Charging an electric vehicle (EV) with a regular wall outlet is like filling a water bottle at a slow trickle. It works, but it takes ages, and you’d better not be in a hurry. My 2019 Hyundai Ioniq PHEV needed an entire night just to get its modest 27-mile electric range.
For years, I put up with this slow process and the clutter of extension cords. But after finding some fantastic deals on level 2 EV chargers, I finally decided to upgrade and installed an Autel MaxiCharger myself.
The first thing I discovered: it’s not that difficult! Secondly, it’s quite safe if you’re careful. I won’t get into specifics about breaker sizes and wiring types—that’s better left to the experts on YouTube. I’m no professional, and it’s always wise to consult an electrician before diving into your breaker panel.
However, I did learn some crucial insights about picking the right charger and planning your installation budget. Here are six key things I learned that you should consider if you’re thinking about upgrading to a level 2 charger.
The most important advice: Check out available EV tax credits and rebates in your area before choosing a charger. Many utilities, cities, counties, and states offer significant incentives for installing specific models. It’s worth following their guidelines because some rewards are incredibly generous. For instance, my utility required me to choose from a list of about a dozen hardwired models. In return, they’ll reimburse 75% of the charger cost, up to $500. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act allows me to deduct 30% of the cost from my taxes at year’s end.
I bought an Autel MaxiCharger Elite on Prime Day for $479, discounted from $599. With 75% reimbursement from my utility and a 30% tax credit on the remaining cost, my total expense boiled down to just $83. That’s cheaper than most level 1 chargers available right now.
Your utility company might also help cover electrician labor, permit fees, wiring, and even panel upgrades. It’s tedious to go through the fine print, but it’s definitely worth it.
Utilities support these incentives not just for environmental reasons but to manage the EV load on the electric grid. For example, my utility only incentivizes chargers that can be throttled if the grid is under stress. They also required me to switch to “time of use” billing for the rebate, which means lower rates at night and higher rates during the day. Most utilities I’ve researched had similar requirements for incentives.
This setup is beneficial! Although I hesitate to let big companies dictate my actions, these aren’t restrictive measures—they’re smart decisions you might have overlooked. Before, I didn’t set my car to charge overnight, but now I’ll be charging at 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, down from 12 cents. I save money, and everyone benefits.
During the COVID pandemic, building material prices soared, and though they’ve dropped for items like lumber, copper remains costly. And you’ll need plenty of it. The heavy-gauge wire required by most chargers is around $4 per foot at Home Depot. Depending on the distance from your breaker panel to the charger site, your wiring costs could rival the price of the charger itself.
Plan your budget accordingly! Measure the distance from your breaker panel to where you want your charger and add 10% just to be safe. This will influence your choice of charger because larger chargers need heavier wire.
Level 2 chargers range from 3.5 kilowatts to 19kW, which greatly affects charging speed. After extensive research, I recommend a 40 to 50-amp charger (9.6kW to 12kW). Why? Going lower won’t save much, and going higher will cost exponentially more. Fifty amps is the sweet spot for residential chargers.
Don’t skimp on this investment. Trust me, after running cables through walls once, you won’t want a redo. My 50-amp charger can output 12kW, but my current car only accepts 3.5kW. It might seem silly now, but future-proofing means I won’t need to tear up my basement ceiling if I get a newer EV.
Interestingly, level 2 chargers are about 5.6% more efficient than slower level 1 chargers, according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. While the savings won’t fund major expenses, it’s good to know that upgrading won’t cost more in the long run.
There’s a lot of buzz about car manufacturers switching to Tesla’s NACS plug standard. Does this mean J1772 chargers will soon be obsolete? No worries. You can already buy an adapter for under $50, and they’ll likely become even cheaper by 2025, when Ford, GM, Hyundai, and others start selling vehicles with the NACS plug.
Meanwhile, those generous utility incentives might not last forever, so it’s wise to take advantage while they’re available.