Electric vehicles (EVs) now account for over 20% of annual global automobile sales, a number that is expected to continue growing. EV’s store a lot of energy — it takes a lot to move thousands of pounds hundreds of miles. This comes with challenges for existing electrical infrastructure since EVs can behave as a significant load when they are charging, or present an interesting opportunity as a power source capable of providing home backup power and grid support when discharging. A further complication: they are mobile, so the location and timing of EV interactions with the grid and premises wiring is different from traditional hard-wired loads and power sources. This has necessitated the evolution of codes and standards to ensure their safe installation and use, and the NEC® is no exception.
The NEC has long recognized that hazards exist at the intersection of vehicles and electricity: when the first edition was published in 1897, Rule 34 Car Wiring stated vehicle wiring “must be always run out of reach of the passengers, and must have an approved rubber insulating covering.” As regulations developed, the NEC stopped providing any requirements for automobile wiring since automobile manufacturers design, install, and self-certify it in accordance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rules.
However, the NEC has been at the forefront of shaping requirements for the safe interaction between electric vehicles and external electrical systems since the addition of Article 625 Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System in 1996. Article 625 covers conductors and equipment — Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), Wireless Power Transfer Equipment (WPTE), and Electric Vehicle Power Export (EVPE) — that connects an electric vehicle to premises wiring for charging, power export, and/or bidirectional current flow.
| Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment | Electric Vehicle Power Export | Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment | Wireless Power Transfer Equipment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acronym | EVSE | EVPE | BEVSE | WPTE |
| Definition | Equipment for plug-in charging specifically for transferring energy between premises wiring and an EV | Equipment used to provide electrical power, with the EV as the source of supply, to loads external to the EV | EVSE and EVPE in the same piece of equipment (note: not defined in the NEC as of publication) | Equipment for transferring energy between premises wiring and an EV without physical electrical contact |
The 2026 NEC includes important changes to Article 625 and introduces Article 624 Electric Self-Propelled Vehicle Power Transfer Systems (ESVSEs), which contains requirements for equipment used with vehicles not categorized as automotive EVs, such as farm equipment, boats, aircraft and golf carts. The requirements in Article 624 largely mirror those of Article 625 with adaptations for a broader range of equipment.
This analysis focuses on new and significantly modified requirements in Article 625 in the 2026 NEC.
625.4 Who Can Install It?
Section 625.4 is a new requirement that permanently installed EV power transfer system equipment be installed by qualified persons. It was added to recognize that there are unique requirements and hazards associated with the installation of this equipment, but it has generated some debate. Critics point out that the addition of requirements for work to be performed by qualified persons — someone with “skills and knowledge related to the construction, operation, and installation of electrical equipment and has received safety training to recognize and avoid the hazards involved” — in specific articles may imply that the NEC does not require qualified installers for equipment covered by other articles. Furthermore, jurisdictional licensing requirements typically govern who can install what, not the NEC.
This same requirement — a specific call-out for qualified persons — also exists for PV systems (690.4(B)), energy storage systems (706.5), and interconnected electric power production sources (705.8), so it may be most indicative of caution in regards to newer technologies, which even experienced electricians may not be familiar with.
625.5 Field Markings
EVSE now has a clear list of markings that are required to be permanent, external to the equipment, and visible after installation including:
- Supply voltage, frequency, number of phases, and full-load current for each supply circuit.
- Short-circuit current (SCC) rating of the EVSE based upon the SCC of a listed and labeled assembly or the SCC established using an approved method.
These markings are typically provided by manufacturers, although some installations, such as those relying upon adjustable settings to limit loading, may necessitate field modification.
625.41 Continuous Loads
In 2023, Section 625.41 Overcurrent Protection required that EVSE be considered a continuous load for sizing overcurrent protective devices (OCPDs) for feeders and branch circuits.
The Section is now titled Continuous Loads and has been simplified using language that previously existed in 625.42: equipment supplying EVs, including bidirectional equipment, must be considered a continuous load when sizing feeders, branch circuits, and OCPDs.
625.43 Disconnecting It
There were changes made across the 2026 NEC to better harmonize disconnect requirements for equipment and power sources, and Article 625 was no exception. Requirements for disconnects were clarified, with key changes including:
- A new requirement for a plaque or directory for multifamily dwellings with multiple EVSE or WPTE with individual disconnecting means: a plaque or directory must be attached to each EVSE or WPTE and its corresponding disconnect, clearly identifying which disconnect serves which EVSE or WPTE.
- Now only permanently connected EVSE and WPTE are required to have a readily-accessible equipment disconnect; previous language did not include the word “permanent” and could be interpreted to apply to all equipment, including cord- and plug-connected equipment (see below).
- A new allowance for cord- and plug-connected EVSE and WPTE that operate at below 60 amps and 150 volts to ground, permitting the use of the plug as an equipment disconnect.
625.43(D) Shutting It All Down
A requirement for an emergency shutoff disconnect for other than one- and two-family dwellings was added: permanently connected EVSE and WPTE must have one or more clearly identified emergency disconnects that disconnect all ungrounded conductors simultaneously from the source of supply, and disconnect power to all EVSE and WPTE within sight of the disconnect. The disconnect device(s) must:
- Be readily accessible, not less than 20 feet but not more than 100 feet from the equipment, and located within sight of the equipment.
- Be marked EVSE EMERGENCY DISCONNECT and WARNING ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL REMAIN ENERGIZED in accordance with 110.22(A).
- Require manual reset.
625.43(D)(2) allows an equipment disconnect to serve as an emergency disconnect if it meets the above requirements.
