EV charger installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering ev charger installation

EV charger installation is a load and circuit job with a long tail of customer questions. Electricians who win it do the panel math on the first visit, explain the breaker and wire choice, and handle the permit cleanly.

What customers ask

  • Does my panel have room for a charger?
  • Can I charge on a regular outlet instead?
  • How long will the install take, and will my power go out?
  • Can you put the charger in the garage and run it outside?
  • What charger should I buy, and will it work with my car?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask the car model, the charger the customer wants, and the panel location. Those answers set the circuit size and the cable run.
  • Bring a load calculation worksheet to the walkthrough, and show the panel's capacity and open breaker spaces.
  • Show the breaker and wire size on the quote, and explain why the continuous load rule sets the sizing.
  • Quote the panel check, the circuit and the charger installation as separate lines, so a panel upgrade is visible if it is needed.
  • Test the charger with the customer's car, and show the charging session start and the load on the unit.
  • Give the customer a written note with the breaker label, the charger rating and the circuit path, so future work is planned.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of finished EV installs showing the panel, breaker and charger location
  • Examples of Level 2 installs in garages and driveways, with the cable route shown
  • A list of charger makes and models you install, with the ratings listed

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a load check for the next appliance the customer plans to add, such as a heat pump or a range
  • Suggest a surge protector for the charger circuit, and explain what it does and does not protect
  • Offer a plan for a second charger if the household has more than one electric vehicle

Licenses and permits

EV charger installation is commonly done under an electrical contractor license, and a permit is often required for the new dedicated circuit. Check with your state or local licensing agency and building department for the rules that apply to the job.

Questions

Should I install a charger that the customer bought without checking the panel?

No. Check the panel and the circuit first. A charger purchased before the panel check can end up on a circuit it cannot use. Tell the customer the result before they buy.

How do I explain the continuous load to a customer?

Explain that the charger runs for hours at a steady current. The breaker and wire are sized for that load, not for a short burst. Show the rating on the charger and the breaker on the quote.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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