Field notes
EV Charger Installation Quoting: A Field-Tested Template for Electricians
EV charger installs are the fastest-growing residential electrical job category in the country. They are also the most commonly underestimated. A Level 2 EV charger install looks like a 90-minute job — mount the unit, run a wire, install a breaker. In practice it is a half-day job at minimum, and a full day if the customer's panel is at capacity or the run is non-trivial.
Here is the quoting template that captures the actual work, sets the customer's expectations, and protects your margin.
The pre-quote site visit (charge for it, or build it into the install)
Never quote an EV charger install over the phone. Three things must be assessed on site, and they all change the price by hundreds of dollars.
Panel capacity. Pull the panel cover. Read the existing load. Determine whether a 40A or 50A circuit will fit without exceeding the service capacity. If the panel is already at 80 percent of service, the customer needs a panel upgrade before the EV charger, which is a different conversation.
Conduit run length and path. Walk from panel to install location. Measure. Note finished surfaces (drywall, ceiling, attic, crawlspace) that the conduit has to cross. A 15-foot run inside a garage is different from a 70-foot run that crosses an attic and a finished bedroom.
Charger model and amperage. Customer often does not know. Help them choose. A 32A charger is sufficient for most daily commutes. A 48A charger requires a heavier circuit and is harder to justify unless the customer drives more than 200 miles a day.
The seven line items every EV charger quote needs
1. Charger unit (if customer is not supplying their own). Specify model, amperage, smart features.
2. Permit fee. Pass-through, itemized. Some jurisdictions require a separate EV-specific permit.
3. Conduit and wire run. Priced by linear foot, with adjustments for finished surfaces, attic crossings, and exterior runs.
4. Breaker installation. 40A or 50A double-pole, GFCI-protected per NEC 625.54.
5. Load calc documentation. Required for permit. Real work, real charge.
6. Install labor. Mount, terminate, test, commission.
7. Final inspection coordination. Schedule with AHJ, meet inspector on site if required.
The rebate paperwork question
Most utilities offer EV charger install rebates between $200 and $1,500. Most customers do not know how to file the paperwork. Two ways to handle this:
Option A: Quote separately as "rebate paperwork prep — $75 flat" and file it for them. Most utilities require contractor signature anyway. This is a $75 line item that closes deals.
Option B: Provide the customer with the rebate form pre-filled with your contractor info and let them file it. Either is fine — be explicit about which you are doing.
The two failure modes that destroy EV install margin
Failure 1: Underestimating the run. Quote assumes 25 feet of conduit. Actual run is 60 feet through an attic. Margin disappears. Fix: site visit before quote, no exceptions.
Failure 2: Panel capacity surprise. Quote assumes the panel can take the new circuit. Onsite discovery reveals the service is at capacity. Customer thought they were getting an EV charger; now they need a panel upgrade first. Fix: pull the panel cover during the site visit, every time.
How FieldCommand handles EV charger quoting
FieldCommand ships with an EV charger quoting template that includes the site-visit checklist, the seven line items, the rebate paperwork option, and the load-calc documentation field. The foreman fills it in from their phone during the site visit and the quote sends to the customer before they leave the property.