Charge at home every night. We check your panel first.

What a home EV charger is, and who it is for

A Level 2 home charger runs on a 240 volt circuit, like a dryer, and adds far more range per hour than a regular wall outlet. It is for anyone who owns or is about to buy an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle and would rather charge at home than plan the day around public stations.

It also fits businesses and multi-unit properties that want to offer charging to staff, tenants, or customers. The part that is easy to underestimate is the electrical work. The charger needs capacity in your panel and a safe run of wire, which is why this is a job for electricians.

Level 1 vs Level 2: why the cord that came with the car is not enough

A Level 1 charger is just a cord that plugs into a regular outlet. Most homes already have an outlet, and many people get a cord with the car or borrow one from a friend. It works, but it is the least efficient way to charge.

A hardwired Level 2 home charger has its own 240 volt circuit. It charges the car overnight instead of taking days to catch up.

• Level 1 cord: plugs into a regular outlet. The slowest option. Fine as a backup or for a plug-in hybrid.
• Level 2 hardwired charger: a dedicated circuit and a charger on the wall. Built for daily charging, and what most homes choose.
• DC fast charging: commercial-grade power for businesses and fleet depots.

A Level 2 charger is also the better long-term pick. Cars, chargers, and utility programs keep changing, and a proper 240 volt circuit gives you room to grow.

What is included

• A review of your vehicle, your charging habits, and where the charger should go
• A panel check to confirm there is capacity for a new circuit
• A new dedicated circuit and wiring run by licensed electricians
• Charger installation and mounting
• Permit and utility paperwork, handled by us
• Setup help and a walkthrough of the charger
• A panel upgrade, if your panel needs one first

How an EV charger job works

1. Consultation and design. We look at your vehicle, your garage or parking spot, and your panel, then confirm the best location and the circuit it needs.
2. Permitting and paperwork. We pull the electrical permit and handle any utility paperwork.
3. Installation. Our electricians run the circuit, mount the charger, and test it.
4. Activation and support. We set the charger up with you, walk you through it, and stay available if you have questions.

Brands we install

We install ChargePoint, FLO, Tesla, and Enphase chargers, and we can tell you which units support extras such as smart scheduling. Ask us about V2G and V2H chargers too. This newer technology can let an EV power your home during an outage. Not every charger can do this, and we can tell you which models support it.

Our post on Enphase and EV charging covers one way to tie it all together.

Do I need a panel upgrade first

Sometimes. Older panels may not have capacity for a new 240 volt circuit. We check your panel during the free quote and tell you what the job really needs before you commit. If an upgrade is needed, our electricians can do both in one project. See electrical panel upgrades.

PGE and utility EV charger rebates

Yes, there are rebates for home EV chargers. Portland General Electric (PGE) runs a rebate program for home Level 2 chargers.

PGE also has a higher tier for income-qualified customers. That tier can also help pay for a panel upgrade when one is needed.

The rules depend on the charger model and your panel. Other utilities have their own programs. We check what you qualify for when we quote your job. Our post on the PGE EV charger rebate explains how the program has worked.

Do I need a permit?

Yes. An electrical permit is required, and we pull it for you.

Signs you are ready for a home charger

• You own an EV or plug-in hybrid, or have one on order
• You charge with the cord that came with the car and want it faster
• You are tired of planning around public charging
• You have solar and want to charge from your own roof
• You plan to sell and want a feature buyers ask about
• You manage a property where tenants or staff want to charge

Why one licensed electrical team

One licensed team means one set of people who design the work, pull the permit, wire it, and answer the phone after it is running. Energy Solutions has been doing this since 2013, our crew carries 50+ years of combined team experience, and our Oregon CCB license number is 202002. Licensed electricians are on our own crew, so the electrical part of your job is not handed to a stranger.

If your panel is full, a charger company that only mounts boxes has to send you to an electrician. We are the electricians, and the whole job is done in-house by our own crew. We also install solar and batteries, so a charger can be planned together with them by the same crew.

What customers say

"They do it all, solar, EV chargers, backup batteries, new wiring in your house or shop."

kenny manley, Google review, Jul 2026

Where we install chargers

We install EV chargers across the Portland metro, down to Salem, out to the coast and Mount Hood, and into SW Washington. See the full service area.