210.17 Electric Vehicle Branch Circuit.

Outlet(s) installed for the purpose of charging electric vehicles shall be supplied by a separate branch circuit. This circuit shall have no other outlets.
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Outlet(s) installed for the purpose of charging electric vehicles shall be supplied by a separate branch circuit. This circuit shall have no other outlets.

Code Change Summary: A new section was added to make sure dedicated circuits are used if an electric vehicle branch circuit is installed.

The new section does not specifically require electrical vehicle charging circuits in every garage. But if one is installed for the purpose of charging an electric vehicle, then it must be a dedicated circuit.

Placing an electric vehicle charger on a general purpose branch circuit serving the garage could overload the circuit. These chargers should be on their own individual branch circuit that serves no other load.

Below is a preview of the NEC®.  See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on the “free access” tab and select the applicable year of NFPA 70 (National Electrical code).

2014 Code Language:

210.17 Electric Vehicle Branch Circuit. An outlet(s) installed for the purpose of charging electric vehicles shall be supplied by a separate branch circuit. This circuit shall have no other outlets.

Informational Note: See 625.2 for the definition of Electric Vehicle.

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210.17 Electric Vehicle Branch Circuit.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Which of the following is true of a receptacle used for an electric vehicle charger in the garage?

A: It must be AFCI protected.
B: It must be at least 240-volts.
C: It must be rated at least 30 amps.
D: It must be supplied from a dedicated circuit.
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