1. Think about speed. Are you looking to charge your car quickly in a few hours? If so- consider a level 2 charger.

2. Assess your electrical. Work with us to assess your electrical panel to ensure we know what charger you can support. In some cases, we may need to upgrade your electrical panel.

3. Pick your tech level. Think about features of an EV charger are important to you. If you want scheduled charging and an app to track usage, narrow your search to ‘smart EV chargers’.

4. Your EV Vehicle. Once you know which EV Charger is best for you, you may need to also consider what adapters are required. In almost all cases, your vehicle will require a J1772 unless you own a Tesla.

   • Note that swapping your adapter is cheap and simple so don’t focus too much on this!

The average daily driver requires level 2 charging.

level 2 charging allows you to charge overnight and get your car to a full charge to be ready for the day.

Level 1

• Speed (kms added per hour): 5-8 kms miles per hour.

• Power source: 120V wall outlet

• Best for: Hybrids and individuals who do not drive much and have patience.

Level 2

• Speed (kilometers added per hour): 20-100 kms per hour

• Power source: 240V outlet

• Best for: best for a daily driver and overnight charging

Level 3

• Speed (miles added per hour): 160 kms per hour

• Power source: commercial only

• Best for: expedited charging and roadtrips. Not suitable for home use.

Yes, there are two options when using an outlet, Level 1 and Level 2.

120V Outlet (Level 1): Standard Household Plug

• The Outlet: Plugs into your everyday, standard household wall outlet (NEMA 5-15)—the same 3-prong 120V plug you use for a lamp or toaster.

• The Draw: Even though it sits on a standard 15-amp breaker, electrical safety codes limit a continuous load to 80% of the breaker rating. This means the car can only pull 12 amps ($1.4\text{ kW}$) continuously.

• The Speed: Adds just 5 to 8 km (3–5 miles) of range per hour. A full charge can take 24 to 40+ hours.

• The Risk: Standard outlets are almost always shared with garage lights and other household devices. Running a continuous 12-amp load on a shared line often trips the breaker.

Dedicated 240V Circuit (Level 2): Fast & Safe

• The Setup: A dedicated heavy-duty line runs directly from your main electrical panel to the charger with no other appliances on it.

• The Draw: Applying the 80% rule for continuous load, a 50A or 60A double-pole breaker safely provides a continuous 40A to 48A ($9.6\text{ kW} - 11.5\text{ kW}$).

• The Speed: Adds 40 to 60 km (25–40 miles) of range per hour, fully charging the vehicle overnight in 6 to 8 hours.

• The Requirements: A licensed electrician must evaluate panel capacity, pull electrical permits, and install high-temp heavy-duty wiring (like #6 AWG) to safely manage heat over long charging cycles.

A level 2 charger cannot be installed in Ontario without a licensed electrician.

A level 1 charger does not always require a licensed electrician - specifically if the EV Charger location has a suitable outlet in a recently built home. If the outlet is not properly placed, the outlet is older or an extension cord is required, you may want to consider having an electrician do an assessment.

The cost depends on a few variables

• The EV Charger you select

  • well reviewed, recommended chargers start at around $599 and can do up to $1,499 for premium models.

• The electrical state of your home.

  • If your home has the necessary amp and is ‘EV Charger ready’, installation costs are $1,249.*

*After an initial assessment, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.

Absolutely. EV charging at home is much cheaper than gas and public charging.

The vast majority of chargers are compatible with all vehicles. However, depending on your car, you may need a specific adapter (NACS, J1772).

adapters can be changed/swapped out as you upgrade your vehicle and or need to support multiple vehicles.

For at home charging, we recommend level 2 charging. With level 2 charing at home, there are two options we recommend.

Plug-In Outlet Charging (NEMA 14-50)

Plug-in charging uses a 240-volt heavy-duty wall receptacle—most commonly a NEMA 14-50 outlet—where your EV charger plugs directly into the wall.

• Maximum Power Limits: Because it runs on a maximum 50-amp circuit breaker, electrical safety codes limit the continuous draw to 80% of the breaker rating, which caps charging speed at 40 amps

• Key Advantages: The main benefit is portability and ease of replacement. If you move homes, change chargers, or take a portable charging unit on road trips, you can simply unplug the device without calling an electrician.

• Safety Considerations: A plug creates a mechanical connection point that naturally generates heat during high-amp continuous use. To prevent melting or arcing risks, it requires an expensive industrial-grade outlet (like Hubbell or Bryant), dedicated #6 AWG copper wiring, and an official electrical permit and inspection.

Hardwired Charging

Hardwired charging connects the charging station directly to your home’s electrical panel with a continuous, unbroken electrical cable clamped straight into the unit’s internal terminals.

• Maximum Power Limits: Because there is no physical plug or receptacle, hardwiring allows you to install a larger 60-amp circuit breaker. Applying the 80% continuous load rule, a hardwired charger can safely draw 48 amps , delivering roughly 20% faster charging speeds than a plug-in unit.

• Key Advantages: Hardwiring eliminates the plug entirely, removing the primary mechanical point of failure, wear, and overheating. It provides the highest reliability, maximum speed, cleaner aesthetic cable management, and superior weather resistance for outdoor wall installations.

• Safety Considerations: Hardwired connections are required by code in many jurisdictions for higher-amperage residential units. While replacing or moving the charger later requires a licensed electrician to safely disconnect the wiring at the panel, it offers the safest long-term connection for high-daily-mileage drivers.

Core Breakdown

• J1772 (The Legacy AC Standard): For years, J1772 was the standard plug for non-Tesla EVs in North America for Level 1 (120V) and Level 2 (240V) charging. However, it only carries AC power. To allow DC fast charging on road trips, manufacturers added two massive bottom pins to the J1772 layout, creating the CCS1 connector.

• NACS (The Modern Standard): Originally proprietary to Tesla, NACS uses a single, slim connector for both AC (home) and high-speed DC (Supercharger) power. Because it shares the exact same primary electrical pins for both AC and DC, it avoids the bulky footprint of CCS1.

• Industry Shift: Major automakers (Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, BMW, Toyota, etc.) have transitioned to building native NACS ports on their North American electric vehicles, making NACS the dominant unified standard moving forward.

Compatibility & Adapters

Both connector types cross-communicate easily using passive or active adapters:

• J1772 Vehicle at a NACS Charger: Requires a simple NACS-to-J1772 adapter for Level 2 AC home chargers.

• NACS Vehicle at a J1772 Charger: Uses a basic J1772-to-NACS adapter (standard equipment included with most Tesla vehicles).