The most expensive EV charger installs we see are the ones where the charger was bought first. A Level 2 unit draws 40 to 48 amps continuously for hours. On a 100-amp service, that’s a large share of everything your house can use at once.
Three questions decide almost everything about the job.
1. How big is your service?
Look at the main breaker at the top of the panel. A number like 100, 150 or 200 tells you the service size. Most Austin homes built after 1990 are 200A. A lot of the older housing stock is 100A, sometimes less.
A 100A service can often still support a charger — at a lower amperage, or with load management hardware that pauses charging when the house needs the power. What it usually can’t support is a 48-amp charger plus an electric range, a heat pump and a dryer, all at once.
2. How far is the parking spot from the panel?
Cable is priced by the foot, and the cost climbs quickly when the run has to go through a finished garage, around a slab, or underground to a detached carport. A 25-foot run in an unfinished garage is a different job from a 70-foot run across a driveway.
This is also why the charger’s location matters more than its brand. Mount it where the cable reaches without strain, ideally under cover.
3. Do you want it hardwired or on an outlet?
A NEMA 14-50 outlet lets you unplug the charger and take it with you, and it’s a reasonable choice indoors. Outdoors, a hardwired connection removes a failure point and is usually what we recommend.
Hardwiring also lets you run a higher amperage on some units, since the circuit is dedicated and permanent.
What the process looks like
We start with a load calculation based on your actual appliance list, not a generic table. From there we confirm the circuit size, pull the permit, and schedule the install. Most jobs are a half day.
After installation we commission the charger, confirm the charging rate, and walk you through the app and the breaker that feeds it. You should leave knowing exactly how to shut it off.
The short version
Before you buy: check the main breaker size, measure the distance to where you park, and decide whether you want an outlet or a hardwired unit. Send us those three things and we can give you a realistic price range in one email.