Level 1 vs Level 2
Level 1 is the cord that came with your car, plugged into a regular 120 V outlet. It adds roughly 5–8 km of range per hour — fine for a plug-in hybrid, slow for a full EV. Level 2 runs at 240 V and typically adds 30–60 km of range per hour, enough to fully recharge most EVs overnight.
Typical costs
- Short run, panel has capacity: $1,100 – $1,700
- Long run, detached garage or driveway post: $1,700 – $3,000
- Add an energy management system (EVEMS): + $600 – $1,200
- Panel upgrade if needed: see panel upgrade costs
Charger hardware generally runs from about $500 to $1,000 depending on brand and features.
Will my panel handle it?
A typical Level 2 charger needs a 40 A to 60 A circuit. Whether your service can carry that depends on the house's calculated load — under Rule 8-200 of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code — not just the size printed on the main breaker.
If the numbers are tight, there are three options: set the charger to a lower current, add an EVEMS that throttles charging when the house is busy, or upgrade the service. Many 100 A homes can charge comfortably with the first two.
What is EVEMS?
An Electric Vehicle Energy Management System monitors your home's total load and reduces or pauses the charger to keep the service within its rating. The electrical code explicitly allows it as an alternative to increasing service size for EV charging.
Permits
A new 240 V circuit for a charger requires an ESA notification and inspection. Your contractor files it; you receive a Certificate of Acceptance when it passes. Keep it — insurers and future buyers may ask for it.
Picking a charger
Match the charger to your car's onboard charger: if your car accepts 7.2 kW (32 A), a 48 A charger won't charge it any faster. Choose a CSA or cUL certified unit — uncertified chargers from online marketplaces can fail inspection.
