• Home Home

Homeowner shares story after a contractor upgraded their garage for $0: 'Pretty painless process for me'

"It really is a pretty sweet deal."

Charging an EV like the Chevrolet Bolt at home maximizes your savings.

Photo Credit: iStock

The only thing better than a new electric vehicle might just be the ease of installing a charger. 

The scoop

One Redditor shared their experience with Qmerit in the r/BoltEV subreddit. They explained how quickly a representative responded to their charger installation request and how easy every step was. The original poster added, "Pretty painless process for me."

Charging an EV at home maximizes your savings. While gas prices average $2.94 per gallon, and public charging stations charge $0.38 per kilowatt-hour, home electricity is much cheaper (except in Hawai'i where it is also $0.38 per kWh), averaging $0.16 per kWh and ranging from $0.12 in five states to $0.31 in California and Connecticut.

Installing a Level 2 charger at home also speeds up your recharging times. Qmerit, which offers free estimates for installations, can help you get started. All you have to do is snap photos of your electrical panel and where you want the charger.


In the market for a home EV charger? Qmerit makes it easy to get instant quotes on Level 2 charging stations that can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

To get an instant estimate, just answer a few questions about your garage and electrical panel. Within a few days, Qmerit will contact you with a final proposal from a certified installer, and their expert electricians make the process a breeze from there.

The Cool Down may receive a commission on signups made through links on this page, but we only promote partners we vet and believe in. For more cool tips like this one, check out our solutions marketplace here.

As the OP detailed, the dealer who supplied their Chevrolet Bolt EUV contacted Qmerit a few days after they had bought the EV, and they heard from the clean energy company two days after. Within 24 hours, a contractor had been in touch and later noted that the installation wouldn't cost anything.

"The electrician came today and took about 45 minutes and I'm good to go," the OP added. 

How it's helping

Because EVs don't require expensive gas or maintenance such as oil changes, they can save drivers money over time, though EV models are often more expensive upfront due to higher manufacturing costs. 

The Bolt was one of the most affordable options on the market before it was discontinued, but there are plenty of alternatives for those who want to invest in the future. Chevy is also set to unveil a next-generation Bolt in 2026.

FROM OUR PARTNER

Stay warm all winter long with the Apple of intelligent space heaters

Kelvin is the Apple of space heaters, designed for energy efficiency and maximum comfort. It's completely silent and intelligently controlled, with setup taking just 5 minutes.

Built from premium materials like aluminum and glass, Kelvin works beautifully as a full-home heating system or as the perfect solution for that one room that never feels warm enough.

In addition to the financial benefits, EVs are quiet and clean, reducing noise and air pollution compared to gas-powered vehicles.

You can further boost your EV savings by charging your car at home with solar power. TCD's Solar Explorer can link you with trusted partners to simplify the process and provide competitive bids, saving you up to $10,000 on solar installation.

How likely are you to buy an EV in the next five years?

I already own one 😎

Very likely 👍

Possibly 🤷

Not at all 💨

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

What everyone's saying

Other Redditors were similarly pleased with their Qmerit experiences.

"I had a pretty smooth standard installation through Qmerit too," one user said. "Glad to hear others are as well. I am pretty sure this is what GM was hoping would be the typical experience. When the QMerit standard installation goes smoothly, it really is a pretty sweet deal. I think it deserves more prominence in terms of what a good value the Bolt is."

Another Redditor wrote, "That's about how easy mine was too."

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.

Cool Divider