An EV Ready parking space has a complete electrical branch circuit, with wiring and overcurrent protection, ending in a receptacle or junction box near the space. A charger can be added by plugging in or mounting the equipment, without new electrical construction.
EV Ready is the middle tier between EV Capable and EVSE Installed. Codes often require EV Ready spaces in multifamily housing, where residents can bring a portable charging cord or install their own wall unit. Requirements typically specify the circuit voltage and amperage, commonly a 208/240-volt Level 2 circuit, and some allow lower-power circuits when load management is used.
EV Capable, EV Ready and EVSE Installed compared
- EV Capable. Electrical capacity and a raceway or conduit path reserved for a future circuit. No wire, no outlet. Cheapest now; most work later.
- EV Ready. A complete branch circuit ending in a receptacle or junction box near the space. A driver or owner can add a charger with little more than mounting it.
- EVSE Installed. Charging equipment is in place and working on opening day.
Practical points
- Specify the receptacle type or plan for hardwired equipment, since many wall chargers are hardwired.
- Decide how energy will be metered and billed before the first resident plugs in. See EV charging metrology.
- Locate outlets where cords will not cross walkways.
The Parkonomics view
The tiers are a way of buying the future in installments. Capacity and conduit are cheap during construction and expensive afterward; the charger itself is the part that gets cheaper and better every year.
Related terms: EV Capable, EVSE Installed, EVSE, Managed Charging, Make-Ready Infrastructure