EV charging without an expensive service upgrade
Updated October 25, 2026
In short
A full service upgrade can cost more than the charger and take weeks for the utility to schedule. Many homes and buildings can skip it with load management, a shared circuit or simply a smaller charger. A load calculation tells you which option is safe.
Start with a load calculation
A licensed electrician adds up what your home uses at its busiest and compares it with your service size. The result tells you how many amps are really free for a charger, often more than people expect.
Options that avoid an upgrade
- Load management with current sensors (CT clamps): the charger watches total use and slows down when the house needs power, then speeds back up.
- Dryer-outlet sharing: a UL-listed device shares an existing 240-volt dryer outlet between the dryer and the car, giving priority to the dryer.
- A lower charging setting: 24 to 32 amps fully charges most cars overnight.
- Dynamic load management for buildings: several chargers share one capacity limit and split it between cars.
When an upgrade is the right call
If the service is 60 or 100 amps and already near its limit, or you are adding a heat pump, induction range and EV together, an upgrade may be the honest answer. We tell you that up front, with both prices.
Questions
Are dryer-outlet sharing devices allowed?
UL-listed devices installed to code are. Plug-in splitters that are not listed are not safe. We check your outlet and wiring before recommending one.
Will load management slow my charging?
Only when the house is using a lot of power at the same time. Overnight, most cars still fill up.
General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and every building is different. Check with the Department of Buildings, your town or your building management.