Quick answer
A Level 2 home charger typically costs about $1,000 to $2,500 installed. Driving 12,000 miles a year adds about 3,600 kWh, which takes roughly 3 kW more solar. Because exports earn only the supply credit, pair solar with a time-of-day rate and overnight charging, or charge midday when you can. The federal charger credit ended June 30, 2026.
What does a Level 2 home charger cost to install?
Most homeowners pay roughly $1,000 to $2,500 in total, with the charger itself around $400 to $700 for a typical 32- to 48-amp unit. Installation runs higher when the garage is far from the electrical panel or the panel needs an upgrade.
If you're going solar at the same time, have the installer look at both: the charger and the solar both draw on your panel's capacity, and one electrical upgrade can cover both. See does a large solar system need an electrical upgrade?
How much more solar do I need for an EV?
At about 0.3 kWh per mile, 12,000 miles a year is about 3,600 kWh, which takes roughly 3 kW more solar, or about 8 panels, in the Chicago area. Larger EVs and trucks use more per mile. Our EV and heat pump guide covers sizing in more detail.
Are there ComEd or Ameren rebates for home EV chargers?
| Program | What it offers | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ComEd residential charger rebate | Up to $2,500 per household toward a Level 2 charger and installation | Announced February 2026; funds are limited, so check availability |
| Ameren Illinois managed charging | Incentives for letting the utility shift your charging to off-peak hours | Check Ameren's EV pages for current terms |
| Illinois EV rebate (Illinois EPA) | $2,000 toward a new or used EV, more for low-income buyers | August 1 to December 31, 2026, while funds last |
| Federal charger credit (30C) | Was 30% up to $1,000 in eligible areas | Ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026 |
Program money runs out, so confirm before you buy and keep your receipts. The federal credit needed the charger installed and working by June 30, 2026; paying earlier doesn't count.
Which electric rate is best for EV charging with solar?
ComEd's Delivery Time-of-Day rate, launched in February 2026, charges less for delivery overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and the most from 1 to 7 p.m. Ameren Illinois offers an EV rate and Power Smart Pricing, an hourly supply rate where prices are usually lowest at night.
Overnight charging on a time-of-day rate is the simple setup: the solar covers your daytime use and earns supply-rate credits for what it exports, and the car charges when power is cheapest. See hourly and time-of-day pricing with solar.
Should I charge my EV during the day with solar?
When you can, yes. Since 2025, Illinois credits exported solar at the supply rate only, but every kWh your car takes straight from your panels saves the full retail rate, delivery included. Weekends, work-from-home days and chargers that can follow your solar output all help.
A home battery can also store midday solar for evening charging, and qualifies for the $300/kWh utility storage rebate. See whole-home battery backup.
Sources
- Recharged: How much does home EV charger installation cost in 2026?
- U.S. DOE and EPA: fueleconomy.gov
- ComEd: $70 million in EV rebates available (February 2026)
- EnergyHub: Ameren Illinois launches EV managed charging (2025)
- Ameren Illinois: EV Charge Smart and EV rate
- electrive: Illinois opens new EV rebate round from August 1, 2026
- IRS: Instructions for Form 8911, Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
- ComEd: New Delivery Time-of-Day rate (February 2026 announcement)
- Citizens Utility Board: EV savings with Ameren's Power Smart Pricing
- Illinois Shines: FAQs related to changes in net metering in Illinois
- ComEd: Distributed generation and storage rebates
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Incentive programs change, so confirm current terms with your installer, your utility and a tax professional.