By Peter, Master Electrician | PRO Electric plus HVAC | EV Charger Installation Service
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT (BLUF)
Falls Church mixes some of the oldest housing in inner Fairfax County with some of the newest. The original Falls Church homes go back to the 1940s and 1950s. The post-war ramblers and split-levels followed in the 1960s and 1970s. Recent decades brought tear-downs, full renovations, and new infill construction with modern 200 amp service. Walk a Falls Church block and you can find a 1948 cottage next to a 2018 custom build. EV adoption here has grown steadily and the install conversation depends entirely on which kind of home you have. Some need a service upgrade. Others are immediately ready. The cost savings of home charging vs public are the same either way.
This article walks you through what a proper Level 2 EV charger install looks like in Falls Church and what the home-vs-public charging cost math looks like. If you want the full technical guide, the Northern Virginia cornerstone article goes deeper. If you want to talk about your specific home, the service page has my direct line.
Table of Contents
Why Falls Church Installs Vary So Much by Home
Falls Church housing stock spans eight decades. The original 1940s and 1950s homes were wired with 60 amp or 100 amp service. The 1960s and 1970s ramblers came in with 100 amp or 150 amp. The 1990s renovations often upgraded to 200 amp. The 2010s and 2020s tear-down rebuilds came in fresh with 200 amp service standard. Two homes on the same Falls Church block can have entirely different electrical realities. The first step of every Falls Church EV charger install is checking the panel.
Service Upgrade or Direct Install Decision
For Falls Church homes with 100 amp or 150 amp service plus modern loads (heat pump, induction range, home office), the load calculation usually points to a service upgrade. For Falls Church homes already at 200 amp service from a recent renovation, the install is straightforward. The free site visit tells us which side of the line your home sits on. Service upgrades add $3,000 to $8,500 to the total. Direct installs run $1,500 to $2,800 plus the charger.
Home Charging Cost vs Public Charging
A typical Northern Virginia EV owner drives 12,000 miles per year and uses 25 to 35 kWh per hundred miles. That works out to 3,000 to 4,200 kWh per year of charging.
Charging at home in Falls Church: Dominion Energy residential rates currently run about 12 cents per kWh. Off-peak time-of-use rates drop to 7 to 9 cents per kWh. Annual home charging cost runs $240 to $500 per year depending on rate plan and driving distance.
Charging at public DC fast stations: Electrify America, ChargePoint DC Fast, and EVgo charge 40 to 50 cents per kWh in this region. Tesla Superchargers run 25 to 40 cents per kWh at peak times. Annual cost charging only at public DC fast stations for the same mileage runs $1,200 to $1,800.
The math: Charging at home saves $800 to $1,400 per year compared to public DC fast. A complete Level 2 install plus charger averages around $2,500 to $3,000 for a direct install. Even with a service upgrade pushing the total to $6,000 to $9,000, the savings still pay back in five to seven years. After that, the install is putting money back in your pocket every year. Add in the convenience of waking up to a full battery, and the home install is one of the higher-return upgrades a Falls Church EV owner can make.
Cost and Falls Church Permitting
Falls Church installs without a service upgrade typically run $1,500 to $2,800 for the install labor plus $500 to $900 for the charger. With a service upgrade, add $3,000 to $8,500. The City of Falls Church handles its own permits separately from Fairfax County for properties inside city limits. Fairfax County handles permits for properties outside city limits. We handle whichever jurisdiction applies. Total timeline from contract to power on is two to four weeks for a direct install or six to ten weeks if a service upgrade is included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does home charging save vs public charging in Falls Church?
A typical EV owner saves $800 to $1,400 per year charging at home instead of at public DC fast stations. Payback on a direct install is two to three years. Payback with a service upgrade is five to seven years.
Will my Falls Church home need a service upgrade?
Depends on the age of the home and existing service. Older Falls Church homes with 100 amp or 150 amp service often need an upgrade. Recently renovated homes with 200 amp service usually do not.
Who handles the permits, Fairfax County or City of Falls Church?
Properties inside Falls Church city limits use City of Falls Church permits. Properties outside city limits use Fairfax County permits. We handle whichever applies.
Should I use time-of-use rates with my Falls Church home charger?
If you charge mostly overnight, yes. Dominion’s time-of-use plans drop overnight rates to 7 to 9 cents per kWh. Most Level 2 chargers can be set to charge only during off-peak hours.
How long does install take in Falls Church?
Two to four weeks for a direct install. Six to ten weeks if a service upgrade is included.
References & Related Reading
The full guide: EV Charger Installation in Northern Virginia: A Master Electrician’s Complete Guide
Service page: EV Charger Installation Service
Other Fairfax County homes I help:
Across Northern Virginia, similar mixed-housing installs:
- EV Charger Installation in Brambleton, VA
- EV Charger Installation in Clarendon, VA
- EV Charger Installation in Lake Ridge, VA
Authoritative References (APA)
National Fire Protection Association. (2023). NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, Article 625 Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System.
SAE International. (2017). SAE J1772: SAE Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice for Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler.
U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center. (2024). Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: Residential charging. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-charging-home
Internal Revenue Service. (2024). Form 8911: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8911
Ready to Get Your Level 2 Charger Installed?
If you have an EV at the Falls Church home or one on the way, the next step is a free site visit and load calculation. We figure out which side of the service-upgrade line your home is on, then quote both options if they apply. The site visit and the proposal are on me.
📞 Call 703-225-8222 or book online. PRO Electric plus HVAC is veteran owned and operated, licensed and insured in Virginia.
