerit™ Certified Solutions Partner and certified Tesla® installer, Consumer Services Electric outlines five critical considerations before you install an EV charger.
1. Not all charging speeds are created equal
Comparing Level 1 trickle charging with dedicated Level 2 performance.
A standard Level 1 charger plugs into a regular 120-volt household outlet, adding only 3 to 5 miles of driving range per hour of charging. For modern EVs with large battery packs, a full charge can take 30 to 40 hours.
A dedicated 240-volt Level 2 charging station delivers 25 to 44 miles of range per hour, fully recharging your vehicle overnight in 4 to 8 hours.
Key Highlights & Capabilities
- Level 1 (120V / 12A): 3–5 miles of range per hour of charging
- Level 2 Plug-in (240V / 40A on 50A breaker): 25–30 miles of range per hour
- Level 2 Hardwired (240V / 48A on 60A breaker): 35–44 miles of range per hour
- Hardwired connections deliver faster charging with fewer potential points of failure
2. Your electrical panel determines your capacity
Performing thorough electrical load calculations before installation.
Adding a continuous 40A to 60A electrical load requires sufficient spare capacity in your main breaker box. If your home has an older 100-amp service panel already powering an electric dryer, range, and AC unit, adding an EV charger may require an electrical panel upgrade or a smart load management device like SPAN®.
Our licensed electricians perform comprehensive load calculations to determine whether your panel can support the new circuit safely.
Service Standards & Guarantees
- 200-amp service panels generally accommodate Level 2 charging without upgrades
- 100-amp panels frequently require service capacity upgrades or smart load management
- Municipal permits are legally required for all EV charging circuit installations
- DTE Energy provides rebates for qualifying Level 2 EV charging equipment