First question, did you contact the power company. Most of the ones I've dealt with have a single page as to what they expect for a meter base. Some don't care, some have specific things in mind. Why are you wrapped around having a combination? I don't know why you can't find a combination. SquareD makes a combo with 8 spaces in both QO and HOMELINE. GE makes them as well. No problem with running 200A both places, just means you spend a little more on the bigger wiring in the feeders.

I don't know Petey, the fad is getting bigger. While a lot of manufacturers are only doing it to appease certain states that are mandating a percentage of EEV's, they're becoming more popular. I've got a Volt and the dealerships (including the caddy dealer across the street) have a hand full of cars on the lot even here in Virginia. Charging stations are popping up all over the area (my favorite is in front of my local bar/restaurant). Still, unless one was really considering an electric car in the next two or three years, I'm not there's any economy in putting in the additional capacity in the "hope" it might be needed. Though It was less costly because I did the labor myself, adding my 30A (the Volt charger is a bit anemic) circuit to my garage wasn't a big thing.

http://www.shelbytnhealth.com/Faq.aspx?QID=84 Read up on the Cotton Creek septic issues. That whole area north of Collierville and East of Fisherville has perc issues due to the clay soils and high water tables near the river basin. Many of the septics being approved for the area are the mound systems only. Not the traditional in ground leach fields. Triple the costs. The Health Department ultimately controls which system will be approved. I would not rely on an off the cuff cost estimate without having a recent perc test, and a conversation with the Health Department. http://archive.commercialappeal.com/news/suburbs/cotton-creek-area-residents-will-be-asked-to-decide-how-sewer-problem-should-be-fixed-36eb0dd9-94d4--385772101.html/

Except it was on my radar but I couldn't convince DH. Can't win them all. Being married to to a retired energy engineer, this is the kind of thing my DH loves. You don't want to know how many remotes we own, and -- yes -- he's a Star Trek. It's not just a stereotype. My neighbors are buying EV's and learning that charging is a disorganized wild west. I believe that. Again, that's why Canada is allowing itself 14 years "to get there". I cannot see how this is even remotely feasible for the near future here in the US. Not everyone lives in a nice suburban home with a garage. Don't you think Canadians live in cities and apartments too? I'd assume city dwellers own fewer cars /rely more upon public transportation. You don't have to have a garage to have a charger. My mom has a hybrid, and she has a charger on the side of her no-garage house. A LOT needs to take place before electric cars become law. Agree, but we have no control over whether it becomes law ... the discussion is how to prepare your own house: if, when, what, how? Those are the questions.