Mountain driving and cold mornings
Climbing from Golden or Morrison to Evergreen and Conifer uses significant energy, and cold mornings cut range further. A Level 2 charger that restores a full battery overnight and lets you precondition while plugged in makes a real difference on the foothills commute.
Your car as backup power
With a compatible vehicle, a bidirectional system lets the car power the house during an outage — a natural fit in an area that has seen multiple wildfire shutoffs. Our bidirectional whole-home backup systems start around $19,000.
A large EV battery can hold several times the energy of a single home battery, but only if the car is home and charged when the outage starts. With shutoffs, you usually get that warning.
Rebates and permits
Golden’s rebate page lists Level 2 rebates of up to $2,000 for multifamily properties and up to $1,000 for income-qualified single-family homes, but the city’s 2026 program closed to new energy applications after reaching its budget (September 2026) — ask the city whether charger rebates are still accepted. Xcel customers can also ask about Xcel’s EV wiring rebate. The federal §30C charger credit ended after June 30, 2026.
Charger installs need an electrical permit from the city or, in unincorporated areas, Jefferson County Building Safety.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Does Golden offer a rebate for home EV chargers?
Golden’s page lists Level 2 rebates of up to $1,000 for income-qualified single-family homes and up to $2,000 for multifamily properties, but its 2026 program closed to new energy applications after reaching its budget. Confirm with the city whether charger rebates are still being accepted.
Can my EV power my Evergreen home during a shutoff?
With a vehicle and charger that support bidirectional power, yes. We confirm compatibility first; our whole-home systems start around $19,000.
Will cold weather in the foothills affect charging?
Cold slows charging and reduces range. A Level 2 charger in the garage and preconditioning while plugged in help the most.
Who issues the permit for a charger in Arvada or Lakewood?
The city’s building department. Unincorporated addresses go through Jefferson County Building Safety.