Why EV charging often requires panel work
A sub-panel brings breakers and capacity closer to where you charge. It is a smart middle step when the main is far but your total service is still big enough to feed a new load.
Detached garages, pool houses, and rear ADUs in Northridge, Chatsworth, and Woodland-adjacent lots are classic sub-panel territory. We price feeder, conduit, and ground paths together.
Sub-panels are not a workaround for a 60A main—but they are the right tool when the main has capacity and distance is the real problem for your EV run.
Typical pricing for Sub-Panel Installation
Smaller-scope work
$1,200 - $2,350
Best fit when the home needs targeted panel work instead of a full service replacement.
Common range
$1,200 - $3,500
Reflects the EV-triggered upgrades most homeowners discover during the estimate process.
With utility coordination
$3,500 - $7,000
Applies when meter work, service changes, or more extensive replacement is involved.
What our panel work covers
Designed around your parking and panel locations
Honest about when a sub is cheaper than a long homerun
Scalable if you add a second port later on the sub
The full EV-to-panel upgrade path
We calculate feeder size, voltage drop, and whether the existing main has spare ampacity. The quote names the new panel location, disconnect rules, and how many open poles remain for the EV breaker.
Why local expertise matters
If a sub is impossible without a main upgrade, you see that in the first calc—not after the first trench is open.