Electric Vehicle Chargers

The Bottom Line

  • ⚠️  Federal EV charger credits end September 30, 2025. 
  • Charging at home is convenient and inexpensive.
  • Utility/Coop Time-of-Use electricity plans can lower the cost even more.
  • There are many Utility, Coop, State, Federal and Manufacturer incentives for home chargers. Check with program FIRST for a list of eligible equipment and what the incentive covers (i.e., product only or product + installation).
  • When buying a used EV, ask about potential charging capacity and connector plug limitations.
  • A charger can share a circuit with an electric dryer or other appliance, avoiding the need to a panel upgrade.
  • Programs for multi-family dwellings. Renters,  educate landlords.
  • Bi-directional charging can power your home!

EV Chargers 101

EV chargers come in 3 levels:

Slow.  Level 1 (120 Volts) is not a separate charger at all. Use your EV’s charge cord to plug into a standard AC 120 volt outlet at home. Adds ~ 5 miles of range per hour to your battery.
Faster.  Level 2 (240 Volts) for home (and some public charging) will charge your vehicle overnight, ~5-7 times faster than Level 1. It is usually much cheaper than public network chargers (especially if your electricity provider offers time-of-use rates for charging during off peak hours). It requires 240V. If you do not have 240V in your garage or carport, this may require a wiring upgrade (a few hundred dollars) and possibly an electric panel upgrade as well. There are Federal, State and electricity provider incentives to help with that.  But you may be able to avoid a panel upgrade by installing  a circuit splitter.  Read incentive fine print – some EV charger incentives will pay for making your residence EV ready vs. incentives just for the cost of the hardware.
Fastest. Direct Current (DC).  These are found along roadways, like the Tesla Supercharging network. Charging speeds and technology are expanding as more cars can charge at higher voltages – the Lucid Air Pure can add 312 miles in 15 minutes, for example.  But not all cars are compatible with the high electric loads (Tesla V3 250kW Superchargers can have 480 volts/300 amps) of DC charging, and not all fast chargers deliver the power needed to ensure a fast charge. If you are buying an older car make sure you understand its charging capability and constraints. For new cars however, Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Honda, Kia, Jaguar, Hyundai, Genesis, and Rivian, Volvo and others announced that their vehicles will be able to use 12,000 of Tesla’s reliable Superchargers starting in 2024 via adaptors. After that these companies will build their EVs with Tesla connectors standard.
Be aware that charging connectors differ by vehicle model and region in the world.  Also for AC or DC charging. Connectors had been converging towards two types in the U.S., the Combined Charging System Combo and the Tesla connector.  A Magic Dock adaptor allows EVs with a CCS plus to charge at a limited number of Tesla Superchargers.  But a growing number of companies are adopting Tesla’s connector as standard.  Originally developed in Japan, the CHAdeMO is a DC fast charging connector, which may charge some models in the US like 2011-2021 Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi iMiEV.
Many factors go into choosing and installing a charger and the project cost: any charging rate limits of your EV, charger location, if your electric panel and wiring need upgrading and if you will need any construction work.  See the video below.  Incentive programs may also limit your choices – so check with your electricity provider and/or tax adviser first.
Here are some charger resources:

What’s involved in installing a charger:

EV Chargers – Financial Incentives

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center is a great place to start when looking for all kinds of incentives in New Mexico. Also check for offers from the EV manufacturer.
With all the generous incentives, installing a charger should not cost most people very much.
  • New Mexico offers HEAR rebates for wiring ($2,500) and panel upgrades ($4,000) through program installers for  low- income households. Check the state’s website for updates.
  • Xcel Energy’s Home Wiring Estimator tool estimates wiring costs and shows how much an EV will save in fuel costs.
Level 2 chargers require a 240 volt outlet, which may entail upgraded wiring and possibly an upgraded electric panel. However, if you already have an electric dryer  near where you park your car you may be able to share this circuit. There are also devices for sharing charging between two chargers. Some people get all the range they need overnight with a Level 1 (120V) charger.
There are growing incentives for multi-family housing and commercial charging in addition to residential rebates and tax credits. Because it is always less expensive to build EV ready structures than retrofit them, EV Infrastructure Building Codes have been adopted in New Mexico and could be expanded. Expansion of time-of-use electric rates, which provide less expensive charging during off hours and rates for low-income households will allow more people to participate in clean transportation.
Charge Point’s EV Charger Incentives for Businesses
Clean Cities Coalition Network Workplace Charging Employer Workshop Toolkit.

For cities, schools, rural areas, non-profits, businesses, community organizations, shippers, states and individuals identify federal funding opportunities with this EV Funding Finder.
  • Federal Section 30C tax credit Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit EXPIRES June 2026. It includes bidirectional charging equipment (can provide short-term backup power to your home; e.g., cost ~$4k for Ford F-150 Lightning), energy storage projects, and chargers for two- and three-wheeled vehicles. The tax credit may be retroactive to 2017;  check with your tax advisor. File form 8911.  Starting in 2023, qualifying property will be limited to property placed in service within non-urban census tracts or low-income communities. Check with a tax expert if you have to subtract any non-state rebates you received from the cost of the EV charger.
  • To see if you are installing a charger or battery in an eligible census tract visit the 30C Tax Credit Eligibility Locator, or follow the instructions here.
    • For residential properties, the tax credit is 30% up to $1,000.
    • The commercial tax credit is 30% (6% if certain qualifications are not met) per charger including infrastructure upgrades and installation up to $100,000 max per charger. Qualifications include prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.
  • New Mexico State has two tax credits for chargers. You can only use one.
    •  Sustainable Building Refundable Tax Credit (SBTC) for personal or corporate income tax (01/01/2021 – 12/31/2027)
      • Basic minimum for EV Ready Equipment: 40 amp, 208 to 240 volt dedicated branch circuit.
      • Buildings less than 20,000 square feet.
      • Low-income: the owner or occupants of the building must have income equal or less than 200% of current year Federal poverty level
      • Residential (detached single family home) $500 for product and installation costs. $1,000 for charger and installation if low-income or affordable housing.
      • Commercial (multi-family and all other buildings) $1,500 for charger and installation; $3,000 if affordable housing or low income.
    • Clean Cars Tax Credit provides $400 for a Level 1 or 2  EV charger.
  • Rebates from electricity providers