The problem
EV charger inquiries often start with 'how much to install one?', and the honest answer depends on the panel, the main breaker and how far the parking spot is from it. Driving out to look takes time. If a shop gets 20 EV charger inquiries a month and 8 of them could be estimated from good photos, at 1.25 hours a visit, that's 10 hours a month of site visits that weren't needed.
What the AI does
Jotform builds a web form with a file upload field that takes several photos. Ask for photos of the panel with the door open, the panel label, the main breaker, the meter and the parking spot, plus the charger model, the vehicle and the distance from panel to charger. The electrician reviews each submission and either sends an estimate for a straightforward install or books a visit when the photos show the panel needs more.
A worked example
An illustrative example built from typical figures, not a named business.
A two-electrician company in San Diego gets about 20 EV charger inquiries a month and used to visit every one before estimating. They put a Jotform intake on their website and in their reply to every inquiry.
Before
20 site visits a month before any estimate, at 1.25 hours each
After
About 8 simple installs a month estimated from photos; 12 visits a month instead of 20
What it's worth
About $600£451€537A$866C$848 a month of time saved, against $34£26€30A$49C$48 to $39£29€35A$56C$55 for Jotform Bronze. That's 8 fewer site visits at 1.25 hours each, 10 hours a month, at an assumed $60£45€54A$87C$85 an hour.
How to set it up
- Choose Jotform Bronze ($34£26€30A$49C$48 a month billed annually, $39£29€35A$56C$55 monthly) for 1 GB of upload space; the free plan's 100 MB fills quickly with phone photos.
- Build the form with a multi-file upload field and short instructions for each photo, with an example picture of a panel label.
- Add your company name, address and electrical contractor license number to the form page if your state requires it in advertising.
- Review each submission yourself: you decide whether the photos are enough to estimate or a visit is needed, and every estimate includes the permit and inspection.
- Delete old photos from Jotform once the job is closed, so storage doesn't run out.
What goes wrong
- Photos can hide problems like aluminum branch wiring or a full panel. Write the estimate subject to a check on arrival, and say so plainly.
- Paid Jotform plans are for one user. If several people review submissions, check how forms are shared.
- Some customers won't open a panel. Offer the visit as an option and never ask anyone to remove the panel cover.