Key takeaway
Most Framingham EV owners charge at home on a Level 2 charger, and home solar is one of the best ways to pay for that charging. Your panels make power during the day, net metering banks the extra as credits on your Eversource bill, and those credits cover the electricity your car pulls overnight. When you're out and about, Framingham has public chargers at Shoppers World, Farm Pond Park, the Mass Pike service plaza and more.
Who this is for: Framingham homeowners who drive electric, or plan to, and want their charging covered by their own roof.
How Solar Helps Pay for Charging Your EV at Home
Every time you plug in at home, your car is buying electricity from Eversource. Add an EV and your electric bill goes up, sometimes by a lot, because the car becomes one of the biggest users of power in the house.
Solar flips that. Your panels make power all day while you're at work or running errands. Whatever your home doesn't use right away goes back to the grid, and net metering puts credits on your Eversource bill for it. Then at night, when your car charges, those credits cover the power it uses. You don't need to be home during the day or charge while the sun is out. The credits do the work.
That means the miles you drive start coming from your own roof instead of a utility rate that keeps going up. For a lot of Framingham families, the EV is the reason solar finally makes sense, because there's a big new bill for the solar panels to cover.
Plan for the EV Before You Go Solar
The biggest mistake is sizing a solar system off last year's bills and buying an EV six months later. The system ends up too small for your new usage. If an EV is in your plans, even a year or two out, say so up front so the design covers your house and your car.
What About Your Electricity Supply?
Whatever power your solar doesn't cover still comes through your electricity supply, whether that's Eversource basic service or Framingham Community Electricity. The more of your charging solar covers, the less you feel it when supply rates change.
How Much Solar Does It Take to Charge an EV?
Most electric cars go about 3 to 4 miles on a kilowatt-hour. A driver who puts 12,000 miles a year on the car adds roughly 3,000 to 4,000 kWh of electricity to the house. In Massachusetts, each kilowatt of solar on a good roof makes somewhere around 1,100 to 1,300 kWh a year.
| Miles driven per year | Added electricity (approx.) | Extra solar to cover it (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 8,000 | 2,000 to 2,700 kWh | About 2 kW |
| 12,000 | 3,000 to 4,000 kWh | About 3 kW |
| 15,000 | 3,750 to 5,000 kWh | About 3.5 to 4 kW |
These are rough estimates. Your car's efficiency, your roof, shade and how you drive all change the real number. A proper design starts from your actual usage.
In other words, a handful of extra panels can cover a typical commute up the Mass Pike or around MetroWest.
Level 1 vs. Level 2 Charging
| Level 1 | Level 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Plugs into | A regular 120-volt outlet | A 240-volt circuit, like a dryer |
| Charging speed | Slow, a few miles of range per hour | Much faster, enough for a full charge overnight for most drivers |
| Install needed | Usually none | Electrician, new circuit and permit |
| Best for | Short commutes and plug-in hybrids | Most full-electric cars |
Level 2 also pairs well with solar. A smart Level 2 charger lets you set a schedule, and if you're home during the day you can time charging for when your panels are producing.
Installing a Level 2 Charger in Framingham
- Check your electrical panel. An electrician will see if you have room for a new 240-volt circuit. Some older Framingham homes need a panel upgrade first. If you're going solar too, plan both at the same time so the panel only gets looked at once.
- Pick a charger. If you want Eversource's rebate, choose a qualifying Wi-Fi-enabled smart charger from Eversource's approved list.
- Get the permit. Electrical work in Framingham needs an electrical permit from the city's Inspectional Services Division. Your electrician normally pulls it.
- Install and inspect. The electrician installs the charger, and the city inspects the work.
- Apply for rebates. Submit your rebate application to Eversource after installation.
EV Charger Rebates and Programs
Because Eversource delivers electricity in Framingham, its programs are the ones that apply, alongside the city's other home energy programs:
- Charger and wiring rebates. Eversource offers rebates to residential customers for qualifying Level 2 smart chargers and the wiring to install them. Recent program rules require enrolling the charger in Eversource's managed charging program, which shifts charging to off-peak hours.
- MOR-EV. The state's MOR-EV program offers rebates on the purchase or lease of a qualifying electric vehicle. It's separate from charger rebates.
- Solar incentives. Massachusetts solar incentives include net metering and a state tax credit of 15% of the cost, up to $1,000. They're separate from the EV programs, so you can use both.
Rebate amounts and rules change often. Check Eversource's Massachusetts EV charging pages and the MOR-EV site for current offers before you buy. The federal home charger tax credit is no longer available.
Top Public EV Charging Locations in Framingham
Home charging is cheaper and easier, and with solar it's mostly covered. Still, it helps to know where to plug in around town. These are some of the most-used public spots in Framingham:
- Shoppers World and the Logan Express garage. The biggest cluster in the city. There are Level 2 chargers in the Logan Express parking garage off Shopper World Drive, and Tesla Superchargers by Shoppers World and on Worcester Road.
- Farm Pond Park. The City of Framingham runs a Level 2 charger here, so you can charge while you walk the pond.
- Mass Pike service plaza, westbound. Fast chargers at the Framingham rest stop, handy on a trip out to Worcester or the Berkshires.
- Edgell Road in North Framingham. A DC fast charger at the Nouria station on Edgell Road is one of the quickest top-offs on the north side.
- Concord Street. Another Tesla Supercharger site on Concord Street.
- Framingham State University and MassBay. Level 2 chargers in the Framingham State lots on Maple Street and Salem End Road, and at MassBay Community College on Franklin Street.
The city is also working on more. Framingham was picked for a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center program to add on-street chargers, with sites near city property like the Memorial Building, Centre Common, Bowditch Field and Butterworth Park under consideration.
Chargers open, close and go offline. Before you head out, check PlugShare or the U.S. Department of Energy's station locator for what's working, the plug type and the cost.
Want your roof to pay for your charging?
Mark Featherstone was born and raised in Framingham and has helped more than 1,000 happy customers go solar. Give Mark your address and he'll show you how solar could cover your home and your EV.
Mark, run my numbers!FAQs About EV Charging at Home in Framingham
Can solar panels charge my electric car if I charge at night?
Yes. With net metering, the extra power your panels make during the day earns credits on your Eversource bill, and those credits cover the electricity your car uses overnight.
How many solar panels do I need to charge an EV?
For a typical driver covering about 12,000 miles a year, roughly 3 kW of extra solar covers the charging. Your car, roof and driving habits change the real number, so the design should start from your actual usage.
Do I need a permit to install an EV charger in Framingham?
Yes. A Level 2 charger needs an electrical permit from Framingham's Inspectional Services Division. A licensed electrician normally handles it.
Does Eversource offer an EV charger rebate in Framingham?
Yes. Eversource offers rebates for qualifying smart Level 2 chargers and wiring. Check Eversource's current rules, including any managed charging requirement, before you buy.
Where can I charge my EV in public in Framingham?
The busiest spots are around Shoppers World and the Logan Express garage, plus Farm Pond Park, the westbound Mass Pike service plaza, Edgell Road and the Framingham State and MassBay campuses.
About Mark Featherstone
Mark has been in solar for 14+ years, working at some of the biggest solar companies in the country, before co-founding Your World Solutions. His goal is simple: help homeowners get into solar deals that actually work for them, and make sure they understand every part of it before they sign.