Can EV chargers be set up inside a garage?

I’m considering adding this car to our potential new car list. Almost every picture I see has the Ford charger installed outside the garage. Is there a safety reason for this? If we get one, can we have it installed inside our garage? This is my first time looking into EVs, so sorry if it’s a silly question!

Ford does show chargers inside garages sometimes. Here’s an example: https://chargers.ford.com/ford-charge-station-pro.

I think they mainly show them outside because it looks better in pictures—like a car in front of a perfect house with great lighting instead of a cramped garage.

You can definitely install it inside the garage. Some people are cautious about parking an EV in a garage because if a fire starts, it’s hard to put out, and it could damage the house. But EV fires are extremely rare, so it’s not something to lose sleep over.

@Henry
ICE vehicles catch fire all the time too.

Enrique said:
@Henry
ICE vehicles catch fire all the time too.

True, but ICE fires are easier to put out with a regular fire extinguisher. EV fires burn for a long time. That’s why some parking garages don’t allow EVs, though it’s rare. Still, whether it’s burning inside or outside your garage, the damage would probably be the same.

@Henry
Yeah, but EV fires are so rare, and there are fewer EVs compared to ICE vehicles. Excluding them from garages seems over the top.

@Henry
I think they show them outside to break the myth that EVs must have a garage. It’s probably also to appeal to people in colder climates where not everyone has a garage.

Francisco said:
@Henry
I think they show them outside to break the myth that EVs must have a garage. It’s probably also to appeal to people in colder climates where not everyone has a garage.

That’s a good point. It’s rare to see car ads with the vehicles fully inside a closed garage, though. Even when they’re indoors, the ads always show spotless, open garages with great lighting.

I have my EVSE installed inside the garage because it’s the easiest setup for me. Chargers are weatherproof, so it’s fine to install them outside, but I prefer having mine indoors.

Andy said:
I have my EVSE installed inside the garage because it’s the easiest setup for me. Chargers are weatherproof, so it’s fine to install them outside, but I prefer having mine indoors.

I installed my ChargePoint charger outside and had it hardwired by an electrician. It still looks good even after being exposed to the weather. I lost my garage spot years ago because my kids turned it into a play area. Somehow, my wife’s car didn’t lose its spot. Funny how that works.

Yes, you can definitely install the charger inside your garage. You’ll need to decide whether you want it hardwired or plugged into a receptacle. Also, think about the power line size and what your electrical panel can handle.

If you’re charging inside, it’s smart to position the charger near the garage door so the cord can reach a car parked outside if needed.

@Thyme
There are these hard plastic plates you can put over the cord to let you close the garage door all the way. I use them when visiting my sister and borrowing her power!

@Thyme
We did this too. Our charger is right near the garage door, and the cable is long enough to charge a car parked outside.

I installed a ChargePoint charger inside my garage. I live in an area with harsh winters, so there’s no way I’d want it outside.

There’s no issue with installing a charger inside a garage, on a wall outside, or even on a post near your driveway. Install it where it’s most convenient for you.

We have two EVs and two chargers:

  • My wife’s Mach-E parks in the garage with a ChargePoint Home Flex.
  • My F-150 Lightning parks outside with a Ford Charge Station Pro mounted on the house.

Both setups work great. Just avoid running the cord under a closed garage door—it’s against fire and electrical codes.

I put my charger outside because I’m still a bit cautious about EVs. I don’t mind parking the car in the garage, but I prefer charging outside. Lithium battery fires are rare but tricky, and charging is a volatile process. I’d suggest checking with your insurance company before installing one inside.

I’m getting a ChargePoint Home Flex installed in my garage soon. I park indoors, but it’s close enough to the door that I could charge in the driveway if needed. Most of my neighbors have theirs outside since they use their garages for storage instead of parking. Weather isn’t a concern here in SoCal, though.

We have two chargers inside our garage. I’ve never seen one outside in person, but either option works fine.

Jax said:
We have two chargers inside our garage. I’ve never seen one outside in person, but either option works fine.

Mine’s outside because of how inconvenient my garage is. If I need to park inside, I just use a Level 1 charger. It’s enough most of the time.

I’ve got a Grizzle charger set up inside my garage.

My charger is mounted on the side of my house.