EV charger installs have become a staple job for residential electricians. The basics: a Level 2 charger (EVSE) runs on 240V and typically requires a 40A to 60A dedicated circuit. Most residential chargers are 32A-48A continuous (NEC requires circuit to be sized at 125% of continuous load, so a 48A charger needs a 60A circuit). For a 40A charger, you need a 50A circuit.
Circuit sizing and wire selection: a 50A, 240V circuit needs 6 AWG copper (or 4 AWG aluminum) minimum per NEC 310.16. The charger location matters - the further from the panel, the more likely you’ll need to upsize for voltage drop. Calculate it, especially on a 200-foot run to a detached garage.
NEMA 14-50 outlet vs hardwired: many chargers can do either. A NEMA 14-50 outlet gives the customer flexibility to move or replace the charger without hiring an electrician. Hardwired is a cleaner install. Permit: always required, always pulled before work starts. Inspectors are getting much more consistent on EV charger inspections as the volume increases.