Electric Vehicles Home Electrification

Drive electric with a better, faster, and cleaner vehicle

Electric vehicles (EVs) are more efficient than gas-powered cars and trucks and better for the environment, too. Buying an EV is a great first step on the path to electrifying everything!

Why do it?

EVs can save you over $1,000 a year on fuel costs relative to gas vehicles, require less maintenance, and have no tailpipe emissions.

When?

When you are ready to replace your current gas vehicle.

Who is this for?

All vehicle owners.

Our Takeaway

Many EVs on the market today have a range of more than 250 miles on a single charge. Electrifying your driving can save you over $1,000 a year!

Rebates and Credits

Project guide

1. Decide on the type of transportation that meets your needs

There are lots of climate-friendly ways to get around, including public transportation, walking, biking, electric bikes, and electric vehicles (EVs), and we’re big fans of all of them. If you’ve decided you need to buy an EV, this checklist will help you navigate your EV purchase, as well as set up home charging.

2. Select and purchase an EV

Read reviews and shop around to find an electric vehicle that meets your needs. Test drive the ones you’re considering — it’s free, and you can even do it before you’re ready to buy without the stress of an emergency replacement. Along with the usual car features, consider EV-specific features like range, charging speed, and availability of fast chargers. Check out PG&E’s EV Savings Calculator to help you decide.

3. Decide on the type of charger that meets your needs

You can choose from multiple types of home chargers:

Level 1 (120 Volt): 50 miles of charge overnight, often comes with the car and just plugs into a regular wall outlet
Level 2 (240 Volt): 125–300 miles of charge overnight, using 16–40 Amps. Consider getting a charger with an adjustable amp setting and using the lowest one that meets your charging needs to save room on your electrical panel.

We recommend installing the smallest charger that meets your needs so you can save money. Check out Electric for All’s Home Charging Advisor to find local incentives for EV chargers.

4. Call electricians and get quotes

If installing a Level 2 charger, call electricians and get quotes for wiring a 240 Volt circuit. Get at least three quotes if you want to save money! You may want to consider pre-wiring your home for electrification at the same time as you install your EV charger. Visit our electrical panel guide for more details.

5. Install your EV charger

Choose an electrician and install your EV charger (or just stick with the 120 Volt Level 1 charger). Enjoy your ability to plug in your car overnight and never pay for gas again!

FAQs

How do I know if my vehicle or home charger qualifies for tax credits?

Visit fueleconomy.gov. The website has a page dedicated to tax credits for new and used electric vehicle purchases.

For home charging visit ElectricForAll to search home chargers by feature and cost.

There are so many different types of electric vehicles. How can I easily compare vehicles on features like EV range and price?

Before you visit a dealer, you can browse EV vehicles from home! Pacific Gas and Electric Company has a fantastic website that lets you compare new and used vehicles by range, type, and fuel (all-electric or plug-in hybrid). You can also filter EVs by budget.

I plan on leasing my vehicle. Do the tax credits qualify?

Yes. Your dealer can apply the $7,500 tax credit to any leased electric vehicle and pass the credit on to you. Only electric vehicles made in North America will receive the full tax credit.

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