Short answer
Most home EV charging uses a Level 2 charger on a dedicated 240-volt circuit, mounted in the garage near where the car parks. Before installing, we run a load calculation to see whether your panel and service can carry the charger along with everything else. If they can't, the answer may be a panel upgrade or a charger set to a lower current. Select Electric installs home and workplace chargers across Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties.
Every EV charger job starts with the same question: can your electrical service carry it? A charger pulls steady current for hours at a time, so it has to be planned with the rest of the building, not just plugged in.
Level 1 vs. Level 2
Level 1: A Standard Outlet
Most EVs come with a cord that plugs into a regular 120-volt outlet. It's slow, adding a few miles of range per hour, and cold weather slows it further because the car spends energy warming the battery. For some drivers it's enough. If you go this route, the outlet should be on a circuit that isn't shared with a freezer, a shop compressor or other big loads, and it should be in good condition. An EV draws steady current for hours, and a worn outlet can overheat.
Level 2: A 240-Volt Circuit
A Level 2 charger runs on 240 volts, like a dryer or range, and charges several times faster. That's what most EV owners end up with. It needs a dedicated circuit sized for the charger, and the wire, breaker and charger setting all have to match.
What's Involved
Load Calculation and Panel Capacity
An EV charger is one of the biggest loads in a house. A load calculation looks at your service size and everything else on it, such as the range, dryer, water heater, heat pump or electric heat, and air conditioning, to see how much room is left. If there isn't enough, the options are a panel or service upgrade, or setting the charger to a lower current the service can support.
Panel Space
A Level 2 circuit needs a two-pole breaker, which takes two spaces. A full panel may need rearranging, a subpanel, or replacement. A fuse box can't take an EV circuit, so that usually means an upgrade first.
Placement
The charger goes where the cord reaches the car's charge port comfortably, without stretching across a walkway or getting run over, and out of the path of the snow shovel if it's outside. We also look at the route the wire takes from the panel, since a shorter run through an unfinished wall or along the garage is usually simpler and less expensive than one through finished rooms.
Hardwired or Plug-In
A hardwired charger connects directly to the circuit. A plug-in model uses a heavy-duty 240-volt outlet, which needs GFCI protection. Either can be the right choice. We go by the charger's installation instructions, the circuit size and where it's mounted.
Workplace and Multi-Unit Charging
For businesses, offices and rental properties, chargers are planned around the building's service capacity and parking layout. Load management features in many chargers let several share a circuit's capacity. If your building's service is already near its limit, we'll tell you before you buy equipment.
How the Job Goes
- Questions first. What you drive, how far you drive, which charger you have or are considering, and where you park.
- Look at the panel and service. Size, available spaces, condition, and a load calculation.
- Plan and quote. Circuit size, wire route, charger location, and whether any panel work is needed.
- Install. Circuit, breaker, outlet or hardwired connection, and the charger mounted, with a permit and inspection where your city, township or the State requires it.
- Test. We check the circuit and confirm the charger communicates with the car and charges.
What It Costs
This work is priced per job, because the building, the distances and what's already in the panel are different every time. Ask for a written quote that lists the materials and everything included. For what drives electrical prices in general, see what electrical work costs.
The biggest factors are the distance from the panel to the charger, whether the panel has room and capacity, and whether a detached garage needs a new feeder. A written quote should say whether the charger itself is included. Check your utility's current EV programs before buying a charger, in case a qualifying model matters for a rebate.
Local Detail: Older Services and Cold Garages
Plenty of homes in the Great Lakes Bay Region were built long before anyone planned for a car charger. According to the U.S. Census (American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates), half the homes in Bay City were built before 1941 and half in Saginaw before 1949, and many still have 100 amp services. Those are the homes where we look hardest at capacity before adding a charger. Newer neighborhoods, like much of Freeland, usually have 200 amp services with more room to work with.
Your utility matters too: Consumers Energy serves most of the area, and Bay City Electric Light & Power serves customers inside Bay City. If a service upgrade is part of the job, we coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with them. To plan a charger install, call (989) 835-3587.
Common Questions
Do I need a Level 2 charger, or is a regular outlet enough?
Level 1 charging from a standard 120-volt outlet adds only a few miles of range per hour, and even less in a cold Michigan garage. It can be enough for a short daily commute with the car parked overnight. If you drive more, have a larger battery, or want a full charge by morning, a Level 2 charger on a 240-volt circuit is usually worth it.
Will I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?
Sometimes. A Level 2 charger is a large load that runs for hours. A load calculation shows whether your existing service can carry it along with everything else in the house. Many 200 amp homes can. Many 100 amp homes, especially with an electric range, dryer or electric heat, can't without an upgrade or a lower charger setting.
Should the charger be hardwired or plugged into an outlet?
Both can work. A hardwired charger has no plug to wear out and is often the choice for higher-power units and outdoor or driveway locations. A plug-in charger on a 240-volt outlet is easy to swap or take with you. The charger manufacturer's instructions and the circuit size help decide.
Can you install a charger in a detached garage or at a business?
Yes, usually. A detached garage depends on the size of the feeder already running to it; if it's too small, a new feeder and possibly a subpanel may be needed. For businesses and multi-unit properties, chargers are planned around the building's service capacity, parking layout and who will use them.
Are there rebates for home EV chargers?
Sometimes. Utilities, including Consumers Energy, have offered EV charger programs and rebates, but eligibility, amounts and rules change. Check your utility's current program before you buy a charger, since some programs require specific qualifying models.