Charging at Home

Most EV drivers do almost all of their charging at home. It's like starting every day with a full tank of gas. Charging at home is convenient, and it's generally cheaper than charging on the road. What's not to love?

  1. Convenience

    Charging at home is the most convenient way to charge. Most EVs have apps that can schedule your charging to finish at a specific time, so you'll have a full charge when you're ready to depart.

  2. Cost savings

    It can be expensive to use DC fast chargers when you're on the road. Some stations charge 2 to 3 times as much per kWh as your typical residential electric rate. At home, you can also schedule your car to charge during off-peak hours when many Vermont utilities offer lower rates.

  3. Battery health

    Frequent use of DC fast charging may impact your EV's battery health over time. Charging more slowly, like you do at home, can help maintain battery life.

  4. Resale value

    As EVs become more mainstream, more home buyers are looking for charging capability. A Level 1 or Level 2 charger probably won't add a ton of value to your home on its own, but it could be just the amenity that your prospective buyer needs.

Electric utility charging incentive

Most Vermont electric utilities offer support for installing EV charging stations at home. Some utilities will even send you a free level 2 charger, although you’ll be responsible for covering installation costs. Utilities typically require certain types of charging equipment to access their off-peak charging rates, so check with them before purchasing your equipment.

See your utility's incentives

Federal EV charging tax credit

To help incentivize EV adoption, there is a federal tax credit for installing charging infrastructure in certain locations around the country. Most parts of Vermont qualify for this offer. For homeowners, the credit is 30% of the equipment and installation costs, up to $1,000 per charging port.

See the tax credit

Multifamily housing EV charging incentive

In certain parts of the state, you can get up to 100% of your costs covered. Seriously, 100%. Check your eligibility and funding availability at Charge Vermont.

See details

Get started

Ready to install a charging station at home? Here are the next steps:

  1. If you live in an apartment or multi-unit housing complex, check out our page about charging at those locations.
  2. Decide whether you want Level 1 or Level 2 charging. Installing Level 2 charging might require electrical work, so don't forget to factor that into your budget.
  3. If you’re leasing or buying a new EV, check with the automaker or dealer for special offers to help cover charging installation costs.
  4. Find out which incentives you qualify for, and how to redeem them.
  5. Connect with an electrical contractor to get an estimate and complete the work. Any licensed electrician should be able to install charging. Here are two lists of Vermont contractors who’ve expressed interest in charging installations:
  6. Feeling stuck? Reach out to Drive Electric Vermont for help. [email protected]