EV Charging

Level 2 Charging is fast charging. When purchasing an electric vehicle, a Level 1 charger will likely be supplied. A Level 1 charger simply plugs into a home’s standard 120 V outlet. A Level 1 charge can charge your EV of course, it just takes a long time. Expect a Level 1 charger to charge 5 miles of range per hour.

Many EV owners will opt to have a Level 2 charger installed. A Level 2 charger offers much faster charging than a Level 1 with the installation of a NEMA 14-50 outlet on a 50 Amp breaker with 240 volts of power. A Level 2 charger is like having your own gas pump in your home. Compared to a Level 1, which can charge just 5 miles of range per hour, a Level 2 can deliver 20-80 miles of range per hour.

The Level 2 NEMA 14-50 outlet can be used to plug directly into the vehicle with a Level 2 charger cord, or additional charging equipment like the Tesla Wall Connector for example can be installed with a NEMA-40 outlet in order to provide more intelligent and potentially even faster charging features.

Yes, most residential EV charging units are water resistant and have an outdoor rating. The NEMA-40 outlet would need an outdoor rated receptacle box and cover.

An EV charging installation is not eligible for the 30% tax credit (ITC), however programs do exist to offset the costs of some EV charging features. Through the Charge Up NJ Program, certain EV chargers themselves may be eligible for a $250 savings off of approved EV charging equipment (not the installation itself). A list of the approved EV chargers can be found on the Charge Up New Jersey website. For customers in PSE&G territory, The Electric Vehicle Charging Program can provide a $1,500 bill credit to eligible customers with eligible Consumer-Side Make-Ready (CSMR) assets for the installation of an EV charger. Federally, through the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit, homeowners may be eligible for a credit worth up to $1,000 of the EV charging installation costs. None of these incentives are guaranteed and depend on program availability and eligibility and components purchased.

The kWh production from a solar array needed to offset the charging of an EV depends on the EV itself and the average number of miles driven in a year. According to The Federal Highway Administration the average American drives 16,500 miles per year. A high efficiency EV will have a miles per kWh rating of 4 miles per kWh. Driven 16,500 miles per year, the EV will require an additional 4,125 kWh of either grid or solar power in a year. With 400 watt solar modules and a 1.2 production factor, it would require 9 additional solar modules. The cost savings from EV Charging with solar can be substantial. In New Jersey for example, with an average price of $.162/kWh, the vehicle that requires 4,125 kWh of energy would cost a homeowner $668/year.

Yes, in most municipalities, an electrical permit is required for the electrical work needed to install the 50 amp breaker and NEMA-40 outlet. Public Service Solar will file for and pay for these permits on your behalf and even sit for the inspection.