Processing...
We’ve been getting more calls about electric cars lately. Teslas, Rivians, Fords — you name it. A lot of homeowners around Fort Myers are jumping into EVs for the first time, and we’re hearing the same question over and over:
“Can I just plug it into the wall, or do I need one of those big chargers?”
Fair question. The answer? It depends on how fast you want that battery full — and what kind of wiring you’ve got in your home.
Let’s break it down the way we’d explain it if we were standing in your garage, flashlight in hand.
Every EV comes with a simple cord. You plug it right into a regular wall outlet — that’s called Level 1 charging.
And yeah, it works. Sort of.
You’ll get maybe 2 to 5 miles of range per hour. That’s not a typo. Plug it in before dinner, and it might still be charging when you wake up.
Now, for some folks, that’s fine. We’ve got plenty of Fort Myers homeowners who just run errands around town — maybe 20, 30 miles a day. Level 1 covers that easily.
If you don’t drive much, or you just need a little top-off each night, Level 1 will do the job. You don’t need new wiring, permits, or fancy equipment.
But if you’re commuting to Cape Coral, Naples, or anywhere long-distance, you’re gonna get tired of waiting real quick.
Then there’s Level 2.
This is where things get serious. Level 2 runs on 240 volts, same as your dryer or oven. Instead of trickle-charging, it’ll add 20 to 40 miles of range per hour — sometimes more.
Most folks go this route once they realize Level 1 is just too slow.
Here’s what it takes:
A dedicated 240V circuit (usually 40 or 50 amps).
A proper charger, mounted in your garage or driveway.
And a licensed electrician who knows how to size it, wire it, and install it safely.
We handle this all the time at Coharbor Electric. We’ll check your electrical panel, see if it’s got room, and run a new circuit if needed. If your panel’s already full — and a lot of older Fort Myers homes are — we can use a load management system instead of replacing the whole service.
That way, your home charges your car safely, without tripping breakers or overloading the system.
Let’s forget the charts and marketing talk for a minute. Here’s how we explain it to homeowners face-to-face:
Level 1: Works if you drive short distances. Slow as molasses, but simple.
Level 2: The one you actually want. It charges overnight, every night, without you even thinking about it.
Level 1 is like filling a pool with a garden hose. Level 2 is a pressure washer. Both fill it — one just takes a lot longer.
A couple months back, we helped a homeowner off McGregor who’d just bought a Tesla Model Y. Nice car. He’d been charging it on a regular outlet for two weeks.
He said, “It’s taking 30 hours to charge this thing. I can’t live like this.”
We checked his setup. Old 100-amp panel, no spare space. But everything else looked solid. Instead of upsizing the panel, we added a smart load-sharing controller. It monitors total load and automatically slows down charging when the air conditioner kicks on.
Now, he charges the car overnight — full battery by morning — and the rest of the house runs like normal. No breaker trips, no overload.
That’s how load management saves you a few grand without cutting corners.
Before we ever install a charger, we test your panel. It’s the backbone of your electrical system, and EV chargers pull hard for hours at a time.
Some older homes in Fort Myers still run on 100-amp panels. That’s tight when you’ve got AC, water heater, pool pump, and now a car to charge.
So we look at:
Your total load (what’s already using power).
The space and condition of the panel.
Whether you’ve got copper or aluminum wiring.
If it’s all good, we move forward. If not, we give you options — load management, a subpanel, or a full upgrade.
No guesswork. No “hope it holds.”
Most folks install it in the garage, but not everyone’s got one. We’ve done plenty of outdoor installs, too — side walls, carports, even near docks.
Florida weather’s no joke, so we only use outdoor-rated conduit and waterproof gear. Everything’s sealed, rust-resistant, and built to last through the humidity and salt air.
We’ve also helped people plan for future setups — adding a second circuit for when they buy another EV down the road.
Let’s talk money, because everyone asks.
A typical Level 2 charger install runs between $600 and $2,000, depending on your setup.
If your panel’s nearby and we don’t have to run far, it’s on the lower end. If your panel’s on the opposite side of the house or needs an upgrade, it’s more.
Still, for most homeowners, it’s a one-time project that changes your EV ownership experience completely. Plug it in, go to bed, wake up with a full charge — simple as that.
We’ve got plenty of clients with solar panels who want to know if they can charge their car off the sun. Short answer — yes, kind of.
If your solar system’s tied to the grid, the charger just pulls from whatever power’s available. During the day, that’s solar first, then grid if needed. At night, it’s all grid.
There are hybrid setups that make it smarter — even battery systems that prioritize solar charging — but those cost a bit more. Still, it’s a great way to offset usage and save money long-term.
We’ve seen some DIY charger installs that made us cringe. Loose wires, undersized breakers, cheap extension cords — not good.
EV chargers pull steady, high current for hours. One bad connection or cheap part can overheat fast.
When we install, we:
Pull proper permits.
Size circuits and wiring for your car model.
Ground everything correctly.
Test under load before we leave.
It’s the right way, and it’s the safe way.
Both Level 1 and Level 2 chargers get the job done, but if you’re serious about driving electric, Level 2 is the way to go. Faster, safer, and built for daily use.
Just remember — the charger’s only as good as the wiring behind it. That’s where we come in.
👉 Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule your EV charging consultation. We’ll check your setup, calculate your load, and install a system that fits your home perfectly — whether you’re charging a Tesla, Rivian, or anything else on four wheels.
We’ll make it safe, make it efficient, and make sure it lasts.
SERVICE AREA
Serving Southwest Florida including: Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, and more...
Get clear, menu-based pricing before work begins--giving you more control to fit your needs and budget.
Highly-trained & experienced Electricians. Fully vetted and background-checked. Ready to exceed your expectations.
Serving SWFL customers for 13+ years. Licensed and Insured throughout Florida.
EC13004475. EC13012422.
At Coharbor Electric, this is what to expect when entrusting us with fixing your electrical issues.
The first step is to get all the information we will need so that we can correctly assess the problem or situation. The photos or videos you send will be sent directly to the electrician.
Once our electrician has the info he needs, we will dispatch one in the next available spot–armed with expertise, equipment, and the parts he’ll most likely need.
Our Promise is to to You is to perform the job completely, efficiently, and to the Florida electrical code standards. We are committed to fair and honest pricing.
We offer flat rate pricing for service calls, so you always know the price up front. Simple to understand. Flat-rate fixed price so you can be confident you’ll get what paid for.
As a Florida homeowner, you have an endless list of choices for electrical contractors to hire…some great, some good, some bad.
At Coharbor Electric, our benchmark is to be “great”. If you decide to hire us for your electrical service, here’s what you can expect from our electricians:
Optimized by Seraphinite Accelerator