BELD EV Charging Rebates & Incentives
Get Free EV miles with the EV Charge & Save® Program
BELD and Sagewell Inc. are partnering to bring you this valuable EV rewards program open to Braintree residents. Get up to 1500 free miles* per year—per vehicle by agreeing to charge up your EV only overnight and on weekends. Simply set your car to charge between 9 pm and 7 am on weekdays and complete the enrollment process to start earning free EV miles. If you already have an EV, you can still enroll in the program.
*1,500 free EV miles by way of an $12 monthly credit on your BELD residential electric account
You are eligible to participate if you:
- Own or lease an EV, either a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that runs exclusively on electricity, or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that runs on electricity but can also switch to gas/electric hybrid mode
- Have a Braintree residential electric account that you use to charge your EV
Residents charging at either Level 1 or Level 2 may participate in the program. Maximum enrollment is limited to 2 EVs per household.
Revised 1/2/2025
EV Charge & Save – Refer a Friend and Earn $50
Refer a friend to join EV Charge and Save, and when they stay in the program for 3 months, you’ll get a $50 credit to your account! There’s no limit to how many friends you can refer – start sharing today!
Visit BELD’s Refer a Friend Page to learn more.
Get $250 back with the Level 2 Charging Rebate Program
After signing up for the BELD Charge & Save program, you can apply for a $250 rebate to offset the cost of installing a Level 2 charging system for your home.
The rebate may be used to pay for a licensed electrician’s services and electrical and charging equipment, in order to install one or more of the following charging system components:
(1) a 240 volt wiring circuit with a 50 amp circuit breaker.
(2) a NEMA 14-50 240V outlet.
(3) a Level 2 home charging station. The rebate provided will be $250 or the amount of documented, eligible charging system expenditures, whichever is less.
(Self installation labor costs are not included)
(Homeowners are eligible for the rebate for additional or replacement chargers after 2 years with receipt of purchase/installation.)
To claim your rebate, fill out this form, after you enroll in the EV rewards program and have purchased and installed your Level 2 charging equipment.
Revised 1/2/2025
Electric Vehicle Charging Basics
For most drivers, charging an electric car is as simple as charging a cell phone. In fact, it usually takes only around 5 seconds of your time to “refuel” your electric car. Why? Because most charging happens at home, overnight, while the driver sleeps. You just plug in your car when you get home and it’s typically re-charged back to full before you even wake up the next morning. It’s the car that “refuels” while you sleep! There are three levels of charging rate to choose from, depending upon your needs and lifestyle.
Level 1 Charging
BASIC SPEED
EX: Overnight Charging at Home
- Uses a standard outlet (the same type of outlet you charge your phone with!)
- No “charging station” needed! Take a few seconds to plug your car in each night. By the next morning you’re ready to go!
- Adds a range of between 3 and 6 miles per hour of charging, or up to around 50 miles overnight.
- Eligible for BELD Charge & Save Program
Level 2 Charging
STANDARD SPEED
EX: Home, Workplace, Destination Charging
- Wired to an electrical panel or hard-wired to a wall-mounted EV charging station.
- Most common type of charging (private and public) and adds 20-40 miles of range per hour. Get a full charge overnight!
- Eligible for BELD Charge & Save Program
Level 3 Charging
FAST SPEED
EX: Highway Rest Stop, Community Hub Charging
- Also known as public DC Fast Charging, Quick charging, and Supercharging.
- Level 3 adds hundreds of miles of range per hour of charging. Charge in around 30 minutes or less.
Public Charging Equipment & Networks
Charging in public can be a positive experience with a little bit of research and preparation in advance. There are many brands and models of public charging units, as well many different charging networks both nationally and regionally. There are basically two types of stations:
Smart charging stations, also known as networked charging stations or connected stations. This typically requires either membership, a card, or an app to access. They may or may not have a fee. The three most common EV charging network providers are Tesla, Chargepoint and EVgo.
Non-networked charging stations do not require any membership to activate and usually are free and just connect when you plug in, or may require an access code.
Finding out in advance (for example by using PlugShare or another online resource or app) can help you explore what public charging is near you and get any advance set up out of the way from the comfort of home.
Charging Equipment
Every EV comes with a charging adapter that connects to a standard home outlet (also known as Level 1 charging). This is typically used overnight while you sleep and adds up to 50 miles of range in 12 hours, more than most people drive on a typical day. For some drivers, this may be adequate, especially if the vehicle is not driven much daily or is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Though not required, in order to get the most out of any plug-in car’s electric mileage benefits, it is recommended to purchase a Level 2 home charging station. This will recharge your EV five to ten times faster than Level 1, and allow even ones with large batteries to always fully charge overnight.
The best time to get a Level 2 is just before taking delivery of your vehicle, so the equipment can be installed and ready for charging the moment you receive your electric car. Massachusetts requires all chargers to be ENERGY STAR Certified Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). To find and compare products, visit the
ENERGY STAR website.
Charging Equipment Installation
Things to consider when choosing and installing your home EV charging station
Home charging installation can be simple or reasonably complex. The cost can range from only a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the location of the house electrical panel and the proximity to the charging station or outlet. Be sure to hire a licensed and experienced electrician to upgrade your home electrical system. They will need to wire a 240-volt circuit, including a 50 or 60-amp circuit breaker, from your panel to a NEMA 14-50 outlet or a hard-wired wall-mounted charging station. Massachusetts also requires that you get an electrical permit. So, be sure to contact the town’s building division, and file the proper form, etc.
It is recommended to use all copper wiring and to hardwire a wall-mounted charging station as this seamless connection removes one potential point of failure. Importantly, by electrical code, 240-volt circuits may be required to have ground fault protected circuit breakers, but most EV charging stations have that incorporated in their design as well. This can cause nuisance circuit tripping, and you might wake to an uncharged EV. If you hard wire the charger, you can avoid this issue by installing an unprotected circuit breaker. Be sure to alert your electrician to this possibility and share your equipment installation manual to verify that the circuit does not need additional ground fault protection.
Typical Level 2 mobile charge cords that come with an EV at purchase are fine to plug in to a GFCI protected 240-volt outlet. If you choose this plug in method, be sure to install an upgraded commercial level outlet to safely carry a continuous 240-volts of power for 6-8 hours.
When choosing a location, select a spot that is convenient for charging your EV. You should also consider the appropriate length of charging cord necessary to easily reach your parking spot. Charging units will vary in their cord length and can be selected to suit your needs.
When searching for reputable home EV charging equipment, try these links for extensive reviews and comparisons. You don’t necessarily need to buy anything through their website as you may find these units at a lower price on Amazon or direct from the manufacturer:
Quick EV Charger Comparison Guide
These Are The Best EV Chargers Of 2024 – YouTube
If you don’t already have a trusted local electrician, there are several turnkey services that will do a great job, but they tend to be more expensive. An electrician hired directly will probably be less costly, but don’t let price be the only consideration. A proper electrical code rated system is the most important factor for safe home charging.
Here are some links to EV charging installation companies: Qmerit | Smart Charge America | Boston EVC
Contact us to get free information and support on the purchase and installation process.
Find Local Charging
Public EV Charging in Braintree
Commercial Charging
Planning a Project?
Energy New England can provide assistance with resourses, recommendations for specific projects & rebate information
Contact an EV Specialist:
Email ev@ene.org
or