Georgia is the 8th largest EV market in the United States, with 85,050 registered electric vehicles cited in the report. The North Georgia EV Home Charging Cost Study, produced with Car Charger Specialists of Oakwood, Georgia, examines how quickly a professional hardwired Level 2 home charger can pay for itself.
Professional hardwired Level 2 installation typically costs $750 to $2,800 in Car Charger Specialists' North Georgia service area. Georgia Power offers a $150 rebate for qualifying installations, and select Metro Atlanta EMC and municipal programs may offer $100 to $250. The federal 30C credit may cover 30% of eligible installation costs up to $1,000, but location and taxpayer eligibility restrictions apply.
The arithmetic behind the payback uses an average North Georgia EV driver covering about 13,500 miles per year and consuming approximately 3,780 kWh of charging energy. At public Level 2 stations priced around $0.30 per kWh, the report estimates annual charging cost at $1,134. At a home off-peak rate of roughly $0.09 per kWh, the same energy costs about $340 per year, a difference of $794.
Over five years, that gap compounds to nearly $4,000 in avoided public Level 2 charging fees. The report notes that the comparison does not include regular DC fast charging use, which can cost $0.45 to $0.65 per kWh and can push annual charging costs between $1,701 and $2,457 in the scenarios modeled, or $1,361 to $2,117 more than home off-peak charging.
Beyond direct charging cost, the report identifies equipment durability and battery health considerations. Many EV owners already have a mobile charger, but Car Charger Specialists states that mobile chargers are more prone to failure after sustained daily use than hardwired Level 2 chargers designed for continuous nightly charging.
The report also notes that frequent DC fast charging can increase battery wear when used as a daily charging method. EV manufacturer documentation from Tesla, GM, Hyundai, and others is cited for the general recommendation that Level 2 charging is the preferred everyday charging method, while DC fast charging is better suited for road trips and supplemental use.
For multifamily property owners, the report frames charging access as a growing competitive amenity for apartments, condos, and townhome communities. As EV adoption increases across North Georgia, the study suggests that charging access is becoming both a consumer cost issue and an infrastructure planning issue.
Costs vary by driving behavior, vehicle, utility territory, charging network, and installation conditions. Rebates and tax incentives change, and the 30C credit is limited to qualifying locations and taxpayers. Readers should verify current program terms and consult a tax professional before assuming eligibility.