EV charger installation

A Level 2 charger is a straightforward install when the load math is done right, and an expensive callback when it isn’t. Most of what separates a clean job from a problem one happens before anyone drills a hole: the load calculation, the panel assessment, and the permit. We handle those, install to the BC Electrical Code, and file the paperwork BC Hydro’s rebate program wants to see.

Level 1 vs Level 2 charging

Level 1 is the cord that comes in the box. It plugs into a regular 120-volt outlet and adds roughly 6 to 8 kilometres of range an hour. For a plug-in hybrid or a short commute it can be enough. For a full battery EV it usually isn’t, because an empty battery takes most of a day and a half to fill that way.

Level 2 runs on a 240-volt circuit, the same voltage as your dryer or range, and adds 30 to 50 kilometres an hour depending on the car and the charger. A car that comes home near empty is full by morning. This is what almost everyone installs, and it’s what the BC Hydro and CleanBC rebates are written for.

What’s included

• Level 2 (240V) charger installation, hardwired or plug-in on a NEMA 14-50 outlet
• Load calculation, and a load-management device when your panel is near capacity
• A dedicated circuit sized to the charger, wired and breakered to code
• Permit through Technical Safety BC, filed by us. Every charger circuit needs one
• Rebate-ready documentation for BC Hydro and CleanBC programs
• Strata and multi-unit installs, including EV-ready panel provisioning

Which charger should you buy

Bring us the unit you like and we’ll tell you if it’s any good before you commit. We install every major brand and take no kickback from any of them, so the advice is about your install, not our margin.

Tesla’s Wall Connector is the obvious pick for a Tesla and works with other cars through an adapter. ChargePoint and FLO are the two we see most on non-Tesla cars, both solid, both app-connected if you want usage tracking. Grizzl-E is the workhorse if you just want a hardwired unit that runs without an app. All of them are fine chargers. The choice that matters more than the badge is hardwired versus plug-in: a hardwired unit is a cleaner, more weatherproof install and can run at a higher amperage; a plug-in unit on a NEMA 14-50 outlet is portable and easier to swap later. We install both.

Do you need a panel upgrade for a charger

Not as often as people assume. A Level 2 charger is a big load, but a load calculation, which is arithmetic your electrician should do before quoting, frequently shows a 100-amp service has room for one. When it’s tight, a load-management device lets the charger share a circuit with your range or dryer and back off when both are running, which avoids a service upgrade entirely.

Sometimes the math does point to a panel or service upgrade, usually when you’re adding a charger on top of a heat pump, or onto an older 60- or 100-amp panel that’s already full. When that’s the case we’ll show you the numbers, not just hand you the answer.

What it costs

A typical single-family Level 2 install in the Lower Mainland runs about $500 to $1,500, driven mostly by one thing: the distance and difficulty between your panel and where the car parks. A charger on the garage wall right below the panel is the cheap end. A charger at the far side of a detached garage, with conduit run across or under a driveway, is the expensive end. Panel work, if you need any, is separate and priced on its own.

Treat that as a ballpark, this one included. The number that counts is the one written after someone has seen your panel and your parking. We quote at a fixed price, in writing.

How it works

1. Assessment. Clear photos of your panel, your meter, and where the car parks are often enough for a firm quote. If the run is complicated we come look first.
2. Install. Most single-family installs are a half-day. We mount the charger, run the circuit, install the breaker and any load-management device, and test it under load before we leave.
3. Inspection and rebate. We close the permit with Technical Safety BC and hand you the documentation your rebate application needs.

Strata and multi-unit buildings

Charging in a strata is a different job than a house, and most of the work is upfront. The question is usually where the power comes from and who pays for it: a panel in your stall, a shared meter, or an EV-ready provision the building already has. We do individual stall installs, and we provision panels and infrastructure for buildings planning ahead, so a resident’s later install is a plug-in rather than a construction project. If your strata council is working out an EV policy, we can walk them through what the electrical side actually requires.

Permits and rebates

Every EV charger circuit in BC needs a permit through Technical Safety BC, and we file it as part of the job. That permit is also what makes the rebate work: BC Hydro and CleanBC pay out on permitted installs by a licensed contractor, and a bounced rebate is almost always a paperwork problem, not an eligibility one. We’ve filed enough of them to keep yours clean. Rebate amounts and program rules change year to year, so we point you at the current BC Hydro program instead of quoting a figure that may be stale by the time you read it.

Common questions

My panel is full. Can I still get a charger?

Usually, yes. A load-management device lets the charger share capacity with your range or dryer, which avoids a service upgrade in most cases. When a panel or service upgrade genuinely makes sense, we’ll show you the math first.

How long does an install take?

Most single-family installs are a half-day. A longer conduit run, a panel upgrade, or a strata install can push it to a full day or a second visit, which we flag in the quote so it isn’t a surprise.

Hardwired or plug-in?

Hardwired is the cleaner, more weatherproof install and can run at a higher amperage. Plug-in, on a NEMA 14-50 outlet, is portable and simple to swap. Both are code-compliant. We install whichever suits your unit and where it’s mounted.

Which charger brand do you recommend?

The one that fits your car and your parking. Tesla, ChargePoint, FLO, and Grizzl-E are all good units. We install every major brand and take no kickbacks, so bring us the one you’re considering and we’ll give you a straight answer.

Do rebates actually pay out?

They do when the paperwork is right, which mostly means a permitted installation by a licensed contractor. We’ve been through the process enough times to keep yours from bouncing. Amounts change year to year, so check the current BC Hydro program for the figure.

Can you install a charger outside or in a carport?

Yes. Outdoor and carport installs are common here. A hardwired, weather-rated unit is the better choice outdoors, and we mount and seal it for the wet.

Do I need a permit for a Level 2 charger?

Yes, every time. A dedicated 240-volt charger circuit requires a permit through Technical Safety BC. We pull it and close it as part of the install. That’s what license #LEL0203630 is for.