Note: there is a proposed tentative interim amendment (TIA 1874) with a comment closing date of January 27th, 2026 that would significantly change the requirements for his section. More info here: NFPA – TIAs, Errata, and FIs
625.44 How to Hook It Up?
Article 625 provides a detailed set of permissible means for connecting portable, hand-fastened, and securely fastened-in-place EVSE and WPTE to premises wiring. There are some important changes and additions worth noting:
- All non-locking 30A, 50A, and 60A receptacle outlets used with portable and hand fastened equipment now must be listed for EVSE and WPTE use. Note: if listed products do not exist, then 90.4(D) allows an AHJ to permit the use of the products, constructions, or materials that comply with the most recent previous edition of the NEC adopted by the jurisdiction.
- There is a new requirement for cord- and plug-connected equipment that the plug be rated for at least 125% of the maximum current rating of the equipment. Note 625.40 requires any outlet supplying EVSE at greater than 16 amps or 120 volts to be on a dedicated circuit (with an exception for PCS or adjustable settings).
- A 50-ampere rated receptacle is not allowed to be installed on a 40-ampere branch circuit (even though it is allowed in Article 210 for other applications). This means circuits may need to be upsized to 50A for some equipment and installations, as there is not a standard 40A NEMA receptacle.
- The list of allowable receptacle types for portable and hand-fastened equipment was expanded to include locking, pin-and-sleeve, three-pole, four-wire grounding type receptacles, for 277/480V three-phase equipment. These receptacles are allowed to be either 60 or 100 amps.
625.42: A History of Limiting Current
Article 625 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment underwent important changes that affect EVSE functionality for limiting load, which were driven by significant changes related to EMS and PCS that affect the design of all electrical systems (see The 2026 NEC® and the Future of Electrical Systems: Controlling Power and Managing Energy using PCS and EMS). Before examining the impacts on EV equipment and infrastructure, let’s look back at how limiting load has evolved for EVSE within Article 625.
Because EVSE can receive and provide significant amounts of power, it can be a challenge to integrate it into existing electrical infrastructure (absent a means to manage power flows). To address this, Article 625 has long allowed feeders and services to be sized accordingly if “automatic load management” is used to control power flows and prevent overload. There are two major aspects of equipment that must be evaluated:
1. The equipment must be capable of safely performing this function.
2. Any adjustable settings must function properly, and access to the adjustment setting must be restricted.
The first clear pathway to using current values lower than the equipment’s rated maximum was created in 2020 with the addition of language permitting fixed-in-place EVSE certified to appropriate safety standards to have adjustable current settings so long as access is appropriately restricted.
Further progress was made in 2023 with the inclusion of a second option for limiting current: use of a listed energy management system (EMS) in accordance with Article 750. This pathway was limited by a lack of clarity around the appropriate safety certifications to evaluate EVSE equipment that can provide load management.
While most EMS are evaluated to UL 916 Energy Management Equipment, this standard did not specifically address the use of EMS equipment to limit current on conductors for the purpose of overload protection, rather the standard had historically been used for EMS for other purposes such as for energy savings or comfort. Power control systems (PCS), on the other hand, are a specific type of EMS) for preventing overloading of conductors and equipment. Such products were initially certified via a UL 1741 CRD (Compliance Requirement Decision) beginning in 2019. The publication of UL 3141 Outline of Investigation for Power Control Systems in 2024 provided a straightforward certification pathway and opened the door for requirements in the 2026 NEC to be clarified.
625.42 Options in the 2026 NEC for Limiting Current
Two of the most significant changes in the 2026 NEC were the move of Energy Management Systems from Chapter 7 Specific Conditions and Systems to Chapter 1 General as Article 130, and a new allowance for using PCS for sizing calculations for branch circuits, feeders, and services. As mentioned, these changes coincided with the creation of a clear distinction between EMS (evaluated to UL 916) and PCS (a type of EMS evaluated to UL 3141). Throughout the NEC the term EMS has been replaced with PCS in instances where equipment used for overload control is permitted. The common set of requirements for these systems are now neatly organized into Article 130 Part II.
Here’s the key change: Section 625.42 now requires service, feeder, and branch circuits supplying EVSE to have a rating that is sufficient for the load, unless the overall load can be limited through controls by using either:
(A) A power control system
(B) EVSE with adjustable settings
While both options are capable of limiting loading on branch circuits, feeders, and services, there is a fundamental distinction in how they are treated within Article 120 load calculations. An EVSE relying on adjustable settings does not require additional hardware and is treated the same as any other load based upon its adjusted current value (the setting). Whereas EVSE with PCS functionality requires additional hardware (e.g. CTs or Rogowski coils), but can potentially lower overall cost and provide improved performance – see The 2026 NEC® and the Future of Electrical Systems: Controlling Power and Managing Energy using PCS and EMS for further discussion.
Clearer requirements for PCS have led to clearer requirements in 625.42(B) for EVSE with adjustable settings since they share a common purpose: preventing overload. The means for restricting access for EVSE with adjustable settings now mirror the requirements for PCS in Article 130: adjustable settings for overload must only be accessed by qualified persons through methods specified in accordance with the product’s listing.
Additionally, EVSE with adjustable settings relying on a current adjustment setting to limit loading must be set at the time of installation, appear on the field-installed rating label, and only adjusted thereafter by qualified personnel. This serves to further limit the ability of unauthorized personnel to unknowingly increase a charger’s current draw beyond the circuit capacity.
What’s Next?
As EV technology continues to advance, you should anticipate that manufacturers, utilities, enforcement officials, and legislators will create more closely-coordinated codes, standards, and regulations that will maximize the benefits of EVs, while minimizing the risks. Reach out to us at Solar Tech Collective if you are interested in staying informed and engaged on developments in codes and standards related to EVs.