Service
EV charger installation
Charging at home on a regular outlet adds a few miles of range an hour. A 240-volt Level 2 charger on its own circuit can refill most cars overnight. We install the circuit and the charger, and we check first that your panel can carry it.
- 5.0 on Google
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- WA Lic. WESTPEL745M7
A home charger installation includes
- A load calculation on your panel
- A dedicated 240-volt circuit
- A hardwired charger or a 240-volt outlet
- Permit and inspection
- Labels at the panel
A Level 2 charger makes sense if
- You have bought or ordered an electric car or a plug-in hybrid.
- You drive more in a day than a night on a regular outlet puts back.
- The car is plugged into an outlet that also feeds other things.
- You want charging in the garage, the carport, or by the driveway.
What we install
A Level 2 charger runs on 240 volts, the same as a range or a dryer, and it needs a circuit of its own.
- A dedicated 240-volt circuit from the panel to where the car parks
- A hardwired wall charger, or a 240-volt outlet for a plug-in unit
- A breaker and wire sized to the charger
- Outdoor-rated equipment and conduit where the charger is outside
- Permit and inspection
Hardwired or plug-in
A hardwired charger is connected directly to its circuit. It has no plug to wear out, and the higher-amperage chargers have to be installed this way. A plug-in charger uses a 240-volt outlet, so it can come with you if you move. Tell us which charger you have in mind, and we’ll confirm the circuit it needs.
Will my panel handle a charger?
This is the first thing we check. A charger is a continuous load: it can draw its full current for hours. So its circuit is sized 25 percent above the charger’s setting. A charger set to 32 amps needs a 40-amp circuit. One set to 48 amps needs a 60-amp circuit.
We run a load calculation on the whole house to see what the service can carry with the charger added. If there is room, the job is a new circuit. If it is tight, there are three ways to go.
- Set the charger lower. Many cars still fill overnight at 24 or 32 amps.
- Add a load management device, which slows or pauses charging while the rest of the house is drawing heavily.
- Upgrade the service, usually from 100 to 200 amps.
Permits and inspection
A new charger circuit needs an electrical permit and an inspection. Inside Vancouver city limits the permit comes from the City of Vancouver. Everywhere else in Clark County it comes from Washington L&I. We pull the permit and meet the inspector.
The Clark Public Utilities rebate
Clark Public Utilities pays its customers a rebate on Level 2 chargers. As of October 2026 that is $500 for a new ENERGY STAR charger with Wi-Fi from the utility’s qualified products list, or $100 for any other Level 2 charger. The utility asks for the purchase receipt, and in some cases the installation receipt, within two years of buying the charger.
Process
How the job goes
Look at the panel and the parking spot
We check the service size, what is already on the panel, and the route from the panel to the car.
Load calculation and estimate
You get a price for a defined scope, including any panel work the calculation calls for.
Permit and install
We pull the permit, run the circuit, and mount the charger or the outlet.
Inspection and first charge
After inspection, we set the charger’s current to match the circuit and confirm the car is charging.
What affects the cost of a charger installation
Two similar houses can get very different prices, almost always because of the first two items here.
- The distance from the panel to where the car parks, and whether the run goes through a finished wall, an attic, or underground
- Whether the panel has the capacity and the space, or needs work first
- The charger’s amperage, which sets the wire and breaker size
- Indoor or outdoor mounting
- A hardwired charger or an outlet
Do we cover your address?
Our service area page lists every community we work in.
From a customer
We have used Ed at Westpeak for several projects around our home. He’s always responsive and does quality work.
Questions
Things people ask us.
Does WestPeak Electric do EV charger installation?
Yes. WestPeak Electric is a licensed electrical contractor (Washington license WESTPEL745M7). We do EV charger installation throughout our service area. Call or text 360-521-6913, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM.
What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 charging?
Level 1 is the cord that comes with the car, plugged into a regular 120-volt outlet. It adds roughly 2 to 5 miles of range an hour. Level 2 uses 240 volts and adds about 25 miles an hour, depending on the car and the charger. Level 1 can be enough for short daily drives. Level 2 suits longer commutes and bigger batteries.
Do I need a permit to install an EV charger?
For a Level 2 charger, yes in nearly every case. It is a new 240-volt circuit, so it needs an electrical permit and an inspection: from the City of Vancouver inside city limits, and from Washington L&I elsewhere in Clark County. Plugging the car’s own cord into an existing outlet needs no permit.
Do I need a 200-amp panel for an EV charger?
Not always. It depends on what else the house runs, and a load calculation gives the answer. Many homes with 200-amp service have room for a charger. A 100-amp service that already feeds electric heat, an electric range, and an electric water heater often does not. Then the choice is a lower charger setting, a load management device, or a service upgrade.
Should the charger be hardwired or plugged in?
Hardwired is the sturdier choice for a charger that stays put, and higher-amperage chargers have to be hardwired. A plug-in unit on a 240-volt outlet is easier to take with you. Either way, it gets its own circuit.
Does Clark Public Utilities give a rebate for a home charger?
Yes, for its customers. As of October 2026 it lists $500 for a new ENERGY STAR charger with Wi-Fi from its qualified products list and $100 for any other Level 2 charger, with a limit of two rebates per household. The terms are the utility’s and can change, so check its electric vehicle page before you buy.
Can the charger go outside?
Yes. Chargers and outlets made for outdoor use can go on an exterior wall or on a post by the driveway. Outdoor runs go in conduit, and a longer run from the panel adds to the cost.
Request an estimate
Have an electrical project coming up?
Tell us what’s going on. We’ll ask the right questions, look at the job if it needs it, and give you a clear scope and price.
- 5.0 on Google
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- WA Lic. WESTPEL745M7