Home charging · install cost
Most estimates online are one averaged number. The real bill is decided by three things: how far the charger sits from your panel, whether that panel has capacity left, and what your city charges for a permit. This model prices all three.
48A needs a 60A breaker and heavier cable. For most drivers 40A already replaces a full day of range overnight — the upgrade only pays off on long daily commutes.
Hardwiring is usually cheaper and more reliable. A 240V receptacle triggers a GFCI breaker requirement that a hardwired unit does not.
The install is one-time. This is the number that decides whether the car saves you money.
Assumes about 10% AC charging loss and a real-world 3.0–4.2 mi/kWh. Petrol comparison uses 28 mpg at $3.20/gal.
A charger on a panel with spare capacity is a few hundred dollars of parts and an afternoon of labour. The same charger on a full 100A panel can mean a service upgrade — and that one line item is larger than everything else combined.
You pay for the cable and again for the hours spent pulling it. Moving the charger ten feet closer to the panel, or buying a unit with a 25 ft cable, is the cheapest saving available to you.
An unpermitted 240V circuit is a problem at resale and can complicate a homeowner's insurance claim after a fire. An electrician who offers to skip it is telling you something about how they work.