EV Charger Installation in Lewiston & Clarkston
Plug in at night, leave full in the morning. RD Electric installs Level 2 (240V) chargers for Tesla, Ford, Chevy, Rivian, Hyundai and every other EV — sized to your panel, permitted, and done by licensed electricians who live here.
Why a wall outlet isn't enough in the valley
The cord that came with your EV plugs into a regular outlet and adds roughly 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. That works if you only drive around town. It doesn't work when you're doing the run to Spokane, Boise, or Walla Walla, or when a cold January morning has knocked 20% off your range before you've left the driveway.
A Level 2 charger runs on a dedicated 240V circuit, like a dryer or a range, and adds 25 to 40+ miles of range per hour depending on the vehicle. Most drivers go from empty to full overnight. The charger mounts in your garage or on an exterior wall, the wiring runs back to your panel, and the whole thing is inspected and permitted so it's safe and doesn't cause a problem when you sell the house.
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The first thing we look at is your panel
A Level 2 charger pulls 32 to 48 amps continuously. Plenty of LC Valley homes have 100-amp panels that are already close to full with a heat pump, range, and dryer. Sometimes the answer is a load-management setting on the charger; sometimes it's a panel upgrade. We tell you which before you spend a dollar, not after.
Which charger should you get?
Three common setups. We'll help you pick based on your vehicle, your panel, and whether you might own a different EV in five years.
Fastest option for a Tesla
Hardwired, up to 48A, talks directly to the car. Newer units also charge non-Tesla EVs with the built-in adapter.
Works with any EV you'll ever own
Brands like ChargePoint, Emporia, Wallbox and Grizzl-E. Hardwired for full 48A speed, app-controlled, and the most future-proof choice for a household with more than one brand of vehicle.
Simplest install, plug-in charger
A heavy-duty outlet on a 50A circuit. Use the mobile cord that came with the car or a plug-in charger. Caps at about 40A and needs a GFCI breaker by code, but it's the least expensive path to real overnight charging.
How an install works
Most homes are charging the same day we show up with the parts:
Free panel check & quote
We look at your panel capacity, where the car parks, and how far the wire has to run. You get a written price that includes the charger (if we supply it), wiring, breaker, permit, and labor.
Permit pulled
EV circuits require an electrical permit on both sides of the river. We pull it and schedule the inspection so you don't have to.
Install day
Dedicated circuit, correctly sized wire, the charger mounted where the cord actually reaches your port. A straightforward garage install is usually two to four hours on site.
Test, app setup, inspection
We charge your car before we leave, get the app connected if your charger has one, and meet the inspector. Done.
Installed by the same crew that does panel work here every week.
An EV charger is a big continuous load. It's the kind of circuit where wire sizing, breaker selection, and torque on the terminals matter for the next twenty years. RD Electric journeymen do it right the first time, and if your panel needs help, we're the ones who fix that too.
Rebates & utility programs
Utility incentives for home chargers change year to year and differ between the Idaho and Washington sides of the valley. When we quote your install we'll tell you what currently applies to your address and which chargers qualify, so you don't leave money on the table.
EV charger questions we get every week
How much does it cost to install an EV charger?
It depends on three things: how far the wire runs from your panel to where the car parks, whether your panel has room for a new 40–60 amp breaker, and which charger you want. A short garage run next to the panel is the low end; a detached shop or a panel upgrade is the high end. We give you the complete number in writing after a free look at your setup.
Do I need a panel upgrade?
Not always. We do a load calculation on your existing panel first. Many 200-amp panels have room; many 100-amp panels don't, especially with electric heat or a heat pump. If it's borderline, a charger with load management can often avoid the upgrade. If an upgrade is needed, we do that work too.
Can you install a Tesla Wall Connector?
Yes. We install Tesla Wall Connectors and every major universal brand. If you already bought a charger, we'll install it; if you haven't, we'll recommend one that fits your car and your panel.
How long does the install take?
A typical garage install is two to four hours once we're on site. Longer runs, trenching to a detached garage, or a panel upgrade add time, and we'll tell you up front.
Do I need a permit?
Yes, in both Idaho and Washington. We pull the permit and handle the inspection as part of the job. A permitted, inspected install also matters for your homeowner's insurance and for resale.
Can I add a second charger later?
Usually, and it's worth planning for now. If there's any chance of a second EV in the household, we can size the circuit or add load-sharing so the second charger is a simple add-on instead of a second full install.
Where we install EV chargers
RD Electric installs home and small-business EV chargers across the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and the surrounding area:
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