When you buy an electric car in Ontario you are creating more green jobs and doing something to make a change. Here is some basic Electric Vehicle Charger information.
More and more car manufacturers are making electric cars including Tesla, Audi, Toyota, BMW, Jaguar, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Volvo. The change from gas to electric vehicles, referred to as EV (Electric Vehicles), is happening faster than most people think. The overall costs of owning an EV is soon likely to drop below that of conventional gas powered vehicles, at which point electric and hybrid cars may rapidly become the car of choice for an increasing number of new car buyers.
The first mass produced electric car, the Toyota Prius in 2003, was originally a battery/gas hybrid car that was not a true “plug-in” EV. Instead, its electric battery was recharged when the driver stepped on the brakes or the car was coasting downhill. Since then, manufacturers have come up with both hybrid and fully electric plug in vehicles, also known as PEVs.
Home Charging Solutions: Level 1 & Level 2
Level 1 Chargers
Level 1 charging happens when you charge an electric vehicle (EV) using the charger included with the car. These chargers can be plugged with one end into any standard 120V outlet, with the other end being plugged directly into the car. Standard charging rates are about 200 kilometers (124 miles) in 20 hours.
When you use a Level 1 charger, it is important that it is on its own dedicated electrical circuit. This means no other devices should be plugged into the same outlet on the same circuit breaker. For enhanced safety, the outlet should also be a GFCI type receptacle to guard against electric shock.
There is one drawback with a Level 1 charger. It can take up to 12 hours to fully charge some vehicles using 120 Volt standard house power. Depending on which vehicle you own, you’ll get from 3 – 5 miles for every hour you charge your car with a standard 120 Volt receptacle. If you only drive short distances and never completely deplete your battery this may be okay for you. Every night you will need to plug in your car to give it enough charge to get through the following day.
Level 2 Chargers
There is another option for those who want and need to get the battery of their electric vehicle fully charged in a shorter amount of time.
Level 2 chargers are sold separately from the car, although they’re often purchased at the same time. These chargers require a more complicated setup, as they are plugged into a 240V outlet which allows charging 3 to 7 times faster depending on the electric car and the charger.
A Level 2 charger, depending on the charger and the vehicle, can charge a typical PEV car in about 4 – 6 hours. A Level 2 charger is larger than the Level 1 charger and is typically mounted on the wall of your garage or outside near where the EV car is parked. An electrical cord comes from the Level 2 charger and plugs into a port in the EV car. You can think of it as your own mini gas station in your garage, except you are using electricity to fill your car rather than gasoline.
The chart below gives you a breakdown of the speed of charge you can expect a Level 2 EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) to provide for the vehicles listed. The chart is figured by the driving miles added for every hour of charge.
| Model | Max Charge | ~Miles Added Per Hour | 100% Electric or PHEV |
| Audi A3 e-tron | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| BMW i3 | 7.4 kW | 25 | 100% Electric / REx |
| Cadillac ELR | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Chevy Spark EV | 3.3 kW | 11 | 100% Electric |
| Chevy Volt | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Fiat 500e | 6.6 kW | 22 | 100% Electric |
| Ford C-Max Energi | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Ford Fusion Energi | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Ford Focus Electric | 6.6 kW | 22 | 100% Electric |
| Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid | 6.6 kW | 22 | PHEV |
| Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Kia Soul EV | 6.6 kW | 22 | 100% Electric |
| Mercedes B-Class Electric | 10 kW | 29 | 100% Electric |
| Mercedes S550 Plug-in Hybrid | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Mercedes C350 Plug-in Hybrid | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Mitsubishi i-MiEV | 3.3 kW | 11 | 100% Electric |
| Nissan LEAF | 3.3 kW / 6.6 kW | 11 / 22 | 100% Electric |
| Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid | 3.6 kW / 7.2 kW | 12 / 24 | PHEV |
| Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid | 3 kW | 10 | PHEV |
| Smart Electric Drive | 3.3 kW | 11 | 100% Electric |
| Tesla Model S | 10 kW / 20 kW | 29 / 34 | 100% Electric |
| Tesla Model X | 10 kW / 20 kW | 25 / 30 | 100% Electric |
| Toyota Prius Plug-In | 3.3 kW | 11 | PHEV |
| Volkswagen e-Golf | 3.6 kW / 7.2 kW | 12 / 24 | 100% Electric |
Source: EV Obsession.com
A Level 2 charger needs to be installed by an electrician familiar with EV chargers. The Level 2 charger requires 240 volts, which is not the typical outlet in a home or garage. An electrician will need to determine whether or not your existing electric panel can handle the new circuit. If not, you will need an electrical panel upgrade before the Level 2 charger can be installed. During this consult, you will be given a quote for the electric vehicle charger installation and you can discuss the best placement for the charger.
Electric Vehicle Charger Installation
MDC Electric specializes in EV charger installations. We’ve installed hundreds of chargers for all types of vehicles including Tesla, Audi, Toyota, BMW, Jaguar, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Volvo. We’ve also worked with all types of EV charger brands including Tesla, ChargePoint, Grizzl-E, Flo, and ClipperCreek.
Each job is different depending on the status of the electrical panel, distance from point of charge, etc. Give us a call and we’d be happy to provide an estimate for you.