Answering
Your EV Charging
Questions

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Questions about electric vehicle charging or installation?

Qmerit is North America’s leading provider of installation services for EV charging and other electrification technologies. Together with our nationwide certified-installer network, we set the industry standard for safety, service quality, and customer support. Our electricians are licensed, insured and background-checked, and every installation is backed by the exclusive Qmerit Peace of Mind Guarantee.

It depends on the amperage of the charger you select and its output settings. Qmerit recommends referring to your charger manufacturer’s product specifications for further information.

  1. It starts with an online assessment, which asks for information about your home and charging needs and requests a few pictures of your electrical panel and desired charging location. Based on your responses, you will either receive an upfront pricing estimate or one of our certified installers will provide a custom proposal.
  2. Once you pay a fully refundable deposit, your installation project will be assigned to a Qmerit-certified installer, who will review your project within 48 hours.
  3. Your installer will assess the information you provided to confirm your project scope of work, and then email you to confirm your installation estimate and permit costs. Your installer may reach out to you to gather more information, or to schedule a site visit to better evaluate your project scope.
  4. Once you approve your estimate, your installer will contact you to schedule your installation. (The timing will vary depending on the permit process in your local jurisdiction, and scheduling availability.)
  5. Once your installation is completed, we will send you an invoice for final payment, confirmation of your one-year warranty, and a customer satisfaction survey.

Go to our EV Charger Installation page for a quick overview, and click on the “Get Your Estimate Now” button to begin our simple EV Charging Assessment. You’ll answer a few questions about your home, upload a few pictures—and receive an upfront pricing estimate.

All electrical contractors in the Qmerit installation network must comply with our stringent certification standards and provide proof of:

  • Current business licenses
  • Current electrical licenses
  • Liability Insurance, Workers Comp Insurance, and Auto Insurance

Rigorous background checks for Qmerit-certified installation electricians include:

  • Criminal history
  • Motor vehicle history

The standard installation cost does not include the purchase price of a Level 2 charger, which runs about $500 to $800.

When you purchase a new EV, it may come with a charging cord – Level 1 or Level 2. If you want a Level 2 charging station and it is not included with your EV purchase, Qmerit will be happy to assist you with purchasing one.

There are several steps you should take before buying and installing an EV charger:

  1. Before buying a charger, know your EV battery capacity and the type of plug connector your EV has, to ensure the unit will have sufficient power and the correct configuration.
  2. Decide if you want to use a wall-mounted charging station or a portable Level 2 charging cord (which will require professional installation of a 240v NEMA outlet). Also, decide if a smart charger that connects to the Internet and the manufacturer’s mobile app is right for you.
  3. Complete the Qmerit Home Charging Assessment to be connected with a licensed, certified electrician in your area. You will answer a few questions about your home and submit a few pictures to receive an upfront price estimate for installation.

The time it takes can vary based on a few factors including the length of the permit approval process, delivery of your charging hardware, and your installer’s schedule. Your installer can give you a better sense of the timetable once they review your project and assess the scope of work.

Your Qmerit-certified installer will conduct a professional evaluation and perform a load calculation to determine the capacity available for EV charging. If your panel lacks sufficient capacity, your installer can provide a price estimate for an electrical upgrade.

If permits are required in your city or county, your Qmerit installer will secure them for your convenience. It protects both you and your installer to ensure your project is done to code and reviewed by a local inspector. Electrical upgrades increase your property value, but you will be required to show proof of permits when selling your home. Other installers may not pull permits, putting you in jeopardy in multiple ways. Without proper permitting and inspections, for example, the work performed may be sub-par, violating electrical codes and creating a fire hazard.

There are many reasons to pull a city permit, including:

  • Safety and protection – All electrical upgrades must be done properly to void electrical and fire hazard risk. Permitting provides a final inspection process to confirm your upgrade was completed safely and according to electrical code specifications. If additional services are required for code compliance, the city inspector is there to catch it and ensure it is updated right away.
  • Homeowners insurance – If you ever need to file a claim involving an electrical circuit upgrade, your insurance company will likely require evidence the work was properly permitted.
  • Warranty – Our industry-leading technology platform enables your Qmerit-certified installer to document installation details that are helpful if your charger needs service or warranty attention in the future.

Before having an EV charging station installed, you must obtain permission from the landlord and/or property manager. Once you secure this approval, a Qmerit-certified installer will visit the site to determine the best way to proceed.

The installation price will vary depending on your project requirements, but typically ranges from $799 – $1,999. (That includes a $149 deposit required to schedule installation.) Factors impacting the cost include the length of wiring needed, installation method (hardwire or outlet installation), and location of the installation site in relation to your main electrical panel. In most cases, you will receive an upfront pricing estimate via email based on the responses you submit through our online assessment. If additional information is needed or your project requires electrical upgrades, your Qmerit-certified installer will follow up with you to furnish a custom proposal.

The cost includes installation of a Level 2 hardwire charging station or NEMA 14-50 outlet to accommodate a Level 2 charging cord, plus labor and materials. You also get a one-year warranty on all electrical work, parts and labor. (Our warranty does not include the charger, which is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.) Where required by local jurisdiction, the cost of a permit will be added to the installation cost on your final estimate.

Note: You must supply your own wall-mounted charger or Level-2 charging cord.

Your Qmerit-certified installer will:

  • Perform a main panel load calculation to assess available capacity
  • Create and submit permit documents (as required by local jurisdiction)
  • Provide and install code-compliant electrical wiring and protective tubing as specified in your quote
  • Provide and install a new, properly sized breaker in your panel, with GFCI protection if required
  • Power up your charging unit and test for proper operation

Qmerit provides the highest quality installation services which offer you unsurpassed convenience and peace of mind. Our certified installers are top-rated electricians who are licensed, insured and background-checked, sparing you the hassle of researching and vetting contractors yourself. They meet the highest standards for safety and service quality, and handle all required permitting and inspections, saving you time and ensuring the job is done right. You may be able to find someone to do a cheaper installation, but you could be sacrificing quality or putting yourself at risk if electrical codes are not followed or required inspections are not performed.

Once your installation is completed, Qmerit will send you an invoice for the cost of installation, permits and any service upgrades that were required.

The deposit secures your project with a Qmerit-certified installer and allows them to initiate the permit process. If you choose to cancel your project at any time, your deposit will be fully refunded. Otherwise, it will be deducted from the installation cost.

Qmerit recommends reaching out to your tax professional about applying for credits. For more information, you can also visit the “Laws & Incentives” section of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.