Electric Vehicle Chargers

The Process

Electric Vehicle Charge Times

Charge times vary depending on your EV's battery capacity (kWh), acceptance rate (kW) and what charger you're connected to (measured in Amps or kWs). The higher the volts and amps, the faster your electric vehicle will charge. The maximum capacity you can install may be limited by Electrical Code requirements. A list of common electric vehicles and their charge specifications are shown below.

Power (P) = Current (i) x Volts (v).

More current and/or volts will mean more power for your vehicle and shorter charge times. This is true up to the limiting acceptance rate of your specific vehicle. Additionally, batteries tend to charge slower from 80% to 100% than they do from 0% to 80%.

Level 1

Level 1 chargers are standard 120V outlets, typically limited to 15A. These will provide the slowest charge times.

Level 2

Level 2 chargers are 240V outlets with various amperages typically ranging from 20A to 80A. These are ideal for homes or businesses to charge any electric vehicle in a reasonable amount of time. Businesses can set up Level 2 chargers on a pay-per-use plan to earn revenue from the EV chargers.

Level 3

Level 3 chargers are the fastest chargers, generally outputting 480V DC or greater at varying amperages depending on the manufacturer. Level 3 chargers are pieces of major electrical infrastructure and cannot be installed at any business. Level 3 chargers will require substantial involvement of electrical utility companies and increased budget.

EV Charger Costs & What to Expect

Cost of Electric Vehicle Chargers

There are two parts to getting your EV Charger. The charging unit and the installation of the wiring.

Charging units typically vary from $400 to $900CAD and can be purchased through Kuby Energy or directly from your EV manufacturer (such as Tesla, Chevrolet etc.).

The installation will depend on where you want the charger, how difficult the electrical routing is from your electrical panel to charging location and whether you need any electrical upgrades. Generally, EV charger wiring installations will cost $1,000 to $2,000.

What Size EV Charger Can I Install?

Most people want the maximum amount of power to charge their vehicle. This requires putting in the highest amperage charger @ 240V.

The main limiting factor for installing EV Chargers will be your electrical panel's allowable ampacity. The Canadian Electrical Code has rules for how many loads can be placed within a home based on its square footage and primary/large loads such as Ranges, Air Conditioners, Electric Heaters, Hot Tubs etc. To determine your home's available ampacity, Kuby Energy will conduct a Load Calculation.

Many homes can put in a 20A or 30A charger with no upgrades, but many homes are at their existing amp limits with no EV charger. To get more ampacity, a Service Upgrade or an Electric Vehicle Management System will be required.

A service upgrade will mean reinstalling the electrical lines from the utility companies transformer to your main electrical panel (ex. going from a 100A main bkr to a 200A main bkr). Service upgrades will vary depending on whether you have an underground or overhead service and what size service you desire. Typical fees for this may be in the $2,000 to $8,000 range.

An EV Management System is a device which limits what loads can be on simultaneously - for example, if your EV charger is operating, you cannot turn on your range (or other equivalent large load). EV Management systems are typically more affordable than Service Upgrades, however, they may have lifestyle-limiting impacts and won't provide any extra ampacity for future electrical expansions.