Every EV in Canada comes with a Level 1 charger in the trunk. Level 2 is the upgrade most owners eventually do. Here’s the difference in practical terms.
Level 1 charging
Plugs into a standard 120V household outlet. Adds about 6–8 km of range per hour of charging. A typical Canadian driver (40 km/day) plugged in overnight gets back about 80 km — usually enough for daily driving with margin.
Cost: Free — the charger came with your car.
Best for: Light commutes (under 50 km/day), second cars, condo and apartment owners with outlet access.
Level 2 charging
Hardwired or plugged into a 240V circuit, same voltage as your dryer or stove. Adds 30–80 km of range per hour depending on the charger and the car. A full overnight charge adds 250–600+ km — you’ll never wake up to a partly-charged car.
Cost: $1,500–$3,500 installed.
Best for: Daily drivers over 50 km/day, two-EV households, road-trippers, anyone who values not thinking about charging.
The amperage choice
Level 2 chargers come in 32A, 40A, and 48A flavours. Common picks:
- 32A — ~30 km/hr added. Cheapest install, works on most 100A panels with room.
- 40A — ~40 km/hr added. The sweet spot for most homes.
- 48A — ~60 km/hr added. Worth it if your car supports it (Tesla, Rivian, many newer EVs) and your panel has the headroom.
What about Level 3 / DC fast charging?
Level 3 is the public station chargers (Tesla Superchargers, Electrify Canada, etc.). They charge 0–80% in 20–40 minutes but require expensive industrial infrastructure — residential installs aren’t a thing in Canada.
Do I need a panel upgrade for Level 2?
Often no — with smart load management you can fit Level 2 into many 100A panels. See do I need a panel upgrade? for the full breakdown, or run our panel calculator to find out in two minutes.
Get a free Copper Bee quote or contact us with the details and we’ll write back the same business day.