Charging an electric vehicle at home or on site is mostly an electrical design question. The charger itself is simple; the circuit, panel capacity and installation location are where planning pays off.

Choosing the charger type

• Wall-mounted units suit garages and building walls
• Floor-standing pedestals suit parking areas without a nearby wall
• AC chargers cover most home and workplace needs; DC fast chargers are for larger, high-turnover sites

Check the electrical panel first

A Level 2 charger is a continuous load on a dedicated circuit. Before choosing a model, confirm there is spare capacity in the panel. If there is not, a load calculation can show whether a panel upgrade or a load-managed charger is the better answer.

Pairing with solar

Chargers combine well with rooftop solar or a solar carport, since cars are often parked during the day. A combined design lets the permit package cover both the array and the charging equipment in one submission.