Most Richmond-area homes built before 2000 have a 100 or 150 amp electrical panel. Drop a 50 amp Level 2 EV charger on top of an HVAC system, electric water heater, and a few large appliances, and that panel is maxed out. The combo install (panel upgrade plus EV charger) handles both jobs in one visit, one permit, and one inspection, so you are not paying for a service truck to come out twice.
We start with a load calculation against the actual panel and circuits in your home. From there we upgrade the panel to 200 amp service (sometimes 225 or 320 amp on larger homes), replace the meter base if Dominion Energy requires it, ground and bond per current code, and reconnect every existing circuit. Then we install the EV charger on a dedicated 40 to 60 amp circuit, mount the unit on the wall or pedestal in the garage or driveway location, and configure the smart features if the charger supports them (load management, scheduling, app control). Both jobs share one permit and one inspection trip.
The full combo install runs 1 to 2 days on site. There is typically a brief Dominion Energy meter pull and reset (2 to 4 hours without power) on day one. Permits in Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover are usually approved within a week, with the inspection scheduled within a few days of completion.
The combo runs $3,500 to $6,800 depending on panel location, meter base condition, and charger model. A simple panel upgrade alone is $2,500 to $4,500. Adding the EV charger to an existing 200 amp panel runs $850 to $2,400. Doing both at once saves $400 to $900 over doing them separately because the trip charge, permit, and inspection are shared.
The federal 30C Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit covers 30 percent of the EV charger and installation cost, up to $1,000 per charger, when installed at a primary residence in a qualifying census tract (many Richmond-area census tracts qualify, though it is worth checking before filing). Dominion Energy currently offers an off-peak EV charging plan and occasional rebates through its smart charging program. We provide itemized invoices that meet IRS documentation requirements.
Fresh Air carries Virginia license 2705143403 (electrical, gas, and plumbing) and 2710051155 (HVAC), and has served Richmond since 2011. We pull permits, coordinate the meter swap with Dominion, and handle the inspection. Our technicians install ChargePoint, Tesla Wall Connector, Wallbox, JuiceBox, and Grizzl-E units, and we will recommend the right one for your vehicle and driving pattern. NATE-certified, fully insured, and based in Mechanicsville.
Call Fresh Air at 804-730-1999 or book a free site visit online. We will inspect the panel, measure the load, walk the charger location, and write up the combo proposal.