How Long Does EV Charger Installation Take?
The installation itself is half a day. The permit and inspection process around it adds a few days to the full timeline — and the KUB rebate has its own 60-day clock you need to track.
A Level 2 EV charger installation in an attached Knoxville garage takes 2 to 4 hours of actual work. Plan for a half-day block with your electrician. The permit process happens before work starts, and the inspection follows after — together those add several days to the full timeline, but none of it requires much from you.
Full Timeline Overview
| Step | Typical Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Get quotes and schedule | 2 to 5 days | Quality Knoxville electricians book a few days out |
| Permit pulled by electrician | 1 to 3 business days | City of Knoxville Codes and Building Safety |
| Actual installation | 2 to 4 hours | Full day for panel upgrades or detached garages |
| Electrical inspection | 2 to 5 days to schedule, 30 min to complete | Electrician handles scheduling |
| KUB rebate submission | Within 60 days of installation | Mail to PO Box 59017, Knoxville, TN 37950 |
| KUB rebate processing | 4 to 8 weeks after receipt | KUB mails a check or issues a bill credit |
What Extends the Installation Time
Panel upgrade
If your home has a 100-amp panel — common in older Knoxville neighborhoods like Fourth and Gill, Parkridge, Fountain City, and parts of West Knoxville built before 1985 — a 50-amp EV circuit may not be feasible without a panel upgrade. Upgrading adds 3 to 5 hours of work, sometimes split across two days if KUB needs to disconnect power at the meter. See the panel upgrade guide for what to expect.
Detached garage
Running conduit underground from the main panel to a detached garage takes significantly more labor than a short run through an attached garage wall. Budget for a full day, and expect the total cost to be higher than a simple attached garage job.
Long conduit runs
If your panel is on the far side of the house from the garage — say, a utility room at the back of the house while the garage is at the front — the electrician has more conduit to run. Through attic space or along exterior walls, each additional 20 feet adds time and material cost.
The KUB Rebate Timeline: Don't Miss It
Unlike PSO in Tulsa (which starts the clock from purchase), KUB's 60-day window starts from the installation date. That's more forgiving — you can buy the charger, wait for installation, and then have 60 days from the install to mail the paperwork. But don't get complacent. Here's the right sequence:
- Get quotes. Line up your electrician before you buy the charger.
- Buy the charger and schedule installation.
- Get installed. Note the exact installation date — that starts your 60-day clock.
- Mail the KUB rebate form within 60 days to PO Box 59017, Knoxville, TN 37950.
Mail it promptly. KUB's rebate is genuinely one of the better utility EV programs in Tennessee — up to $400 back, no ENERGY STAR requirement — and it's not worth losing over a missed deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally yes. The electrician needs access to your panel and garage, and may have questions during the job. Plan for a half-day block and stay available. You can be home without supervising every step.
Some Knoxville electricians can get same-day permits for straightforward EV installs, but it's not guaranteed. Ask when you get quotes — some prefer to pull the permit a day in advance. Either way, work can't start until the permit is issued.
The city inspection itself takes 15 to 30 minutes once the inspector arrives. Scheduling typically takes 2 to 5 business days after installation. Your electrician schedules it — you don't need to contact the city yourself.
Not meaningfully. The 60-day KUB rebate window starts from installation, so as long as you install and submit within 60 days, you're fine. A panel upgrade as part of the same project is counted from when the charger itself is installed.