Why we are abandoning Fixed Rate Pricing Installs

When Ozark EVCS was first seeded as an idea, one of the big sticking points was the lack of transparency in pricing available to customers. If one is to Google “How much does it cost to install an EV Charger at home” you will see a range typically from $200-$2,000. I can guarantee you the “$200” charger installation involves your uncle who “kind of knows electric” and it definitely doesn’t involve a permit, nor is it legal.

I like to say, vintage sweaters and slightly used furniture, great places to save some cash; the electric system in your home is not. According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) there was an average of nearly 350,000 structure fires per year from 2015-2019, resulting in about 2,600 civilian deaths per year (Source).

While cooking is the #1 cause of home fires, electric fires are usually tied for second place along with heating equipment. There is a reason nearly every state (Ohio is wild, and leaves it to the counties) imposes strict licensing on electricians, and it born from safety.

While $2,000 is on the high side for an average installation (the majority of our installs are completed for under $1,000 including taxes, permit, materials, labor, and warranty) it is by no means the upper limit. For this reason WE URGE customers to have their home surveyed before they ever pre-order an EV. Our most expensive install to date was nearly $11,000 for just two chargers.

How could an install run $11,000 for two chargers? Because the entire electrical service needed to be not only upgraded but moved within the home. It also required us to trench nearly 100’ in hilly terrain among a million other little site specific challenges. Don’t worry, this was an exceptional case, but the principal is important, you should price out the cost to add a charger to your electric system before you order an electric vehicle.

Getting back to our Fixed Rate Pricing model, we wanted to be able to give customers peace of mind and an ability to estimate pricing for the installation of their EV Charger. Unfortunately, I want everyone to get a good deal. So on homes where we stood to profit based on our $1,495 all inclusive service, in every instance we rebated hundreds of dollars to make the pricing feel more ‘fair’ to us.

Conversely, the customers who were benefiting most from the 16 hours of labor included within that pricing never fully appreciated how good of a deal they were getting.

Ultimately, there is no perfect way to estimate pricing remotely as there are simply too many variables when it comes to the electric system in your home. The only way to get customers the best deal every time is to survey their unique home.

Fill out our Contact form, email contact@evnwa.com directly, or call (or text) 479-364-7489 to schedule a free no-pressure survey whether your EV is arriving next week, or you are just determining feasibility for a future EV purchase. Installs start at $695/tax with an average cost of around $900.