Charging: How, and Where? | Laird Wheaton GM

Dealership hours of operation
Mon - Sat	8:30AM - 6:00PM
Sun	Closed

Dealership hours of operation
Mon - Fri	7:30AM - 5:00PM
Sat	7:30AM - 4:30PM
Sun	Closed

Dealership hours of operation
Mon - Fri	8:00AM - 5:00PM
Sat	8:00AM - 4:30PM
Sun	Closed

Dealership hours of operation
Mon - Fri	8:00AM - 5:00PM
Sat - Sun	Closed

Level 1 Charging

In an emergency, these will do but they're not recommended. Any standard 120 Volt cord will do but you'd probably be better off with another option. You can get maybe 8km per hour. You can find these anywhere.

Level 2 Charging

A specialized charger that can be installed in a home. Great if you don't need to move your car much for the next few hours. Charges about 40km per hour. Most homes don't have one of these yet but most electricians should be able to help get one installed and obtain the right permits.

Level 3 Charging

DC Fast Chargers are available at many locations. Generally found in parking lots. Can charge up to 145km in 30 minutes. You can find these at malls, parkades, and anywhere where businesses or the city have deemed it

EV charger costs can vary largely due to parts and installation requirements. Locations must have sufficient current flowing to the house as well as space on their electrical panel, both of which can quickly raise the cost. For businesses and dealerships the price can significantly rise depending on where the charger is placed and if wires need to be put below ground.

This is a snapshot of market costs at the time of writing and will vary by product, location, and installation provider. Prices do not include potential government rebates:

Type of Charger	Level 1	Level 2 (for the non-MURB home)	Level 3 Not for home installation
External charger	Free with all EVs	$750-2000	$15,000+
Parts and labour (wall installation)	$0	$500+	$15,000+
Total	$0	$1250+	$30,000+

What should I know about installing an EV charger? These are powerful pieces of electronic equipment, and therefore must be treated with caution and in concurrence with building codes. It is highly recommended that you utilize a certified electrician to install the charging station.

Here are 8 steps, based off of the BC Hydro Power Smart website, to give you an idea of the process you'll need to go through:
Step 1: Home eligibility Confirm with your municipality to make sure that your home is eligible for a charger installation.
Step 2: Electrical service Check to see if you've got sufficient electricity flowing into your home to support an EV charger. If you need to upgrade your service, contact your local hydro service provider.
Step 3: Electrical panel Check to see if there's enough space on your electrical panel to accommodate a circuit breaker for the EV charger. If not, you'll need an electrician to help.
Step 4: Charger Choose and purchase an EV charger. You may be eligible for a rebate, make sure you're selecting a model that qualifies.
Step 5: Electrical permit Apply to your municipality for an electrical permit. If you hire an electrician, they will do this for you.
Step 6: Installation Install the EV charging station. Remember that you must get a safety officer to inspect your electrical work before any wiring is concealed or connected to a supply source. Your electrician needs to complete the contractor consultation form after the installation is complete. You will also need this if you are applying for a rebate.
Step 7: Inspection Have the installation inspected by your municipality. If an electrician did the installation, they will do this for you.
Step 8 (Optional): Rebate Submit your application for a rebate.

EV Charging Considerations There are 3 main factors which help to understand how long charging will take:

- Battery size - This is in Kilowatt hours (kWh). For example, the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt has a 66kWh battery.

- Starting charge level - This percentage is the level of the battery before charging, and is very important considering that a battery charging rate is most accurate when charging within the 20%-80% range. Outside of this range and the battery can charge slower (when approaching 100%) or faster (when close to empty).

Charging power in kW - Some cars may have a higher capability for charging than the EVSE, or vice-versa. Vehicle charging will be limited by the lower of the two values. See example in the table below:

Which charge rate will my EV use?
Maximum charge power	Example 1: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt and Level 1 EVSE	Example 2: 2019 Chevrolet Volt and Level 2 EVSE
Of the vehicle	7.2 kW	3.4 kW
Of the EVSE	2.4 kW	20 kW
Charging power in kW	2.4 kW	3.4 kW