Dive Brief:
- Toyota Motor North America has partnered with Treehouse, an electrical contractor that employs a software-based operating system to quickly design and install residential Level 2 chargers for its electrified vehicle customers, the automaker announced in a press release.
- With Treehouse’s proprietary “virtual scoping technology,” Toyota and Lexus customers will be provided an upfront, EV charger installation quote within 48 hours, per the release.
- “Toyota and Lexus vehicles have a reputation for being easy to own and enjoyable to drive, so the home-charging experience should be as well,” said Thibaut de Barros Conti, VP, Business Incubation & Development, TMNA. “Treehouse complements our brands and empowers our customers with a one-stop shop to install their home-charging solutions.”
Dive Insight:
Treehouse manages the entire residential installation process for Level 2 AC chargers. Toyota’s EV customers just need to submit a handful of photos and complete a short survey to receive an installation quote.
Treehouse then uses its proprietary “virtual scoping technology” to design a system based on each home’s unique requirements. It takes just a single visit by a licensed and vetted electrician to install the hardware, per the release. The company also obtains any required local permits for the project.
According to the Treehouse website, most residential EV charger installations run between $1,500 and $2,750, which includes all associated costs.
Treehouse’s licensed electricians will also upgrade a home’s electrical system that meets all safety standards to support a Level 2 charger, which operates on a 240-volt power supply, the same used by larger household appliances like electric ovens.
Level 2 chargers can fully charge an EV’s battery in roughly 8-10 hours, making it ideal for plugging in overnight when energy costs are lower and grid demand is reduced.
However, all 2026 and newer Toyota and Lexus EVs and plug-in hybrids come with a dual-voltage 120V/240V charging cable with a maximum power output of 7.7 kW. The same cable that’s good for 240-volt Level 2 charging can also be plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet, allowing much slower Level 1 charging that can be useful as a backup.
A hardwired Home Flex Level 2 charger from EV charging network operator ChargePoint is also available for purchase through Treehouse, which can further reduce EV charging times by up to 30%, depending on the vehicle and setup, according to the company.
“By bringing seamless, end-to-end home charging solutions into the EV ownership journey, this collaboration with Toyota reflects our shared commitment to making electrification easy and accessible for consumers,” said Treehouse CEO and co-founder Eric Owski in a statement.
In addition to its new partnership with TMNA, Treehouse has worked with Ford Motor Co., GM Energy, Tesla, Rivian and retailer CarMax to provide residential EV charger installations, according to its website. The company also serves as a home installation contractor for ChargePoint.
Toyota also set up a dedicated “charging hub website” for customers to learn more about all of the available charging options for its plug-in vehicles.
