EV Charger Placement: Thinking Through Your Options
Where you put an EV charger matters more than many homeowners realize before the installation happens. The best placement isn't just about where the outlet fits — it's about how you actually park and move around the space. Getting it right the first time saves the hassle and expense of moving it later.
The Core Question: Where Does the Car Park?
EV chargers mount to a wall. The cable that runs from the charger to your vehicle has a fixed length — usually 18 to 25 feet depending on the unit — and it needs to reach your vehicle's charging port without being taut, dragging on the ground, or requiring you to route it awkwardly over or around the car.
The starting point for placement decisions is simple: where does your vehicle typically park, and on which side is the charging port? Most EVs have the charging port on the front corner — driver's side or passenger's side — or occasionally on the rear. Knowing which side your car charges on tells you whether the charger should be on the left wall, the right wall, or somewhere near the front of the space.
If you have two EVs and plan to charge both from a single charger (using different cables), or plan to install two separate chargers, the parking orientation for both vehicles needs to be considered together.
Garage Installations
A private, enclosed garage is the most straightforward installation environment. The charger is protected from weather, easily accessible year-round, and typically close to the main panel (which affects the run distance for the circuit).
Within a garage, the main placement choices are:
Side wall, near the front. This puts the cable close to the charging port for most vehicles parked with the front toward the wall. Good for vehicles with front-corner ports.
Side wall, rear of the space. Better for vehicles with rear-mounted ports, or for setups where the cable needs to reach across the back of the car.
Rear wall. Works for front-facing charging ports and keeps the cable path short if the port is centered at the front of the vehicle. Can be awkward for ports at the corners.
Height above floor. Most chargers mount at a height where the cable outlet is between 36 and 48 inches above the floor. Too low and the cable drags; too high and it's awkward to handle. Your electrician will suggest a height that makes sense for your specific charger and vehicle.
Carport and Open-Structure Installations
Open carports work fine for EV chargers, but they require weatherproof equipment — specifically a charger and outlet rated for outdoor exposure. The cable and connectors on Level 2 chargers are designed to handle weather, but not all charger units are rated for direct outdoor exposure. Make sure the charger you're considering has an appropriate outdoor rating if it won't be enclosed.
Sun exposure is worth thinking about. A charger mounted in a south-facing or west-facing carport in New Mexico will receive significant direct sunlight and heat through the summer. Chargers are tested to operate in high-temperature environments, but mounting locations that get the worst afternoon sun may experience more thermal cycling over time.
Exterior Wall Installations
For homes without a garage or carport, mounting the charger on an exterior wall is an option — typically near the driveway where the car parks. This is more common than many homeowners realize and works well with the right equipment and installation.
Outdoor installations on an exterior wall do require more consideration of conduit routing: the circuit needs to get from the panel to the outside, which usually means running conduit along the exterior of the house. An experienced electrician will route this cleanly and in a way that's both weatherproof and aesthetically reasonable.
When Cord Length Matters
Most Level 2 chargers come with a cable of a standard length. If your vehicle's charging port is farther from the wall-mounted charger than the cable comfortably reaches, you have two options: move the charger, or use an extension designed for EV use (not a standard extension cord, which isn't appropriate for this application).
It's far better to solve this at the placement stage than after the charger is already installed. Bring measurements to the conversation with your electrician — the distance from the parking position to both side walls and the rear wall is useful information.
Questions to Work Through Before the Site Visit
- On which side of the vehicle is the charging port?
- If you have two EVs, where do both park, and where are their charging ports?
- Is the installation location enclosed, covered, or fully exposed?
- Is the parking position in the same place every day, or variable?
- Are there any obstacles — shelves, bicycles, water heaters, garage doors — that might interfere with cable management?
Arming your electrician with this information before the site visit results in a faster, more accurate scope of work.
Ready to Get Placed and Installed?
Request a quote and we'll come out, look at your parking situation, and recommend the right placement for your setup.